#summer of 2010 when this song came out was the first time in three-ish years I'd spent much continuous time with my family | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

phanfictioncatalogue · 5 months

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Taylor Swift Songfics (3) Masterlist

part one, part two

and if my wishes came true, it would've been you. (ao3) - phangirlingforphan

Summary: Phil can categorise his life in three acts: Before Dan, With Dan and now this new, uncertain one he’s calling After Dan.

a reality break-up fic inspired by 'the 1' by Taylor Swift.

begin again (ao3) - brookwrites

Summary: dan is struggling to move on from an abusive relationship, and that struggle grows when, for the first time, he feels ready to. he doesn't seem to understand anyone actually caring for him, but phil does, and he doesn't know how to handle it. (based off the song "begin again" by taylor swift!)

but what can I say? you're gorgeous (ao3) - t_hens

Summary: 'Dan stands at the bar, waiting for their drinks, idly wondering why he’s here in the first place. Well, maybe he already knows why. Phil, and Dan’s inability to tell him no is the reason'

based off of Taylor Swift's 'gorgeous'

clean (ao3) - whenyouheldtheknife

Summary: you're all over me like a wine-stained dress i can't wear anymore. || a prose poem about dan & phil, again from dan's perspective, and their relationship.

Dancing, Like Were Made of Starlight (ao3) - orphan_account

Summary: The high school rejects: Dan and Phil go to a party they weren’t invited to and realize how in love they are with each other.

Don’t Wait Or Say A Single Vow (You Need To Hear Me Out) (ao3) - orphan_account

Summary: Dan gate crashes Phil’s wedding.

even in my worst lies (you saw the truth in me) (ao3) - twoheadlights (fizzfic)

Summary: au where dan and phil are actors pretending to be boyfriends for pr

(title from dress by taylor swift) (obviously)

Exile (ao3) - danrifics

Summary: I think I've seen this film before And I didn't like the ending

In another life you still would’ve turned my head (ao3) - natigail

Summary: Dan comes across old black and white photos of two queer men messing around, one playing with the other's hair, just like he did in a recent video with Phil. He gets caught up in the emotions that he would have fallen in love with Phil in any universe. He crawls into Phil's lap and tells him exactly that.

Lover. (ao3) - formlessbIob

Summary: "Darling, you're my lover." A series of Dan and Phil ficlets, based on Lover by Taylor Swift.

Lover (Have I Known You Twenty Years?) (ao3) - AnotherPhanficWriter

Summary: Dan and Phil through the years.

new year's day (ao3) - orphan_account

Summary: "i want your midnights

but i'll be cleaning up bottles with you on new year's day"

phil had his heart stolen by a boy with dimples. but life isn't that simple, is it?

our love will be passed on (ao3) - considerthehairpinturn

Summary: fi tilted her head to rest on dani’s jumper. “guess we were just meant to be, huh?” dani let out a silent breath of a laugh. “shut it, fi.” or

dani and fi getting together, in between lyrics to seven by taylor swift

Ours (ao3) - BigTimeMoch

Summary: When it comes to the person I want to spend the rest of my life with, I just see Dan. Cause my heart is his. 2009-2010 ish phan Song-fic/drabble inspired by Ours by Taylor Swift

there's nothing i hate more than what i can't have (ao3) - twoheadlights (fizzfic)

Summary: the beautiful man across the party is agitating dan beyond belief

Treacherous (ao3) - phanspn

Summary: This hope is treacherous, and I like it.

when you are young, they assume you know nothing (ao3) - orphan_account

Summary: A letter, in a plain envelope.

Dan’s address written on the outside.

And something else scribbled on the front:

To PML. If the offer enclosed is disagreeable, return to sender.

After a misunderstanding at prom, Dan finds himself in a dilemma; should he fall into a summer affair with Phil, or should he make up with his boyfriend of 3 years, Blake?

Based on Taylor Swift's Folklore.

Willow (ao3) - lilyxxxooo

Summary: Life was a willow and it bent right to your wind (inspiration from “willow” by taylor swift) Sometimes, Dan just wishes he tried harder. Other times, he’s just happy he’s still loved by Phil.

#phanfictioncatalogue #phanfiction #phanfic #phan #masterlists #taylorswift #taylorswift masterlist #songfic

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kayteewritessteve · 5 years

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If Only You Knew - 12/19

Description: You arrive home one day to find a wedding invite for two of your best friends from high school. You knew this day was going to come eventually, but even with that said, you weren’t prepared to return home. At least not after 7 years of avoiding Buckhannon, West Virginia. Or rather, avoiding him; your ex-best friend and the secret love of your life. But maybe it was finally time to face your past, to face him, and everything else that happened on that horrible night. Who would have knew that your prom would end up being a total disaster, and the very last night you’d spend in Buckhannon for the next 7 years? you certainly didn’t. That’s for sure.

Catch up HERE.

Word Count: 3,170 ish.

Pairing: Modern!Steve Rogers x Reader.

Rating: 18+

Warnings: Violence. Drinking. Bad and offensive jokes. Possible triggering thoughts, feelings and emotions. Moments of bullying and harsh name calling. Lots of curse words. And a very sloooow burn.

A/N: I sadly don’t own any of these characters. And no beta reader, so I do proudly own all the errors and this story, so there’s that.

July 2018 - Present.

“Where are the girls today?” Steve asked as he flopped down between Bucky and Sam on the couch, handing them each one of the beers he’d just gone to grab. Then he leaned forward and handed a beer to Clint, who was spread out across the love seat. The three guys murmuring their thanks as they accepted the beverages.

“Dress fitting,” Bucky mumbled, clearly zoned out on the baseball game he had playing on the TV, the game was between the NY Yankees and the Cleveland Indians. The Yankees being the four guys favourite team for years. And normally Steve would have been just as zoned out on the game as the others, had it not been for his mind being totally preoccupied by other things—Those ‘other things’ being Y/N.

The lake day had been wonderful, the more time he spent with Y/N, the more his mind reminded him just how much he’d missed her. How much of a hole she’d left behind in his life when she took off. Not just his life, but also his heart. He was taking baby steps with her, because he was so afraid that if he pushed too hard, or too fast, she might bolt again. And that was not an option now. He couldn’t live without her again, that much he knew. And so he had to tread lightly, had to ease back in slowly. He was going to keep her in his life this time, there was no other way around it.

“Ah, gotcha. And the rehearsal dinner is tonight?”

“Yup,” Bucky nodded and then Steve went quiet, not wanting to interrupt the game anymore then he already had.

After a few moments the game went to a commercial break, so both Sam and Clint got up to use the bathroom and grab more snacks. Once they were out of the room, Steve instantly felt his best friends eyes on him, and turned to see just that. Except it wasn’t just knowing eyes he was met with, his best friend was also sporting a shit eating grin to go along with them. “You two were pretty cuddly yesterday at the lake,” Bucky said while wiggling his eyebrows and bringing the beer to his lips.

