Youtheatre Encore Spotlight

In what ways did your experience with Youtheatre influence who you are today—both personally and professionally?

One of the biggest impacts from my time in Youtheatre was the experience of working both with kids my age and also adults. Working on a project with a group of kids your age is very different than working on a project with folks of all ages. Being part of the technical crew also gave me the opportunity to take responsibility for some of the creative decisions behind the sound, lighting, and set design. Being responsible for some of the technical decisions helped to give me some confidence voicing my opinion that I might not otherwise have gained.

What lessons, skills, or values from your time in Youtheatre continue to shape your life or work today?

Personal responsibility, teamwork, leadership, creativity, and trust

Is there a specific production, role, or moment from Youtheatre that has stayed with you over the years? What makes it meaningful to you?

 I participated in Youtheatre for a number of years and I think different productions had different meanings to me. I remember during my first production, Seussical, I was very nervous but excited to learn new things and help out. In some of the later productions, my role was very different and I had the opportunity to mentor and teach those new nervous kids about all the ins and outs of technical theatre.

Where has life taken you since your Youtheatre days? Share a bit about your current career, creative work, or passions.

I attended Harding University and earned a degree in Software Development. Since then, I have been working various software-related jobs in Tennessee and now back in Findlay. I enjoy carpentry and woodworking as hobbies and still use skills I learned from set construction in my projects.

What advice or encouragement would you share with today’s Youtheatre students?

Enjoy your time in theatre. It goes by quickly but some of my most enjoyable times in high school came from Youtheatre so make sure to appreciate it!

My experience in Youtheatre helped influence who I am today by really helping me get to know others through the theatre and the shows that I was a part of and forming life-long friendships and relationships that will stay with me for a very, very long time. It also helped me with networking because of those connections I have kept professionally to help with career choices and job opportunities.

The skills and lessons I learned from my time in Youtheatre help me to shape my life by keeping the friends I have made and trying my absolute hardest to try and catch up with former cast members and keep up with my personal life by staying a part of the acting community as much as I can when I can.

For me, I think my time with the amazing cast of Shrek the Musical as Donkey, my senior year of high school in the fall of 2014, has stayed with me over the years, with the cast of the first time that I did Seussical Jr. all of those years ago as the Mayor of Whoville. Shrek, especially, has stayed with me because that was the first time I held a starring role. I had so much fun with that cast and if there was a way I could do it all again, I totally would.

Since my Youtheatre days ended 11 years ago, I have held several retail jobs, tried to stay in productions as much as I could, got my bachelor’s and master’s degrees in college, and still live here in Findlay, continuing my love and support for this amazing organization.

If there was one piece of advice and encouragement to today’s students, I would tell them to take every opportunity Youtheatre offers and if it seems scary at first, do not, under any circumstances, let that stop you from achieving your very best. Like my dear friend and former director Jim Toth, may he rest in peace, used to say, “Acting is reacting. You are up there to tell a story. Have the best time doing so.” 

In what ways did your experience with Youtheatre influence who you are today both personally and professionally?

My experience with Youtheatre helped guide me toward my current career as a teacher. I loved being able to help with the younger kids shows when I got older, and this allowed me to learn that I loved working with kids and helping them grow. In my personal life, it has given me countless friendships and an appreciation for what goes into putting on a production. I am still an avid supporter of the arts and love to see live theatre whenever possible!

What lessons, skills or values from your time in Youtheatre continue to shape your life or work today?

I have always attributed to Youtheatre to giving me confidence. I was an incredibly shy child, but stepping onto the stage really helped me leave that behind! Through Youtheatre, I learned how to think on my feet, work as a team, and some very great public speaking skills that are very beneficial in my career as a teacher and in my personal life. 

Is there a specific production, role or moment from Youtheatre that has stayed with you over the years? What makes it meaningful to you?

There are too many to share! One that definitely has stuck with me is when we did the play “Invasion of Zorgon”, it was about aliens coming to a diner to overtake it and eventually are stopped by enjoying a pizza. The makeup and costuming was a little out there, since they were aliens, and my face was painted fully white and hair in 5-6 braids that stuck out of my head. We all looked ridiculous, but that was absolutely the fun of it! It helped me understand that theatre people really are the best people and you can look absolutely wild and still have so much fun together. 

Where has life taken you since your Youtheatre days? Share a bit about your current career, creative work or passions. 

After Youtheatre, I attended Ashland University where I was fortunate enough to take part in two musicals. After college, I became a teacher and I’ve taught at a few different schools. I moved to Indiana to be with my now husband, where I am currently teaching fourth grade! I still support live theatre any time I can, and love to knit, tap dance, and try new hobbies!

What advice or encouragement would you share with today’s Youtheatre students?

Make as many new friends as possible, enjoy every moment, and keep performing! :)