Golden Child Play

When I originally changed my major, Fall 2015, I was weary of the prospect of taking acting classes. It further made me rethink my decision, when I entered the class on the first day and we placed our chairs in a circle. I am used to talking in front of large groups so I wasn't concerned with stage fright. However I was concerned about my ability to memorize lines, put emotion with them and portray what the text intended.

Theatre has a different meaning for everyone who encounters it. Over the years theatre has given me a lot. It has given me an outlet, a way to express myself. In fact one of my mentors said that, “It isn’t about impressing, but about expressing,” and that really resonated with me, as that’s what I really believe theatre is about. Also, theatre has given me a safe place that I can always turn to. In addition, I have learned many life lessons through theatre, such as, dedication and work ethic. It has also taught me about the sanctity of communication and individuality. My most valuable high school memories and experiences have stemmed from theatre. When I look back on my high school years I won’t remember the classes I took and the grades I received, but I will remember the shows I participated in because they have shaped the person I have become and have been some of the most impactful moments in my life.

Walking into the auditorium for my first audition in high school, my mind raced with fears and anxieties. I auditioned with a group of friends for the production of In the Heights. Immediately, I realized the high school’s drama program differed greatly from the middle school’s. The directors expected the students to prepare their song ahead of the time. My group had little to no preparation; It was the definition of “winging it.” When returning home, I began brainstorming other after school activities I could join because of the poor performance my group and I put on. Shockingly, I made the show and every show since. That moment changed my life for the better. Freshman year I was a shy, insecure student afraid of socializing with the others. Today, in my senior year, I am no longer that person. I am a confident young

As a shy, reserved student, I found myself blossoming through the stage. I fell in love with the stage and auditioned for the middle school's play, A Christmas Carol. Fortunately, I was casted in the performance. I loved the experience so much that I auditioned for the next year's play and musical and got a part in those as well. The more time I spent on stage, the more confident I became. I felt like the stage was where I belonged. I had a passion for theater that began to distinguish like a flame when I entered high school.

The morning of the dress rehearsal I go over my lines once more. The cast was told that we would go to first and second and then leave for third. Some people were so nervous they were biting, some running around with excitement. As for me I feel excited but as the show gets closer and closer my mind is having confits. We get to the stage and put on our costumes and makeup. My hands were so shaky I had to have someone else do my make up.

During my high school experience, I have truly embraced the arts, specifically performing arts. Tri-School Theatre (an extra-curricular, educational theatre program) has been a great opportunity where I have been able to appreciate my talents while learning about theatre with other students. Being an active leader in this program, I constantly collaborate with students for rehearsals and events; after my junior year of high school, I was nominated to be an assistant director for a children’s production, Aladdin Jr. Having much enthusiasm for the arts and promoting theatre at school, I was thrilled with this opportunity. Theatre has strengthened my self-confidence,

It was the winter of 2014 when my mother forced me to go to The Corner Health Center Theatre Troupe. I was livid, and acting at the time was something that I was terrified of. I felt as if I was a bird being pushed from the nest too early. I knew there was no possible way that I could be able to: one,talk to strangers, two, learn a script,

When first starting; theatre only seemed like a hobby. Performing did not sound like an ideal career for my life. Being familiar with performing, joining theatre seemed to be a simple task. Prior to high school, my only experience was a play in middle school, but no performances that made my heart yearn for more. Freshman year, I took theatre as a class, but was not interested in getting involved with events outside of the course. After a year of convincing from my teacher and peers, we settled on an agreement that I would audition for the upcoming show my sophomore year: Tarzan. After auditioning, being cast, and beginning to work with my director and peers, I felt a renowned connection to those around me, and to the art itself. After our first full run of the show, the flame was ignited. There were fireworks; a feeling that had never experienced in all my years of performing. At last, the passion was coming from within. From that point I  was excited to watch my theatre career kick off: but that wasn’t the case. That wasn’t the case at

Since I was eleven years old, I have known that I wanted to act. It was something that my parents never particularly encouraged, nor supported, but the seed was planted. I was sixteen when I first stepped into my high school’s theatre for my first day of drama class, and it changed my life. I felt at home and I would even call it the point of my salvation. From discovering the theatre and joining the world of the performing arts, I have grown so much as a person and have found a sense of self and purpose that I didn’t have before. I could not have imagined that I would, or even could, have the immense passion for acting and theatre that I have today, and it is beyond me how I became so lucky as to find something that makes me so incredibly

