Sarah Slipp’s journey to success
Woodstock’s Sarah Slipp was drawn to the lights of the Big Apple and the Musical Theatre from a young age. Slipp’s eyes beamed at the sight of anything New York-related.
Her bedroom decor clearly showed how much she loved the city; the immense tapestry of the NYC skyline on her wall stood out every time someone stepped into her room. In her free time, she religiously rewatched seasons four to six of Glee, which followed some of the characters’ lives in the Concrete Jungle. Slipp’s life revolved around New York City.
“Moving to New York to pursue musical theatre was always the ultimate goal,” said Slipp, who now lives and composes in New York City.
Music had always been a part of her life. Slipp’s journey in the musical theatre began at the young age of four when she participated in the Standing Ovations Drama Camp. Still, her passion was sparked when she played music with her older brother, Cameron.
“We spent countless hours accompanying each other, playing musical theatre songs on the piano. One song that we sang a lot was Astonishing from the musical Little Women,” said Slipp. The favourite tune felt like a full-circle moment when one of her professors at NYU was Mindi Dickstein, who wrote the lyrics to Astonishing.
In Grade 8, Slipp had the opportunity to act in the Woodstock Middle School’s production of Into the Woods, playing the role of Jack’s Mother. This past fall, Slipp came full circle with the show, as she was asked to play the flute in an off-Broadway musical production.
“It was an amazing experience to perform in a show I’ve loved for years…That experience reinforced my commitment to continuing my career in music and theatre,” said Slipp.
In 2019, Slipp was accepted to Acadia University on the Chancellor’s Scholarship to study flute, a big step in her career. Over her years at Acadia University, Slipp composed music for three Acadia Theatre Company productions: A Trashcan History of the Crusades, Uncle Vanya, and Ophelia.
That is not the end of Slipp’s list of successes at Acadia University. In her first year, she achieved the almost impossible: she was selected as Principal Flute/Section Leader in the Acadia University Symphonic Band, a rare honour given to first-year students.
She was appointed Principal Flautist and Section Leader in the Acadia University Wind Ensemble in her final year.
After graduating early in 2022, thanks to her extra credits in high school and Acadia, Slipp faced a life-altering decision. She was accepted into the Dalhousie University Law program. However, she had also applied to NYU Tisch School of Arts for their Graduate Musical Theatre Writing program.
“I had originally planned to stay in Nova Scotia, close to family and friends. I was familiar with the community, and becoming a lawyer seemed like a stable and secure choice,” said Slipp.
But untimely, there was only one correct answer for Slipp; New York was calling her. Not only was she accepted into NYU, but she also received a scholarship big enough to make attending her dream school feasible.
Starting a new life in New York was daunting, not only because it was a new city but also because it was a new country. Life felt like a test. Her first year brought a roller coaster of emotions, riding to the tippy top and straight down to the bottom of the slope.
Slipp felt like a lost child trying to navigate her new life in the big city. Challenges such as studying the NYC subway system, figuring out American health insurance, and grocery shopping were new for Slipp as she had only ever lived in university dorms. These all made Slipp feel like she was covered in heavy chains.
“I had to get used to the fact that it often takes over an hour to get anywhere in the city and that there is no place to get garlic fingers, brown bread or a Coffee Crisp,” said Slipp.
However, the highs made her realize how much she truly loved the city, and she knew she had chosen the right career path. The simple things like making lifelong friends and finding an apartment in Brooklyn, just like the ones she had seen in her years of fantasizing, and incredible professors made each day feel like she was in Glee herself.
Slipp achieved many notable accomplishments during her years at NYU Tisch: She had been invited to play first flute for the NYU Steinhardt Broadway Orchestra, which Tony Award-winner Ted Sperling conducted, attended a Writing Retreat at Goodspeed Musicals, and her music was performed at Joe’s Pub.
Since graduating in May 2024, Slipp has continued working on a full-length musical, Bend Toward the Light, with lyricist and author Bryce Palmer. The story follows Asher and Willow, two fraternal twins whose relationship fell apart over the years. It follows Asher as he narrates an adventure he shared with Willow when they ventured through the woods to retrieve a time capsule buried by their late father and how the story ends with unforeseen events.
Slipp and her partner have just completed a reading (to a packed house of industry members, family and friends) of Bend Toward the Light, starring Alivia Quattrocki and Aaron Pierce, and the Dramatists Guild Foundation Music Hall. The show has been chosen for the New Works, New Voices Festival at Syracuse University. The festival is known for attracting Broadway-quality writers. Slipp and her team will present a staged reading at the festival in April. This will allow Slipp’s team to have talented students give life to the musical. The musical was recently selected for the Chicago Musical Theatre Festival in April.
“We’ve had the incredible opportunity to watch auditions and callbacks, where actors performed our original songs, and we even got to cast the show alongside our director,” said Slipp.
Although she is officially done with her studies in New York, Slipp isn’t ready to leave yet. The young musician has taken up three jobs teaching music to children.
“Early childhood education is my second passion, so blending both music and education has been an experience,” said Slipp.
She was also invited to be an orchestrator at the Maestra First Takes Program, strutting her skills on the flute and piano around town.
Slipp says her favourite place to work is at the Dramatists Guild Foundation in Manhattan, where she and Palmer collaborate on their show. The enormous windows with a view of the NYC skyline remind her how far she has come.
“In those moments, I often think about what my 15-year-old self would say if she could hear the stories of my life in New York City. I think she’d be in total disbelief,” said Slipp.
Slipp’s life has been a musical in itself. Her journey has been a trail of the highest highs and lowest lows, but that never fazed her; she knew she would never regret chasing her dreams. Music has been and forever will be an outlet for Slipp.
“Music, in particular, serves as a source of comfort and healing for so many people. Theatre, especially musical theatre, allows us to explore important societal issues through the lives of characters we come to care about,” said Slipp.
Slipp constantly thinks back to her time performing in her hometown’s music and drama programs; they were a genuine stepping stone in her love for music. Some of her fondest memories are from the school musicals she participated in.
“I will be forever grateful to the music and drama programs in my hometown, which set me on the path to where I am today,” said Slipp.
At 23, Slipp’s journey is just beginning. So much more lies ahead for this young musician.
“The best part is, they [dreams] continue to grow and unfold in unexpected ways every single day,” said Slipp.
– with files from Theresa Blackburn