Steve rolled his eyes, “it’s not like that, Barnes.”

“It should be,” Bucky laughed then shook his head, “it could be,” he corrected.

“I’m fine with just friends for now. 7 years is a long fucking time,” he paused to take a sip of his beer. “I don’t want to go any longer without her in my life.”

“7 years is a long time,” Bucky agreed. “How you feeling about all this?” He gestured around the room then dropped his hands and clarified, “I mean, like having her back again?”

Steve thought about it for a second then responded truthfully, “it’s surreal. I knew I missed her over the years, but tried not to think about it too much. It wasn’t till she was back in my life that it actually hit me just how much I’d missed her. And just how much I don’t want to lose her again.” He took another sip of his beer and shrugged, “but that’s probably why they say ‘absence makes the heart grow fonder’. Or whatever.”

“I don’t think she is going anywhere this time. I think we’re stuck with her for life,” Bucky chuckled then took another sip of his beer, as Sam and Clint re-entered the room and both sat back down in their spots. Before Steve could respond the commercial break ended and the game started to play again, but he still couldn’t focus on it.

Before the 7 years there was only one other time he’d had to go without her in his life. Well, since he’d met her that is. And that was over the summer between grade 11 and 12.

He had thought those two months were hard, if only he could have told his younger self to suck it the fuck up. Because those 2 months would be nothing in comparison to the 7 years that was coming his way. That just 10 short months from that summer he’d lose his best friend, and the love of his life, in the blink of an eye…

September 2010 - 8 years ago.

Steve’s alarm went off, and where he’d normally hit snooze at least once, this morning was totally different. He was up and out of bed before he’d even had a chance to turn the alarm off. He quickly shut it off then went to jump in the shower, even though that was the last thing he’d wanted to do. Every one of his morning rituals or steps had now become a burden, all of them getting in his way, and preventing him from the one morning ritual he wanted to get to the most. Which was getting to Y/N’s house to pick her up and drive her to school.

The last 2 months had been miserable without her, the only thing getting him through was her messages and phone calls. He’d never spent that much time on his phone before in his entire life. But he just couldn’t put it down. Howard had started to get kinda pissed off with him, as he wasn’t very present on their adventures, and would groan and bitch if he’d find himself in a no signal zone. He knew his phone bill was going to be ridiculously expensive, but he’d happily pay whatever cost he had to, to be able to keep in constant contact with her.

Tony and Peter had teased him relentlessly for being ‘wiped’ or a ‘lovesick puppy’, and even worse was the fact he was like this for a girl he wasn’t even dating—A fact Tony made sure to point out, often. But Steve honestly didn’t give two shits what his brothers said, he missed Y/N and he’d gladly take the ridicule if it meant he could talk to her daily.

They had planned to be home 2 days before school started, as was normally what they’d do. But Howard’s negotiations hadn’t gone to plan, and they ended up having to stay a little longer then expected so he could finalize everything. That was not a happy moment for Steve, here he figured he’d get 2 full days with her before school started, but now they’d be arriving in late the night before classes started, and even though all he wanted to do was head straight to her house, he was exhausted and knew he needed some semblance of sleep before his first day of school.

So here he was, waking up extra early for the day so he could get ready, pick up breakfast for himself and Y/N, then drive her to school. It wasn’t 2 days worth of hanging out together, but he’d take what he could get. He was finally all ready to go and ran downstairs to head out to his jeep, yelling goodbye at his parents as he did. Not really paying attention to what they were yelling in return, his mind was on autopilot and he was desperate to get to his destination.

He picked up breakfast from Huddle House and then made a mad dash towards her place. After what felt like the longest drive ever, he pulled up to the curb outside her house, put the jeep in park and got out to head up to the door. But before he even made it halfway there, the front door swung open with a bang and she came barreling out. Jumping down the stairs and making a mad dash for him, he spread his arms out to catch her incoming leap. He’d figured this was going to happen, so luckily he’d left the food in the car so that his hands would be free and empty.

“Stevie!” She squealed as she propelled herself at him, he caught her by the waist and spun her around in her front lawn. “Oh my god! I missed you!” She giggled as she squeezed him tightly around his neck.

“I missed you too,” he said as he tightened his grip on her and slowed down the spinning to plant her feet back on the ground.

“Welcome home,” she mumbled into his chest, as her arms came down to wrap about his waist, refusing to break the hug just yet. But he didn’t mind one bit as he didn’t want it to end just yet either. He laughed then leaned down to kiss the top of her head, which had sort of become one of their ‘things’. You know, those little moments or gestures that two friends only do with each other. Yeah, those ‘things’.

“Thank you,” he said into her hair, then took a deep breath, inhaling the scent he had missed so much over these past 2 months. The scent that was just her. Entirely. “I got you breakfast,” he mumbled and smirked, knowing full well what those words would do to her.

Her head snapped back, but her arms stayed wrapped around him. “Really?!” She asked excitedly then she bounced in place a little, causing his body to jiggle from her movements. “Whatcha get me? Whatcha get me?” She questioned and her tone made him instantly picture a small child being excited to learn what their parents had brought them home.

He laughed, “your favourite.”

“Have I told you yet today how amazing you are?!” She said in a sing song voice. Food was always the way to her heart, he’d figured that out pretty early on.

“No. Not even once,” he pouted, “I was actually starting to forget.”

She gasped loudly, “well we can’t have that!” She shook her head, “because no joke, you are seriously so amazing.”

“Thanks,” he laughed again.

“Okay, all this breakfast talk is making me super hungry,” she laughed then released him from the hug.

And he instantly wanted to pull her back in, already missing having her in his arms even if it was just for a hug. And even if she didn’t notice, he was acutely aware of just how well she fit against him. He’d noticed that right away, ever since the first time they’d ever hugged, it had always felt like she was just made to mould perfectly into him. Like two halves of a whole coming together, and fitting just right. Or like those weird friendship necklaces girls always wore, the heart ones where each friend had half the heart and when put together they made up the whole heart. Yeah, like that. That was them.

“Me too,” he nodded and she put up one finger to signal she needed a minute, then she spun around, ran back up to her house, and disappeared into it. Only to reemerge shortly after as she closed the door and locked it, returning to him with her school backpack now flung over her shoulder. “Okay, all set,” she said as she smiled up at him.

“No,” he shook his head as he reached out and took her backpack, slinging it over his shoulder now, then offering her his free hand. “Now we’re all set,” he smiled and she rolled her eyes but took his offered hand.

“Some things never change,” she mumbled and he nodded, agreeing with her, then walked her to the car. Opening the door for her once they got to it then closing it again and walking around the hood of the jeep so he could climb in himself.

He reached back and put her bag in the backseat before grabbing the food and handing it to her. Knowing she’d want to eat on the drive to school. Now normally, he didn’t let anyone eat in his jeep, but she was the one exception. Mainly because it was her, but also because she was always careful not to spill or leave her garbage behind, and she’d always ask if it was okay before hand. So she got a free pass, every time.

