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Experiential Learning

Young Performer Luke Rands Finds His Place in NYC

Rands shares the unique opportunity he had to learn from and train with top professionals in the entertainment industry, thanks to the Oscarson Grant

A native of Cary, Illinois, Music Dance Theatre (MDT) student Luke Rands found his passion for performance early in life. Rands trained as a competitive gymnast for six years before finding that he had a talent for dancing and acting.

“As a kid, I would always do impressions of the girl gymnasts dancing their floor routines to make my teammates laugh,” said Rands. “I realized there was something there.”

Rands then signed up for dance classes and got involved with his high school’s musicals and show choir. Thus was his love for musical theatre born.

A young man with freckles and curly red hair
Photo by Photo courtesy of Luke Rands.

“I worked hard in high school, and began training full time at BYU as a freshman in the Music Dance Theater BFA program,” Rands recalled. “After my freshman year I worked regionally at Music Theatre Wichita, and after my final bow in ‘Newsies,’ left to serve as a missionary in Thailand.”

Following his missionary service, Rands continued his education at BYU and is now in his final semester with plans to move to New York City after graduation to pursue a career in the entertainment industry.

BYU has given Rands many gifts during his time in the program. One of these gifts has been the opportunity to participate in the LINK theatre program, which connects acting students with agents and casting directors as the young performers build their networks. Rands received an Oscarson Discovery Grant to travel to New York and participate in the program. Over the course of two weeks, Rands and other students from across the country performed for top professionals in the industry at an Off-Broadway theater on 42nd Street.

“It was a special feeling knowing that so many of the names I’ve googled for school projects were sitting in a room with the purpose of watching and getting to know me,” said Rands. “Because of the showcase, I received offers from five agencies who want to represent me as an actor. . . . The opportunity to sign with one of these agencies is huge for me, especially since I am graduating into a pandemic where in-person public auditions are not currently being held.”

Rands said that the opportunity to take classes with these experts in the LINK program was “single-handedly the most important step I’ve taken into launching my career.” While at any other audition setting Rands would only have a few minutes to make an impression on the agents and casting directors, the experience at LINK provided him with a unique opportunity to attend classes by these professionals and show them that he could take direction and apply notes quickly. “It allowed for a much more personal connection with prominent casting directors, choreographers, and directors,” he said.

A group of young performers poses for a photo in colorful shirts and black pants.
Photo by Photo courtesy of Luke Rands.

Rands recalled two experiences during the program with a casting director and a choreographer.

“I had a class with a casting director from The Telsey Office,” Rands said. “She had me sing a song and coached the acting with me, and I could see what worked for her. Then she had me sing two more songs, I applied her notes, and she said she didn’t have anything to say because they were already great.”

The next day Rands received an email from her office requesting that he submit material for consideration for the five North American productions of “Hamilton.”

“I learned the audition and callback material and submitted it within the week,” said Rands.

Rands also had the opportunity to take a class with JoAnn Hunter, the choreographer for “School of Rock” on Broadway.

“I could tell she really liked me,” said Rands. “She came to our showcase, and the director of LINK approached me and told me she requested that I audition for the new ‘Cinderella’ Broadway show coming over from London this April.”

A group of young performers poses for a photo on an empty stage.
Photo by Photo courtesy of Luke Rands.

As he prepares to enter into the entertainment industry, Rands said that being able to participate in the LINK program is “a gift that will carry me throughout my young professional life.”

He continued, “Who knows if I will book ‘Hamilton’ or ‘Cinderella’ from this experience, but the confidence boost alone is priceless. It’s scary to choose the path of an artist, but knowing I’m on the right path will help me as I transition from school to NYC.”

Rands said that the experience also gifted him connections with other young performing artists.

“Meeting, living with and working daily with some of the most talented actors from the best college programs across America was something that I didn’t know I needed,” he said. “They are now my close friends, my community and the people I will get to do my career with. Their success feels like my success, and I know they feel the same.”

The young performer thanked BYU and the Oscarson family for the gift of this unique experience. “I am so incredibly grateful for the Oscarson family for helping make this opportunity possible for me,” said Rands. “It will continue to bless me for years.”

Check out Rands' work on his Instagram @lukerands and his website lukerands.com.