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MSLCE Students Analyze ‘The Lion King’ and Michelin Star Restaurants in Organizational Processes Course

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By Nick Roman

Disney, Lululemon, Yahoo, and Michelin star restaurants all offer products familiar to most of today’s consumers, but MSLCE students got an even closer look into these well-known brands this fall through Pablo Boczkowski’s Organizational Processes course.

Students examined the structure and function of various companies through three lenses: the strategic design, political, and cultural. Each lens was applied to various case studies to prepare students to be effective leaders in our respective creative sectors. 

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Charlie Wein Aspires to Lower the Barrier Between Performance and Audience in Theatre

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By Jacob Nelson

Charlie Wein has been interested in theatre since he was three, when his mother introduced him to it. As a board member of the community theatre in his hometown of Pittsburgh, an actor, and a director, she not only showed him the world of theatre, but encouraged him to take part in it himself.

“She was my monologue coach,” Wein said. “We watched a lot of movies together. We clicked very well and would have conversations about what liked and what we didn’t.”

A current MSLCE student, Wein has spent time as both a stage actor and a director. He appreciates theatre’s ability to “make an impact on people.” (more…)

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Categories: Student Profiles

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Greg Cameron Discusses Turning Around the Joffrey Ballet During MSLCE Speaker Series

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By Jacob Nelson

What makes an arts organization successful? According to Joffrey Ballet Executive Director Greg Cameron, an organization’s success depends on three points: leaning towards the mission, developing an aligned team, and creating collaborations with external partners.

“The minute the mission of the organization becomes compromised in anyway is when trouble creeps in,” Cameron said during last Thursday’s MSLCE Speaker Series event. “Developing an aligned team is not always as easy as it may sound.” (more…)

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MSLCE Students Learn How a Late Night Show Gets Made During Visit to The Onion/A.V. Club Studios

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By Charlie Wein

As I entered the 2nd floor of The Onion/A.V. Club studios today, laughter erupted from the room directly to my right. 

It was Friday afternoon, and the creative writing staff was hard at work planning the outline for next week’s episode of “A.V. Club Live.” The weekly late-night style program (presented as a part of the Fusion television network) is The A.V. Club’s first foray into television broadcast. 

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Rick Morris Prepares MSLCE Students for Legal Challenges in Creative Industries

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By Minda Cerva

“Superman” sued “The Greatest American Hero.” “Jaws” sued “Great White.” “Star Wars” sued “Battlestar Gallactica.” Hallmark sued Maya Angelou. 

Each of these complicated lawsuits were brought to court, some with merit while others were found to be without. But the topics, though nuanced, were consistent. The issues typically involved either a charge of copyright infringement or breach of contract. And each case individually had repercussions in their respective industries, and were terrific learning tools in Professor Rick Morris’ Arts and Entertainment Law and Ethics course.

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A Musical ‘Jack of All Trades,’ Unique DaCosta Hopes to Pinpoint and Pursue an Industry Career

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By Jacob Nelson

Unique DaCosta has wasted little time getting her creative career off the ground.

The Illinois native and current MSLCE student has always been interested in the music industry, and has taken a variety of steps to enter it professionally. For example, she started an organization called I-NSPIRE in Grand Rapids, Michigan to provide a platform for young women in the community interested in creative expression. She also runs a podcast that she began in college, where she and a co-host discuss hip hop culture and music. And DaCosta sang in a choir as a child, andmade DJ mixes in college.

It’s unsurprising, then, that DaCosta aspires to be a “jack of all trades.” (more…)

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Northwestern Lecturer Brett Neveu Discusses His Writing Career with MSLCE Students

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By Dominique warren

Brett Neveu has been writing plays since he was 15, and currently finds himself between the “I can’t believe I’m doing this still” and “satisfaction” phase.

During a faculty talk with MSLCE students, Neveu reflected on finishing the draft of his latest production, Traitor. The playwright and teacher of Northwestern University’s Radio, Television, and Film Department describes his profession as the only job that has ever made him feel this way, referring to the “strange high” he gets while writing.
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MSLCE Students Learn About Steppenwolf’s History and Future During Site Visit

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By Minda Cerva

On Friday, Nov. 17, MSLCE students had an opportunity to sit down with leaders from Chicago’s Tony Award-winning Steppenwolf Theatre Company for a discussion about their respective careers, the history of the organization, its current focus, and its future plans.

Students met with the Executive Director David Schmitz, Artistic Producer Jonathan Berry, and Professional Leadership Assistant John Rooney. The conversation started with an overview of the work history of both Schmitz and Berry, which served as inspiration for many of the students in the group who are pursuing careers in theatre management and administration. Both of their paths started with masters degrees in directing, and led them to leadership positions at one of the most renowned regional theatres in the country. 

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Designer and Innovation Consultant Amy Guterman Leads Project Management Workshop for MSLCE Students

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By Nick Roman

MSLCE students arrive at Northwestern with substantial professional experience, which typically includes project management. In reflecting on experiences in the field, MSLCE students discovered that while end results of their projects were positive, the process leading up to them proved to be more difficult. 

To breakdown project management, MSLCE students recently attended a workshop with Innovation Consultant Amy Guterman, a designer and illustrator who guided the cohort through the fundamentals of project management, the various tasks involved, and the best practices for completing those tasks. Throughout the day, Guterman referenced several creative industries, allowing students to apply takeaways in their respective fields.

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