Undaunted
Scoliosis affects a small percentage of Americans, many of whom experience no serious symptoms. A fraction of those people will see the curve of their spine start to flirt with 25 degrees, which is when bracing is often suggested. Recent UW alumna Annie Morro was one of them. 鈥淭hey used plaster and wrapped me up like a mummy, then built a brace from plastic,鈥� she remembers.
One of four graduates of the UW musical theater program鈥檚 first-ever class, Morro started dancing when she was three years old, and dreamt of being on stage for the rest of her life. But as she continued to pour herself into her craft, her body continued to work against her.
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Even with a brace, her scoliosis got worse, creeping toward a 40-degree curve that would eventually put her organs at risk. 鈥淲hen they decided it was time to schedule spinal correction surgery, I thought I was never going to dance again. At that point, I was taking three or four hours of classes every night,鈥� she says. 鈥淭hat was my dream; that鈥檚 what I wanted to do.鈥� Morro was told her movement would be severely limited, and it was, but the surgery 鈥� which placed two titanium rods and screws through her spine and fused six of her vertebrae 鈥� was a success.
With a straightened spine, she retaught herself things that were second nature before, working on fundamentals such as balance and flexibility. She continued dancing, although modified, and found a passion for acting and theater when she joined her high school鈥檚 drama club.
When she was accepted to the UW 鈥� her 鈥渄ream school鈥� 鈥� she was ecstatic. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 know what I wanted to do at that point; I just knew I wanted to be at the UW,鈥� she says. But it wasn鈥檛 long until Morro, who decided to pursue a major in history and a minor in dance, learned about the innovative new musical theater program and felt she had finally figured it out. 鈥淚 had to do it,鈥� she says.
The program has a strong entrepreneurial focus, placing emphasis on the business know-how needed for a career in the performing arts. Morro was part of the first batch of students to audition, and she made the cut. 鈥淚 was excited to get training from faculty who had successful careers on Broadway. Suddenly, with the musical theater program, I was able to take courses like 鈥楽ong and Dance鈥� as well as 鈥楽inging for Actors鈥� and really find my own niche between the dance, drama and music programs here at the UW.鈥�
She starred in the musical theater program鈥檚 inaugural show, 鈥淪weet Charity,鈥� co-choreographed the UW Stage Notes鈥� productions of 鈥淜iss Me Kate鈥� and 鈥淟egally Blonde,鈥� and performed in the UW MFA Dance Concert. This summer, she鈥檚 taking the stage in Aurora Theatre Company鈥檚 鈥淔iddler on the Roof鈥� and gearing up for Village Theater鈥檚 鈥淢y Fair Lady.鈥�
鈥淚 feel fulfilled and like I鈥檓 really living when I perform. That鈥檚 why the UW and the entrepreneurial approach to the musical theater program is so great 鈥� we can have a career to support ourselves and pursue our passions.鈥�
Performing across disciplines
Of the UW musical theater program鈥檚 inaugural graduating class, three of the four students were double majors, pairing musical theater with history, communication, and informatics. 鈥淭here鈥檚 a career for those who want to do dance, music and acting and earn another major,鈥� says Morro.
鈥淏eing at the UW as opposed to a conservatory allows me a better-rounded career, and that was a big part of my decision to come here,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 wanted to be in a large university environment and have access to the many opportunities the UW offers.鈥