Personal Essay: I Am Passionate About Technical Theatre

The past four years, I have breathed, slept, eaten, thought and immersed myself in all thing pertaining to theatre. This is where I discovered to truly work in a team, where I could be without fear of being something I am not, and where I have found peace in the maddening swirl of day to day life, ironic in the fact that theatre is a hectic world. This world is where I have made my best friends and found people I know I can count on and that I insist can depend on me. If I have learned one thing from my experiences in theatre, it is to strive and achieve

Theater arts was not a personal preference, in fact, it was a decision made at the minute. From the very first day of class, I was challenged to come out of my comfort zone. In

Theatre means more to me than just something to do when I get bored or something I need to get through for high

I am very involved in theater here at Senior, for example, last year I played the part of Thenarier in Les Mis, it was super fun to play a character like that. I also do theater at Bellower theater here in Dubuque. It’s a smaller theater, but they have very fun summer shows for kids, I was in two of them over the summer 'The Happy Elf " and "The 25th" I played the character of Chip Tolentino. As of right now I am actually running the sound for a show called "Fish on Friday", it runs for 13 shows (but I get paid so it's all

This is exactly the kind of environment in which I hope to learn and grow as a performer. Going to school for theatre is more than just a pursuit of a degree, it is an opportunity to develop skills to become a well-rounded contributor to the world. In addition, I am also drawn to this program for the community of collaborative people it attracts, and productions students put on themselves in organizations such as Basement Arts and the Rude Mechanicals which work to make theatre accessible to

The first time that I watched a performance was when I was nine. My older brother got a lead in a production and my parents forced me to go. Once the house lights turned off and the stage lights came on, I felt like it was just me and the actors. I was caught. Acting was a crime and I the criminal. The lighting, the facial expressions, the blocking, it all captured my attention, and I couldn’t let it go, I can’t let it go. When the play ended, I asked my brother what I could do to get the chance to get up on that stage and he said, “Act,” Since that day, the only thing I did was act. I looked for monologues online and started getting really involved with other people that also enjoyed theater.

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,

Through the years I’ve done theatre as an extracurricular activity. I started when I was in 1st grade and I show no signs of stopping. Theatre has helped me grow in so many ways; I owe my

I joined crew and painted sets, worked the curtains, helped the prop master, and was a stage hand. I did not audition until the fall of my junior year for A Christmas Carol. I received the part of the Ghost of Christmas Future and caroler. Then in the spring I auditioned and was given the role of Emily Parrish in Phantom of the Soap Opera the Musical. I also started auditioning for shows at Muncie Civic Theatre and got into The Little Mermaid Jr. and Once on this Island Jr. both in which I was chorus. Each time I stepped on that stage I experienced the same thrill. The same rush of jittery ecstasy that I experienced for Romeo and Juliet. I was addicted.

Anderson Theatre has truly shaped me into the mature young adult I am today. My freshman year, I decided to join theatre not knowing what to expect. None of my friends were in theatre, and it was something I decided to do completely on my own. I walked into the first meeting, late because I had cheer practice, and sat in the back of the Fine Arts Room by myself. I then let cheerleading take over all of my time, and did not return to theatre until Dry Tech. That day, I walked in and started working. In that 12 hour day, I realized that doing hair and makeup is something I am really great at. In that 12 hour day, I met dozens of people with whom I am still friends with today. Because of Anderson Theatre, I met my best friend. I laughed more than

"Gin and guns—either one is bad enough, but together they get you in a dickens of a mess, don 't they."—Accused murderer Belva Gaertner, 1924 (National Geographic, N.D)

Musical theatre first sparked my interest in the summer between my fourth and fifth grade year, when I decided to participate in a local theater camp. Immediately, I knew that this world of lime lights and drama was where my dreams and passions would come to fruition. Ever since, I have dedicated myself to creating a life and a career in musical theatre. My academics have always been my top priority, musical theatre coming next.

Since starting in the field of technical theatre, it seems like it’s been show after show. A grand total of fourteen shows in two years, being involved in almost every technical aspect of each show, has solidified my career decision. No matter how stressful the shows have become, whether it was being the head costume designer for over 30 students in my second ever show, or creating fully functional weaponized props out of foam for an entirely improved performance, nothing in life could be

Acting moves me to explore and reflect the curiosities I have for the beauty and the ugliness of the human condition, and the big questions that affect the world. I want to use my passion for acting to be a storyteller, an artist, a communicator, a commentator that provokes thought and creates conversation from an audience through theatre, film, television, song, and radio, on life and on what connects us to the world around us. Acting is therapeutic, so magical, and a great adventure to me; there is not a thing that excites, fulfills me, or that I enjoy doing more than

One of my passions has been getting involved with the Otamatea Repertory Theatre over the last 5 years. This has been a second family for me. It was a great way to get to know people within the northland community and build long lasting friendships. I also helped behind the scenes in shows which was a valuable way to give back to the theatre and learn and appreaciate all skills involved in that area.