I had to practice audition songs and study my monologues relentlessly. I remember the first time that he really pushed me out of my comfort zone when I was cast as Ellerd in The Foreigner my freshman year. My director sat me down and had a candid talk with me, “Hey, this is a big role for a little person like you. I’m going to be hard on you because if you want these kinds of roles, this is where it will begin.” This was an instant wake up call. Opening night reared its ugly head, and everyone was going through their pre-show routine. As I was getting miced up, my director found me and had another one of his famous talks, “This is a big night for you, your first big role. I want you to know that I’m going to be your biggest cheerleader out there tonight. But these past few weeks rehearsing and practicing are finally going to pay off. And I want you to know that your performance tonight will show me if you are ready for the big leagues next year. So don’t be nervous, you’ll do great.” As I was entranced by his words, it finally hit me: he wants me to be in the future productions. He must really see me as an asset to the theater department. Maybe the stage is where I belong. Maybe I’ll really blow his mind with this performance, and that's exactly what I did. I nailed every line, the dialogue flowing out of me, almost like there was no script. As we finished our curtain call, we all stumbled off the stage to meet our audience for autographs and the occasional picture, but as I was leaving to greet my fans, my director stopped me with the biggest grin on his face. He explained how proud he was. I showed him exactly what he wanted.. Because of that performance, Mr. Nesseth saw me in a whole new way that gave me confidence and the foundation for greater

It is about the same knowledge I gained by being in dance, except it is a different form of fine arts, in a different setting, and with different people. This experience has only added to my ability to apply the previous knowledge and skills that I have gained. Inclusively, I have gained leadership skills, since I happen to be the Historian for the Company and 73 individuals look up to me and to the example that I, as an officer, set. I have learned that theatre is a physical art in which there is no such thing as personal space. I have learned that my body speaks a language of its own on stage and that I must use it to portray exactly what comes out of my mouth. Additionally, in respect to when I speak, I learned that I must annunciate and work on my diction so that the people I talk to daily or who watch any performance will be able to clearly understand what is said. Moreover, I have learned that after material is rehearsed a thousand times, it becomes boring and the actors may lose interest in performing it as they once did. Despite that, an actor should always have the ability to display the illusion of the first time as if they had never in their lives endured repetition of the same

In the fall of my junior year I began working with my Dean to form an accelerated Independent Study dedicated to the study of acting and the practice of performance techniques. I continued this Independent Study in my senior year. Since I am pursuing a career in acting, I wanted to devote myself to in depth character analysis, monologue study, and acting methods. I benefited greatly from the one-on-one interaction with my Dean as my director. Not only has she taught acting at MICDS, but she is a working actress. This unique experience allowed me to receive immediate feedback regarding my acting skills, performances, and practice the necessary skill of taking direction. I have not only grown as an actress, but have grown as an individual. I

My mom knew I was beginning to have a passion for theatre she also knew I had to overcome my extreme shyness . She made the decision to take me out of my small school, and enroll me in a public middle school that offered theatre, From that point on, my life changed. I made new friends, I got involved with after school activities and sports. One day while picking me up from softball my mom wanted to take me to see a play called “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” at The Philadelphia High School for the Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA). I knew from that moment that CAPA was the school I wanted to

The cast list for the upcoming spring play was finally posted. We had been waiting anxiously for it and there it was. Audition day was the most nerve-wracking experience I had ever had as a freshman in high school. I wanted everything perfect so when I completely froze and forgot the next part of my monologue, you can imagine how terrified I was. From that moment on, it was prayer and improvisation. As I continued to scan for my name, my hands were shaking uncontrollably. I made it. I do not think any freshman girl could have been more excited than me at the moment. I felt so accomplished. The first rehearsal was incredible but little did I know what great blessing God had hidden in this entire experience.

Standing on an empty stage brings a different feeling to an actor than it would have to the audience. The midnight curtains swaying from the soft breeze through the holes in the ceiling, and the vast open space that can immediately be turned into another world carrying you away from reality. For me, being an actor, brings a sense of home and peacefulness. It's where I belong. But it didn’t start off this way. I entered my junior year with my sights on engaging in theatre more but was sadly hindered from continuing. I had all my classes set, but theatre hadn't managed to fit into it. How could I grow as an actor when the only knowledge I was getting were constructing sets and being in shows? I wasn’t getting the experience to learn about the history of theatre or techniques that would allow me to grow as an actor. So I sat back, riding my way through junior year anxiously waiting till my second semester to change my classes and anticipating the annual musical auditions. I will never forget the day the cast list for the musical came in. I was lying on my bed around