He heard the sound of the brown bag opening. “Oh gosh,” she sighed happily, “this smells divine.”

He glanced over to see the giant dopey smile on her face before he turned back to the road and smirked. “You say that every time.”

“That’s because it smells divine every time, Steve,” she scoffed, acting as if he didn’t know this already. Then she giggled, “that should be their motto.” She put a hand up as if to show the words up in lights as she spoke, “Smell Divine. Every Time.”

She burst out laughing at herself and he just stifled his laugh and shook his head, “you’re so weird.”

“And don’t I know it,” she smirked then gestured to the bag, “is it okay if?”

He glanced over at her again, though he already knew what she was asking, “I wouldn’t have handed it to you if it wasn’t.”

She nodded then pulled out the to go container and dug for a fork at the bottom of the bag. Finding it after a moment and holding it up in front of herself proudly. Like she had just found the greatest long lost treasure in the world, “there you are!” Then she placed the bag down at her feet and popped open the container, “oh god, it looks even better then it smelled.”

“You also always say that,” he pointed out.

“Shhh!” She hissed and pointed her fork at him, threateningly. “Don’t ruin this beautiful moment between me and my breakfast!”

“Okay, okay. Shit,” he put one hand up in surrender then laughed.

She nodded her approval of his surrender then happily dug into her food, each bite prompting some variation of an ‘mmm’ or an ‘ooo’ from her. Clearly she was enjoying her breakfast, as per usual.

The rest of the drive they just chatted about the summer and what they were most excited about for the upcoming school year. Falling right back into step with each other like no time had passed at all. Steve had worried things might be strange between them at first, or that maybe they had shifted apart over the 2 months he was away. But after spending the morning drive with her he quickly kicked those worries out of his head. Nothing had changed between them, at all.

They hung out as much as they could during the school day, when they weren’t in class. At the end of the day Steve drove her home, and they spent a few hours just sitting in his jeep, outside her house, talking. That is till they both reluctantly had to part ways for dinner. Though he promised he’d be back once her dad went to bed. And he kept that promise, when he climbed in her window later that evening. This would be one of those nights that he passed out on her floor, unwilling to leave her that night. Not after only just getting her back.

The next morning was also one of the times her father caught him passed out on the floor, both of them completely forgetting to set earlier alarms to avoid her dad finding out. After her father had shown him out he headed home to change, then went right back to her place to pick her up for their drive to school. Receiving a head shake and a slight smirk from Y/N’s dad when he opened the door to find Steve standing on the other side, only 30 minutes after he’d walked him out. But this was just how things were between Steve and Y/N, they were almost always together. It was the way they both liked it. And how they both always thought it would stay.

If only they knew what was coming. If only they could have had a heads up about what was in store. Then maybe things could have been different. Maybe things could have turned out different.

July 2018 - Present.

Steve came out of this reverie just as the baseball game was ending. Being brought back to the present by the guys hoots and hollers of victory. He took a quick glance at the TV to see that the Yankees had won the game 7 - 4. He quickly threw a fist up in triumphant excitement, even though he hadn’t been totally present for the game, they were still his team and their win still meant something to him.

“That was a great game,” Bucky nodded beside him.

“It was a fucking amazing game,” Sam corrected as a giant smile broke out on his face.

“Gardner and Judge really brought it home,” Clint said as he pumped his fists in the air.

Bucky turned to Steve and give him a knowing stare, “what was your favourite part of the game, Stevie?”

“Ah,” Steve scratched the back of his neck, trying to remember any part of the match. “All of it?” He hesitantly said. It wasn’t meant to be a question, but definitely came out sounding that way.

“You asking or telling?” Clint questioned as he sat up on the love seat.

“Both?” He scrunched up his nose.

“Dude,” Sam sighed dramatically, “were you even watching?!”

“Yeah. Here and there–” Steve started but Bucky cut him off.

“No, he wasn’t. He was too caught up in his own mind,” Bucky said as a sly smirk appeared on his lips, and one of his brows raised. “So, what were you actually thinking about, pal?”

Steve just shook his head then finished off his drink. “When does the rehearsal dinner start?” He asked as he stood up from the couch to stretch.

“Nice change of subject,” Bucky shook his head and laughed, “and 5.”

“At 88 Restaurant, yeah?” He asked as he headed to the kitchen to put his bottle in the recycling bin.

“Yep,” Bucky said as he joined him in the kitchen, Sam and Clint right behind him.

“Alright, well I’m gonna head out. I’ll see you guys there,” he said then they all said their goodbyes, and then Steve headed home.

Once he got home, he relaxed for a few hours, then quickly got dressed into a light blue fitted dress shirt and tan khakis. Giving himself a once over in the mirror, before going out to his truck to head for the rehearsal dinner. It would be a lie if he said he wasn’t excited to see Y/N again—It would also be a large understatement if he left that statement at just ‘excited’. It was much more than that, and he was fully aware of it. But he just simply didn’t care.

He was hooked on her again, and that didn’t bother him one bit. She was, and clearly still is, the one true love of his life. And he’d be a fool if he didn’t at least acknowledge that. He was wrapped around her finger all over again, and she still had no fucking clue about it.

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#au fanfiction #fanfiction #long post #long read #marvel au #marvel fanfiction #steve rogers #steve rogers x reader #steve rogers x y/n #steve rogers x you #modern!steve rogers x reader #modern!steve #modern!steve rogers #modern au #alternate universe #if only you knew #chapter 12 #steve rogers au #no super powers here

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aion-rsa · 4 years

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Hamilton Movie: Meet the Original Cast

https://ift.tt/31Q9KEP

Wait For It. More than just one of the best songs in Hamilton—that Aaron Burr has soul!—those words signify how long fans around the world have waited to see Hamilton performed. Not everyone could afford a ticket at the height of the musical’s popularity or lived near a city where the touring show has visited. Yet now, in times when the lights across Broadway are out, we all can be in the room where it happens.

Thanks to Disney+, and the $75 million the Walt Disney Company shelled out for the rights, a filmed performance with the original Broadway cast of Hamilton is here. For the diehards who’ve listened to the original Broadway cast recording hundreds of times, it’s like seeing old friends when Anthony Ramos as John Laurens, Daveed Diggs as Marquis de Lafayette, and Okieriete Onaodowan as Hercules Mulligan walk into a bar. But for those who may not have the soundtrack memorized by heart, and painful memories of standing outside the Richard Rodgers Theatre for the original Hamilton lottery, here’s a rundown of who’s who.

