Meghan Manning '14, Currently on the U.S. Tour of "Moulin Rouge! The Musical," Leads Master Class with School of Dance Students Alumni Profile
Meet Meghan Manning '14
- Job Title & Employer
- Ensemble, U.S. Tour, "Moulin Rouge! The Musical"
- Major/Program
- Dance (jazz)
- Hometown
- Pittsburgh, Pa.
- High School
- Peters Township High School
"I was so happy to visit Point Park to share my industry experiences with senior jazz students. I spoke about my career path since graduating from Point Park, how I've been able to pivot to sustain a long dance career and answered their questions."
Why did you choose Point Park University?
I chose Point Park University because of its well-rounded dance program offerings. Many schools offer a ballet and modern concentration, and Point Park also offers a jazz concentration, which I found to be necessary for me. I was excited to learn about the recent addition of the hip hop concentration during my campus visit.
How did your undergraduate experiences and training set you up for success in the industry?
As a dance major at Point Park, you are surrounded by high-level talent every day. I was always trying to better my technique because my classmates were hard-working and well-rounded dancers. Also, having the opportunity to audition for Conservatory Dance Company shows as a student prepared me well. For example, even though you audition for a show, it doesn't mean you will book that show. Point Park taught me that there will be jobs you get, jobs you don't get and jobs that your friends get that you won't. It's important to continue on your journey regardless of the outcome.
Highlight key roles in your career.
- Brooklynettes Dance Team, Brooklyn Nets
- "The Merry Widow" and "La Traviata," Metropolitan Opera
- Oscars, Grammy Awards, MTV Video Music Awards, plus a variety of work for television, film and commercials
- "Grease," "Funny Girl" and "Moulin Rouge! The Musical"
Tell us about your current role in "Moulin Rouge! The Musical."
Being in "Moulin Rouge! The Musical" has been the highlight of my career thus far. It's the exact dance movement that I've always loved to do, and I get to do the entire show eight times a week. The audition process was long for me, but I never gave up on this dream. I first auditioned in 2019 and received great feedback, but there wasn't a spot for me. Fast forward a few years and I landed a role in the ensemble of the North American Tour.
This experience, and many others in my career, is a reminder that there are so many reasons behind the audition table that may keep you from securing a role that are out of your control. Keep auditioning, trust your agent's feedback and audition for as many things as you can. I like to think of it as putting as many different bottles out into the ocean and to be grateful for whatever opportunity comes my way.
During your tour break from "Moulin Rouge! The Musical," you returned to campus to lead a master class. Tell us more about that.
I was so happy to visit Point Park to share my industry experiences with senior jazz students. I spoke about my career path since graduating from Point Park, how I've been able to pivot to sustain a long dance career and answered their questions. It was so important for me to hear their questions and have an open dialogue. I hope the students felt encouraged that there are so many options for them after they graduate. After that, I taught them the audition combo from "Moulin Rouge!" and we had some fun in the beautiful George Rowland White Performance Center studio together.