The music theatre alumnus will perform in "Legally Blonde: The Musical" for Norwegian Cruise Line and he encourages current students to "always strive to bring something different to the table."
Recent Elon alumnus DeShawn Bowens will be journeying around the seas performing in Norwegian Cruise Line’s production of “Legally Blonde.” After going to the open dance call, Bowens received a callback in July, right before he had to head to Artpark in Lewiston, New York, for “Peter Pan.”
He was told he would be notified if he had to return to NYC for final callbacks.
“I had already left to start rehearsing for ‘Peter Pan’ and was truly nervous that the final callbacks would fall on a day that I would have a performance,” Bowens said. “I knew that if this was meant to be, God would work it out! Later on, I was notified about the specific days of the final callbacks. There were two days in my ‘Peter Pan’ contract where I did not have performances, and these were the two days that my final callbacks would be! I was able to fly back to NYC to do my final callbacks, then fly back to Buffalo just in time to do the last performances of ‘Peter Pan!’ A few days later, I received an offer!”
When asked about his experience rehearsing for the production, Bowens described that the rehearsal process was similar to that of educational and regional productions he has been in. However, on this contract, Bowens explained that he gets the best possible contract and deal working for a cruise line. “I perform ‘Legally Blonde’ at night, and the rest of the time, I get to go out and explore the many different exotic places the ship will make port. I’m getting to do what I love while I travel the world!”
Bowens said his Elon education prepared him in many ways for the real world and auditions.
“First off, I basically was required to audition for everything at school, which was great preparation for real world auditions, where you have to learn new material in a short amount of time, learn monologues, sing classical music and all different genres of music,” he said. “I also learned so much in the world of musical theatre dance, including famous Broadway combinations and the importance of acting through dance, which came in handy during these auditions for ‘Legally Blonde.’”
When asked what advice he had for current students looking to pursue musical theatre as a career, Bowens said they should be themselves.
“When you are auditioning, casting directors want to see you, not someone you think they want to see!” he said. “And never compare your artistry to someone else; always strive to bring something different to the table.”
Click this link to find more information about “Legally Blonde” on Norwegian Cruise Line: https://www.ncl.com/cruise-ship/getaway/whats-on-board/Entertainment