Lin-Manuel Miranda – Alexander Hamilton

A multi-hyphenate talent long before he stepped into Alexander Hamilton’s wool stockings, Lin-Manuel Miranda has had one of the most impressive careers of his generation in theater. The son of Dr. Luz Towns-Miranda and Luis A. Miranda Jr., the latter of whom arrived in New York as a Puerto Rico transplant and went on to become an advisor in Mayor Ed Koch’s administration, Lin-Manuel came from an impressive background. He arguably began his professional career at Wesleyan University by writing a one-act musical his sophomore year: In the Heights. Born and bred in New York, Lin strove to write a musical that infused the freestyle rap and salsa rhythm that he loved growing up in Washington Heights with the American musical tradition.

It impressed enough contemporaries and eventually professional producers that Miranda was able to spend years retooling it alongside playwright Quiara Alegría Hudes for Connecticut theater, Off-Broadway, and finally Broadway. All the while Miranda played protagonist Usnavi de la Vega in addition to having written the music and lyrics. It went on to win the Tony for Best Original Musical and Best Original Score, paving the way for Hamilton. Indeed, it was during an invitation to the Obama White House in 2009 as the In the Heights wunderkind where Miranda announced he was writing a hip hop album about Alexander Hamilton… and then shocked everyone with a stunning version of the show’s opening song.

Hamilton of course became a generation-defining musical that Miranda wrote the music, lyrics, and book for, in addition to playing the titular U.S. Treasury Secretary. Both as an Off-Broadway production at the Public Theater and Broadway behemoth, Hamilton made headlines and sold out performances. The musical won its creator international acclaim, numerous Tonys, Drama Desk Awards, and a Pulitzer Prize for Drama. It also paved the way for Miranda to have a career in Hollywood.

Starring in Disney’s Mary Poppins Returns (2018), Miranda has developed a close relationship with the Mouse House where he’s also written and co-written songs for Moana (2016), which he received an Oscar nomination for, and the upcoming The Little Mermaid remake. He is also an outspoken advocate for Puerto Rico where he spent summers with his grandparents growing up. After hurricanes Irma and María in 2017, Miranda has raised funds for rescue efforts and rebuilding, including by reprising the role of Alexander Hamilton in a touring production that began with performances in San Juan, Puerto Rico. In advance of the tour, his family donated $1 million to the University of Puerto Rico. And just for the record, he plays the voice of Gizmoduck on the new DuckTales.

Leslie Odom Jr. – Aaron Burr

Likely still best known for playing Aaron Burr both off and on Broadway, Leslie Odom Jr.’s theater career began well before Hamilton. Getting his start by playing the significant supporting part of Paul on Broadway in Rent in 1998 (Odom was aged 17 at the time), the actor moved into a stage career quickly while also pursuing a BFA at Carnegie Mellon University. Born in Queens and growing up in Philadelphia, Odom had a lifelong love of the theater, which led to him rising up through the wings where he played ensemble roles in Jersey Boys, Being Alive, and a concert version of Dreamgirls.

Odom’s first major starring role was as Isaiah Sturdevant in a musical version of Leap of Faith, both during its out of town tryout in Los Angeles and its Broadway debut in 2012. But he began his significant professional relationship with Lin-Manuel Miranda with an Encores! Concert performance of Tick, Tick… Boom!, a musical written by Rent composer Jonathan Larson that was not performed in his lifetime. It paved the way for Odom to land the second starring role of Hamilton when the musical premiered at the Public Theater in 2015 and on Broadway later that year. Odom would go on to win a Tony for Best Actor in a Musical by playing the trigger-happy vice president.

Beyond theater, Odom enjoys a successful recording career, releasing his first of two solo jazz albums, Leslie Odom Jr., in 2014 well-before playing Burr. He also has transitioned to Hollywood. Already having played smaller guest roles on network television shows like CSI: Miami and Smash, after Hamilton he had a starring role in Kenneth Branagh’s Murder on the Orient Express (2017) and played abolitionist William Still in 2019’s Harriet Tubman biopic, Harriet.

Daveed Diggs – Marquis de Lafayette / Thomas Jefferson

A musician, rapper, and writer as renowned for his musical career as his theatrical one before Hamilton, Daveed Diggs’ hip hop ability earned him the distinction of “fastest rapper on Broadway” with the ability to speed through 19 words in three seconds during Layfette’s solo in “Guns and Ships”—though he jokes in the rap world that is only “medium fast.” Still, it was that ability that led Lin-Manuel Miranda to invite Daveed Diggs to early Hamilton workshops in 2012.

Before that Diggs had developed notoriety for being the lead vocalist and writer for experimental hip hop and rap group, Clipping. Joining William Huston and Jonathan Snipes in 2010 on the west coast scene, the group released their first mixtape album, midcity, in 2013. Diggs also enjoyed a theatrical career before either Clipping or Hamilton. In fact, after growing up in Oakland, he attended Brown University where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Theatre Arts. He then initially pursued work in experimental theater, including on the national tour for Marc Bamuthi Joseph’s Word Becomes Flesh, as well as work in regional Shakespeare productions, including playing Caliban in a San Francisco production of The Tempest.

Since playing Lafayette and Jefferson in Hamilton both at the Public Theater and on Broadway, winning a Tony for the latter, Diggs has pursued a multimedia career that includes the vastly underrated Blindspotting, an indie film that includes poetic verse interludes that Diggs co-wrote and produced. He earned a Spirit Award nomination for Best Male Lead for his performance. He also did a major stint on ABC’s Black-ish before starring in The Get Down and now Snowpiercer on TV. He also appeared in the movies Wonder, Velvet Buzzsaw, and Pixar’s upcoming Soul.

Christopher Jackson – George Washington

Before Hamilton for Christopher Jackson and Lin-Manuel Miranda, there was In the Heights. Indeed, Jackson played the supporting role of Benny opposite Miranda in that show during both its Off-Broadway and on Broadway runs in New York City. Yet even by that point, Jackson had already developed an impressive theatrical career, starring in his first Broadway musical at the age of 21 in the original cast of The Lion King.

After attending American Musical and Dramatic Academy, the Illinois-born Jackson broke into theater with Time and the Wind Off-Broadway and then as part of the ensemble in Disney’s groundbreaking The Lion King in 1997. He would go on to play the lead role of Simba in the show several years later. Afterward, he starred in a number of major productions that include Memphis, Cotton Club Parade for the Encores! Concert series, and Bronx Bombers, in which he played a singing and dancing version of Derek Jeter. He left that production though to work again with his playwright pal on Hamilton. In addition to starring in the off and on Broadway productions of the show, Jackson is the only Hamilton cast member besides Miranda who was with the musical since the beginning, playing the rapping-on-metronome American president in the show’s 2014 Vassar Workshop.

Since Hamilton, Jackson has added to his TV credits by appearing in Ava DuVernay’s When They See Us and Apple TV’s Central Park. He also confirmed to Den of Geek earlier this year he has a cameo in the In the Heights movie and will be appearing in Miranda’s upcoming film version of Jonathan Larson’s Tick, Tick… Boom!

Phillipa Soo – Eliza Schuyler Hamilton

The daughter of a Chinese-American father and European-American mother, Phillipa Soo was fresh out of Juiliard when she landed her first major starring role in a musical. That production, Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812, was Dave Malloy’s ambitious adaptation of a 70-page segment of Leo Tolstoy’s War and Peace. Soo originated the role of Natasha Rostova in the musical’s three original Off-Broadway runs between 2012 and 2013. And it was during one of these performances that Hamilton director Thomas Kail and Lin-Manuel Miranda were in attendance. Afterward they asked her to read for the lead role of Eliza, the Schuyler Sister who would become Alexander Hamilton’s wife.

Movies

Best 11 Classic Movie Musicals

By David Crow

Movies

Best Movie Musicals of the 21st Century

By David Crow

Soo originated the role of Eliza both at the Public Theater and on Broadway, earning a Tony nomination for Best Actress in a Musical. Soo would go on to star in the eponymous role of the Broadway adaptation of Amélie in 2017, being nominated again for a Tony. Later that same year, she starred in The Parisian Woman, an original play by Beau Willimon, for a limited run between November 2017 and March 2018. She also starred in CBS’ short-lived military legal drama series, The Code.

Renée Elise Goldsberry – Angelica Schuyler

Winning the Tony for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her rendition of Angelica, Renée Elise Goldsberry was another of the breakout stars of the original Hamilton cast. Born in San Jose, California before growing up in Texas and Michigan, Goldsberry began her career in equal parts television and theater. After graduating with a BFA from Carnegie Mellon University, and then earning a Master of Music in Jazz Studies at the University of Southern California’s Thornton School of Music, Goldsberry went on to appear in a national tour of Dreamgirls and make her first appearance on Ally McBeal in the same year, 1997. Appearing as one of the backup singers behind Vonda Shepard on the Fox drama, Goldsberry appeared in 43 episodes between ’97 and 2002. On Broadway she’d go on to star as Nala in The Lion King, as Mimi in Rent, and originate the role of Nettie Harris in the original Broadway cast of The Color Purple in 2005.

In television, her credits include a 272-episode stint on One Life to Live, guest spots on Star Trek: Enterprise, Royal Pains, Masters of Sex, Documentary Now!, and The Following, and a major recurring role as Geneva Pine on The Good Wife. More recently she is among the stars of Netflix’s Altered Carbon and featured in a supporting role in Trey Edward Shults and A24’s Waves.

Anthony Ramos – John Laurens / Philip Hamilton

The upcoming star of the In the Heights movie, where Ramos plays a role that Lin-Manuel Miranda originated and wrote, Ramos’ life has turned out quite a bit different than he initially planned. How could it not when in high school he intended to pursue NCAA Division III Basketball and then a career in basketball coaching? Instead the Brooklyn born Ramos got a full scholarship to the American Musical and Dramatic Academy, a conservatory for the performing arts, and graduated from its musical theatre program in 2011. A year later he appeared in a supporting role of In the Heights’ touring production before starring in Radio City Music Hall’s short-lived Heart and Lights. Seriously, it was cancelled during previews.

That turned out to be a blessing though, as it led Ramos to audition for Hamilton, securing him the dual role of Hamilton’s doomed BFF John Laurens and then Hamilton’s doomed firstborn son, Philip, in both the Public Theater and Broadway productions of the show. Miranda clearly thinks Ramos is looking for a breakout role, particularly after starring in a memorable supporting role in Bradley Cooper’s A Star is Born remake, as Lady Gaga’s bestie Ramon, and featuring in supporting roles in Godzilla: King of the Monsters and Trolls World Tour. In the Heights should be it.

Okieriete Onaodowan – Hercules Mulligan / James Madison

The cast member to stay the longest on Hamilton, Okieriete Onaodowan played the wildly different roles of Hercules Mulligan, an American spy on the British Army in New York, and founding father and future U.S. president, James Madison. The son of Nigerian immigrants, Onaodowan was born in Newark, New Jersey where he began pursuing professional theater after high school. Appearing in numerous off and off-off-Broadway productions, Onaodowan eventually broke through by appearing as “Rock & Roll Boyfriend” in the national tour of Green Day’s American Idiot musical. Afterward he appeared in a 2012 Broadway production of Cyrano de Bergerac.

In 2014 he was the understudy for the role of Apollo Creed in the short-lived Broadway musical version of Rocky but then achieved stardom with Hamilton, both at the Public and on Broadway. He also took over the leading role of Pierre Bezukhov from Josh Groban in the Broadway version of The Comet of 1812. He also has numerous TV credits that include Blue Bloods, Ballers, Girls, The Get Down, Grey’s Anatomy, and an episode of BoJack Horseman.

Jasmine Cephas Jones – Peggy Schuyler / Maria Reynolds

Before she played the relentlessly insistent Peggy, Brooklyn born Jasmine Cephas Jones had already begun a film and television career that included supporting roles in Blue Bloods and Noah Baumbach’s Mistress America. A graduate of the Neighborhood Playhouse School of Theatre, Hamilton was only her second stage credit, and first one on Broadway. Since then she’s also played Roxanne opposite Peter Dinklage in a musical version of Cyrano de Bergerac, and appeared in Baumbach’s Marriage Story as well as Stella Meghie’s The Photograph.

Jones has also pursued a musical career with her debut album Blue Bird. And in a little bit of Hamilton trivia, she is married in real-life to Anthony Ramos, whom she met in the Public Theater production of the musical.

Jonathan Groff – King George III

Wow, from Kristoff to Mad King George, Jonathan Groff is really showing his range on Disney+ these days! Yep, one of the most well-known mainstream actors pre-Hamilton, Groff made himself a household name, at least with musical theater and animation geeks, by playing Kristoff in Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Frozen (which he reprised in last year’s Frozen II). He also played the recurring villainous and then redeemed (I guess) Jesse St. James on Fox’s now infamous Glee.

Prior to any of that though, Groff came from the theater, beginning his career straight out of high school and breaking through with the starring role of Melchior Gabor in Spring Awakening. Originating the role both Off and then on Broadway in 2006, he received a Tony nomination for Best Actor in a Musical for the performance. He followed that up with a Shakespeare in the Park production of Hair in 2007.

Groff went on to be nominated for a Tony for his show-stealing mugging as foppish, Top 40-listening King George–a nice feat since he was the only Original Broadway cast member who did not appear in the Public Theater production. And most recently he starred on stage as Seymour to rave reviews in an Off-Broadway production of Little Shop of Horrors. But he’s probably best known to many now as Holden Ford, the FBI special agent with a very peculiar fascination with serial killers in the David Fincher-produced Netflix series, Mindhunter.

The post Hamilton Movie: Meet the Original Cast appeared first on Den of Geek.

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wholesome-lesbiab · 7 years

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hellow,i saw your post about finland being a land of drunk and depression. i'm heading to finland in a few months and have to do a field and desk research. i wanted to know what your opinions where in that case and why. have a wonderful day and thank you in advance.

Well I’m not gonna lie but the people in Finland really have serious tendencies of alcoholism and depression. I wasn’t even exaggerating when I made that post. I know it sounds bad and at this point I should maybe try to convince you otherwise but what can I say, I’m a Finn and I know my country. But then again, I’m yet another depressed Finn who drinks to her feelings so I might give a too grim description.

I have lived my 19 year old life in Finland, but three months ago I began my life in Ireland and I have come to realize how so much more depressing Finland is than I thought. I was baffled when total strangers came to talk to me with a smile on their face and asking how I was doing, or if I needed help. Once I was sitting in a bus and an old lady sat next to me and started chatting. Of course to a Finn like me, small talk can be uncomfortable but it felt nice when strangers don’t just glance at you, in a rude way or not, or just completely ignore you. That’s the Finnish way. In Finland we don’t talk to strangers. We don’t smile to them and if someone looks like they might need help, we ignore. I know, sounds horrible. I recall there was a news paper article few years back about an old man having a seizure or a heart attack or something in a shop and people around him just ignored him and didn’t call for help. (Not 100% sure). We just…. mind our own business I guess. So you can only imagine how startled I got when strangers here in Ireland started smiling to me and all that. So yeah, this is one reason, out of the many other reasons, why I think the people in Finland seem easily as depressed. It’s easy for foreigners who don’t know anything about Finland and the Finns come here and immediately be horrified of our little to no emotions, and thus make the assumption that we are all depressed. It’s another thing, not showing really any emotions.

The dark, gloomy winter plays its part part, too. The days start getting darker pretty quickly after summer. In winter when you wake up to work/school, it’s pitch black, and when you come home, it’s already dark or getting darker. So you barely see any sunlight the whole day. When I was still in high school I used to stay after school to study for an hour or two. I usually left at 5- ish and it was pretty dark already. So the only sunlight I really saw was the one coming from windows at school hallways when I walked to another class. The classroom windows were always covered in curtains, so no sunlight for students I guess. My point is that winter times are the most “gloomy” times for a Finn. It’s no wonder, if you barely see any light for months. In northernmost Finland the sun doesn’t even rise above the horizon at all in the winter. (source) But it’s not only the darkness that makes us feel miserable. It’s the weather. In my personal opinion snow is absolutely beautiful, when I’m inside. I love looking at snowy landscapes and all that but I hate walking in the snow, especially when it’s up to your knees. We don’t have those kinda winters anymore in the south of Finland where I lived. Starting from couple of years ago we have had mostly rain during winter instead of snow. And guess what’s raining in the summer? especially in midsummer? Snow. It was so depressing to wake up in the Christmas morning to see no snow in the ground. Instead the ground was all muddy and disgusting from the rain. We even have a Christmas song where it says “If snow doesn’t rain on Christmas, can Santa even come?” or something like that, I know, a poor translation, but you get my point. But the Finnish winter doesn’t feel like winter if there’s no snow to almost drown in. I miss those kind of winters. If you go to Lapland, there should be plenty of snow. Just quickly gonna mention that summers are horrible, too. Just constant rain, and sometimes as I said, snow.

I’m sorry, this is turning out a lot longer than I thought but I just have so much on this topic. Next on, the alcoholism. I personally can’t be bothered to start talking about the alcohol regulations because I’m not that educated in them, but about the drinking culture I can talk about. (I will try to keep this short) It’s socially acceptable to be drunk. Everyone kinda expects you to get wasted, or at least have a drink, at a social gathering/party etc, at least from my own personal experience. We have a drink or two for pretty much any occasion, especially if we are in sauna. It’s incredibly satisfying to sit and sweat your ass off in a hot steamy sauna and drink a cold beer or cider, you gotta try it or else you can’t say that you ever even visited FInland. Anyways, It’s easy to fall off the wagon. At first you just drink something very light sometimes and suddenly you find yourself hammered every other day, or wishing you were which is pretty much my case. What I’m saying is that I guess in Finland it’s easy to adopt these bad habits when it comes to drinking. And I think it’s pretty obvious but sadly it’s not that long way from alcoholism to death. When it’s midsummer, everybody gets drunk. The majority usually goes to celebrate it to their summer cottages, which happen to be near lakes. Some of them think it’s a good idea to go for a swim, or just fool around the lake, when you’re drunk. Every midsummer the death count is high. In 2017 it was 6. In 2016 it was 14. In 2015 it was 9. In 2010 it was 21. The reason for these deaths is not always drowning, it’s also drunk driving and fights.

I think I should stop this here, not only because my work is starting soon but also because I don’t want to possibly frighten you anymore. But when you come to Finland, keep in mind that these are the “stereotypes”. Not every Finn is emotionless and secretly craves death and seek solace in a vodka bottle. Just a little tip: don’t small talk with a finn and dont greet them with a kiss or a hug when you see them. It’s incredibly uncomfortable for us, especially if you’re not close to the Finn. I feel like dying every time when I’m getting kisses or hugs here in Ireland. Also there’s no such thing as “awkward silence” in Finland. Most of us enjoy the silence.

Again, this was from my own personal experience. Some other Finn from a different part of the country might disagree with some of these. (Would be glad to hear if any Finns reading this). Thanks for asking and i hope you really enjoy your stay in Finland. (Also I have to apologize, this was kinda rushed and probably incoherent but I guess I got my opinions out on this case pretty well)

Edit: wait, you did want my opinion on the case of depression and alcoholics in Finland and not about the field and desk research? Sorry it’s monday

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oselatra · 6 years

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Committed to achievement

Nonprofit puts young black scholars on path to college and success.

Carré Sadler remembers hearing about college in the first grade. The message: It was attainable. "I've always worked toward that goal," said Carré, who describes herself as an "ambitious" student and who just completed her junior year at North Little Rock High School.

Her mother, Carlotta Sadler, said she also always saw college in her daughter's future, but did not think the family could afford to send her anywhere but a two-year college.

But in the ninth grade, Carré was admitted into Arkansas Commitment, a Little Rock-based nonprofit program created in 1999 that works to match high-achieving minority kids in Central Arkansas with colleges that meet their academic criteria. The program, which is free to students, teaches them interview skills, provides them with intensive ACT prep, connects them to elite colleges across the country and helps them navigate the financial aid landscape. After several years in the program, Carré's top college choice is the University of Pennsylvania, an Ivy League school. "Before Arkansas Commitment, we would've been like, "That's a reach," Carlotta Sadler said. "But now, it doesn't seem like much of one."

Arkansas Commitment provides a questionnaire to selected students when they enter the program in ninth grade. About 50 percent say they don't have any idea what colleges are looking for and don't think college is attainable. Thirty-five percent say they can't afford it. By the end of the program, those numbers drop close to zero.

"Especially low-income, first-generation students and undocumented students, a lot of them just feel discouraged when they see the price tag of some of these schools. Like, '$70,000 — there's no way my parents can do that,' " Arkansas Commitment Executive Director Darren Morgan said. But many school scholarships are need-based. "We teach them, if you follow these guidelines, not only will you get into college, you can get it paid for." If Morgan can successfully communicate that attending an elite college is attainable to students in the ninth or 10th grade, "they're more intentional in their studies, in what classes they select, more focused throughout the day in terms of getting that A, or taking that AP course or opting for that harder course," he said.

Morgan, 32, knows the arcane and often biased world of college recruitment well. He graduated from public high school in Atlanta, attended Davidson College in North Carolina and, after working as a banker for a time, returned to Davidson as an admissions counselor, eventually working his way up to assistant dean.

"What used to frustrate me is that we talk a lot about recruitment and diversity and getting good kids on campus, but we only talk to students in their 12th grade year. At that point, when they're applying to these highly selective schools, like Yale or Vanderbilt, it's too late to get them to change anything about their application," Morgan said.

He also pointed to a recent study by researchers at UCLA and the University of Arizona that found that colleges tend to visit richer, whiter high schools on recruiting trips. That study reflected his experience at Davidson. When he visited Little Rock on behalf of the college, he would go schools like Pulaski Academy and Little Rock Christian. "So we're only getting the kids who're intent on getting out of state, whose parents did that. We had our marching orders. We had to get those kids. But that leaves out a lot of really smart kids."

***

Longtime Little Rock City Director Dean Kumpuris started Arkansas Commitment as a way to help promising black students in Central Arkansas reach their highest potential. The idea was "to promote the best and brightest kids and get them to return [to Arkansas] to be tomorrow's leaders," Kumpuris said. Since the program's founding, about 760 kids have passed through it, Morgan estimated. Since 2010, when the nonprofit began actively tracking its success, 320 students have graduated from the program. All of them went on to enroll in four-year colleges and earned a cumulative $29 million in scholarships. This year's Arkansas Commitment senior class of 30 students was offered $9.6 million in first-year scholarships by 48 colleges. They will enroll in 17 colleges and accept $3.24 million of those scholarship offers.

Kumpuris modeled the program on the Memphis Challenge, a college prep nonprofit for black students started by Pitt Hyde, the founder of AutoZone, and recruited Tom Eppley, director of the Memphis program, to start Arkansas Commitment.

Eppley, Kumpuris, activist and philanthropist Clarice Miller and City Manager Bruce Moore were met with skepticism when they convened a group of local high school counselors and families to pitch the program. Kumpuris recalls a grandmother coming up to him after the presentation and saying, "I don't get it. What's the catch? What do you want? Why are you doing this? No one ever offers something to us."

The catch — or at least Kumpuris' initial hope — was that Arkansas Commitment students would bring their degrees back to Central Arkansas. One of the most prominent alums, Charles Blake, who was just elected to a third term in the state House of Representatives, internalized that while going through the program in its early years. "It's there in the name, 'Arkansas Commitment.' You make a commitment to bring your skills back to Arkansas and provide a return on investment."

Thanks to exposure through Arkansas Commitment, the Central High graduate attended Grinnell College, a prestigious liberal arts college in Grinnell, Iowa. The campus had more Africans than African Americans, Blake said. "It prided itself on having students from all 50 states and 51 different countries," he said. "That's the first time I'd seen that kind of diversity."

Through Arkansas Commitment, he got an internship at Regions Bank under the regional CEO, Jack Fleischauer, for three summers during college. A month before graduation, Fleischauer offered him a job. He started a week after graduation. Blake spent almost a decade at Regions. He now owns a nonemergency medical transport business.

Blake credits Arkansas Commitment and his Regions internship with positioning him to be successful. He says Kumpuris doesn't get enough credit. "He's been the steam in this engine," Blake said. "[Former state Rep. and Southern Bancorp CEO] Darrin Williams says, 'I can tell what your priorities are by looking at your checkbook.' " The financial investment, sweat and energy Kumpuris has put into the program "speaks volumes," Blake said.

"A diverse economy is an economy that's going to grow," Blake said. "We have to make sure we're building up our African-American and Hispanic communities. It has to be intentional. It takes a commitment."

Arkansas Commitment had $184,668 in revenue and $178,157 in expenses in 2015, according to its 2016 990 tax form, the most recent available. Its board is a who's who of Little Rock power brokers: Kumpuris, Moore, Warren Stephens, Khayyam Eddings, Jerry Adams, Eddie Drilling, Susie Smith and Bill Paschall. The board and the Little Rock business community have always almost entirely paid for the program, Kumpuris said.

But Kumpuris acknowledges that it was a bit "Pollyanna-ish" of him to expect that all, or even most, of the students who passed through Arkansas Commitment would return to the state.

Like Parkview grad Earnest Sweat. Sweat, an alumnus of Arkansas Commitment in its early years, went on to Columbia University in New York for a B.A., and to Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management in Evanston, Ill., for an M.B.A. He started his career in investment banking and is now a start-up investor and adviser and corporate venture capitalist in San Francisco.

"I didn't know what investment banking was while I was in Arkansas," Sweat said. "I didn't know what a venture capitalist was in college."

Sweat, 33, credits Arkansas Commitment for putting him on the path to success.

"It was great to find that community of other black and brown folks who were doing exceptional things. I'm a true believer that iron sharpens iron. Being around people who had ambitions that were similar or even greater than mine pushed me and gave me the confidence to push myself when it came to thinking about college and where to go."

But come back to Little Rock? Unlikely, Sweat said, though he said he would love to invest in an Arkansas start-up.

***

Antwan Phillips, 33, is a Little Rock politico, activist and partner at the Wright Lindsey Jennings law firm whose specialties include personal injury defense and trucking litigation. (He also hosts a podcast, "Rock the Culture," which the Arkansas Times distributes, and contributes guest columns. He's close friends with Blake, who regularly co-hosts the podcast.) Phillips is the poster child for Arkansas Commitment, Kumpuris said.

Phillips, who believes there's a Jay-Z quote for every occasion, pulled one from the rapper's obscure 2010 song "Most Kingz" when talking about how far he's traveled since childhood: "Everybody look at you strange, say you changed/Like you work that hard to stay the same."

"In 2002, if you'd have asked me to pull out my cell phone and call someone who was not black, I couldn't have done it," Phillips said. Aside from a trip once to Dallas and a brief time living in North Little Rock, "I didn't know the world outside of Southwest Little Rock," he said.

His family had "limited means" growing up and his father was absent. His mother stressed academic achievement. When he was in seventh grade, he was preparing for his spring formal dance. His mom had taken him to buy some new pants. Then his report card came. He had a 3.6 grade point average. His mom told him he couldn't go to the dance. He'd had a 3.8 the nine weeks before, and his mom wouldn't abide by his grades slipping. "I was so upset with her," Phillips said. "I remember very vividly going to my room and sitting on my bed and saying, 'I wish she was dead. Like, how stupid is this woman that I've got a 3.6 and she's not letting me go to the dance?' " The memory sticks with him because, unbeknownst to him at the time, his mom had cancer. She died later that year.

His mother's insistence on high achievement drove him, Phillips said. "[Education] was important to me because it was important to her. I think she knew, for my life to be different, that education was going to be the avenue."

Phillips excelled at Little Rock McClellan High School and played on the school's basketball team. His goal was to go to Florida State University in Tallahassee and play basketball. "I thought I was good enough to play basketball there because their basketball team wasn't that good," he said, laughing. But then a friend, Tiffany Gunn, who was a senior when Phillips was a junior, told him about Arkansas Commitment. (Gunn, now Tiffany Frazier, was also an Arkansas Commitment student. She went to the University of Notre Dame, where she had an outstanding track career, and then earned an M.B.A. and a law degree. She is now director of product safety and compliance at Walmart.) Phillips asked for an introduction to Eppley, who was leading Arkansas Commitment at the time, and talked his way into the program.

The experience broadened his sense of what was possible and gave him a new set of peers.

"Once you get involved in Arkansas Commitment, you get involved with a bunch of other kids who are excelling. There were a handful of us in AP classes at McClellan. Now, there are 25 people who look like me and like doing well at school," he said.

He got exposed to colleges he had never heard of and warmed to "the value of having a different experience than the one I grew up knowing." No one in his immediate or extended family had graduated from college.

In high school, he made a to-do list that included, among other things, to become the state's first black governor and to visit all 50 states. So when Bowdoin College, a well-regarded small liberal arts college in Brunswick, Maine, offered to fly him in for a visit, he figured at least he'd get to check a far-off state from his list. But he fell hard for the college and, despite some trepidation that it was going to turn him into Carlton from "The Fresh Prince of Bel Air," when Bowdoin offered him a full scholarship that also included money to travel to and from Little Rock, he accepted.

He had a white roommate, with whom he grew close. He learned to "navigate different situations and environments" that were foreign to his childhood. When he returned for the summer, he got an internship at Metropolitan National Bank through Arkansas Commitment. Because of his time at Bowdoin, he was comfortable with people who didn't look like him. He met and worked with local banking luminaries Virgil Miller, Susie Smith and Lunsford Bridges. He interned with U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor and in the city manager's office with Moore. "It's not weird. I'm not shell-shocked," he remembered feeling during those internships. "I'm not like, 'Oh, I can't be me.' ... I don't think I'm able to do that if I go to a different school."

Phillips says going to Bowdoin was the third best decision he's made in his life, behind his faith and deciding to ask his wife to marry him. "I'm not who I am without going to Bowdoin, and I'm not who I am without Arkansas Commitment," he said.

Phillips' maternal grandmother had 13 children, all of whom had at least four children. Phillips was the second person in the family to graduate from college — and only second because a cousin graduated a few weeks earlier.

His sister, Jasmine Phillips, was third. Seven years younger, she, too, passed through Arkansas Commitment, an experience she describes as "important in trying to change the trajectory" in her life. She also went to school in Maine, to Colby College, a small, highly regarded liberal arts school in Waterville. From there, she got a master's degree in education from Penn. She's a college counselor at the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts in Hot Springs, where she provides a similar service as Arkansas Commitment. A nephew, 13, will soon be old enough to enter Arkansas Commitment. She hopes he gets accepted, but regardless, she has the skills to help him position himself to be admitted to an elite college.

***

Director Morgan is in his second year leading Arkansas Commitment. The core of the program involves around 120 kids, 40 in grades 9-12. Kids apply in the ninth grade and Morgan considers their GPA, how many AP classes they've taken and a 300-character statement ("That's not a big deal; they text longer than that," Morgan said with a laugh). Students in the program come from 14 different schools, mostly in Central Arkansas, though that's not a requirement (one student attends ASMSA). All the students are minorities and most are black, though Morgan said that was not a requirement. Students participate in a seven-week ACT prep class and have access to tutoring. During spring break of their junior year, they visit a series of colleges. This year, the group toured schools in Tennessee: Rhodes College in Memphis; Fisk and Vanderbilt universities in Nashville; and The University of the South in Sewanee. "That's something a lot of kids don't get to do," Carlotta Sadler said. Her daughter Carré was on the Tennessee trip this year. "A lot of kids just make decisions based on what's on a piece of paper. [Getting to take this trip] was almost a game changer."

Arkansas Commitment has official partnerships with six universities, who pay an annual fee to support the program: Hendrix College, Sewanee, Vanderbilt, Washington University in St. Louis, Colorado College in Colorado Springs, Colo., and Washington & Lee University in Lexington, Va. All those schools and other unofficial partners — including Yale; Pomona College in Claremont, Calif.; Grinnell; Amherst College in Amherst, Mass.; and Williams in Williamstown, Mass. — agree to fly Arkansas Commitment students in for all-expenses-paid visits.

Arkansas Commitment students also participate in local service projects, with partners such as the Arkansas Food Bank and the Mosaic Templars Cultural Center, and have the opportunity to participate in summer programs.

Chase Swinton, who just completed her junior year at Sylvan Hills High School in Sherwood, got to participate in a five-week biology program at Washington University. "It was a really eye-opening experience, being five and a half hours away from home by myself, taking college credit classes in a subject I want to major in. I was the only African American and the only female in the class," Chase said. She said she'd expected that being in the extreme minority was something she would encounter on her planned path to becoming a neurologist or research physician, but that experiencing it was useful. Five Arkansas Commitment students participate in the Washington University program each year.

Chase will participate this summer in another program affiliated with Arkansas Commitment: a science/medical research internship at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. UAMS provides opportunities for as many as 10 Arkansas Commitment students.

Both Morgan and Kumpuris say they'd like to expand the core program. In the meantime, Morgan is working to broaden Arkansas Commitment's reach. To raise the college matriculation rate throughout Central Arkansas, he's partnered with North Little Rock High School, eSTEM Charter High School, Central High School and Hall High School to offer five-part admissions workshops, teaching kids what colleges are looking for, how to make their applications stand out and how to write a perfect admissions essay. Those programs reach about 660 kids.

In the past, Arkansas Commitment hosted private college fairs. Now, Morgan makes sure to open fairs to all students. Last week, he worked with North Little Rock High School to host a free financial aid workshop with representatives from Pomona and Yale.

Arkansas Commitment celebrates its graduates every year with "The Bow Tie Bash" (a nod to Kumpuris, who is known for wearing bow ties). This year's event will be held 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 6, at the Clinton Presidential Center. Tickets are $100 ($50 for alumni). Morgan also said there's a pay-what-you-can option for people who can't afford fundraiser prices.

At the event, one is sure to find parents like Carlotta Sadler singing the program's praises. "Every time I see someone, I say, 'You need to get your child in Arkansas Commitment!' "

Committed to achievement

#Committed to achievement

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