Bunker Performing Arts Scholarship

In my family, the arts are celebrated, cherished, and constantly commemorated. From the first moment I stepped on stage to closing night bows, the theater has always been my perfect passion. However, I have continued to pursue theater; it has shifted from a hobby to a growing devotion, and eventually, to a career. During a spring internship, I found myself behind the casting table, directing Hadestown. Between the last-minute scrambles with my choreographer and the countless hours spent analyzing specific musical beats, I discovered how to balance pressure with creativity. I learned how to maintain consistent hope in the face of adversity and to look beyond the initial script, into the mind of the creator. This made me realize: Musical theater is not only about the process of performing, but also the intentional artistry of every word, beat, and note. Those deliberate choices helped me realize why I love performing. My passion is rooted in the choices given to the performer; this freedom allows me to fully express myself in a uniquely human atmosphere. This is a drive that I desire to adapt and learn through my profession, and I believe a university program will provide the ideal environment to fuel and mentor that growth. Growing up in an artistic family, I actively participated in the arts by integrating theater into my personal and academic life. I began dance classes at the age of four, immediately enchanted by the fluidity of movement. Since then, I have trained in a wide range of styles from hip-hop to ballet, formally en pointe. I applied this training to high school performances such as Clue and SpongeBob the Musical, where I served as a dance captain while balancing the requirements of a principal character. With each performance, I learned to embody character and convey emotion through movement alone, deepening my appreciation for the interconnections of different art forms and strengthening my discipline and time management skills. While dance came naturally, developing my acting skills was a more significant challenge as I began training much later. I started acting through workshops at the Moonlight Amphitheater and with specialized coaches. A turning point was the La Jolla Playhouse Conservatory, where I worked with industry professionals and analyzed monologues daily, focusing on realistic character creation. I discovered the importance of subtext in a script, knowledge that later earned me the Adjudicators Award for my performance in The Diviners. My academic preparation in theater and dramaturgy has helped me develop critical thinking and analytical skills to fully convey a character's motivations. Singing was my initial passion, but for a while, I focused solely on vocal technique, without realizing the cohesiveness that was necessary within musical theater. Recently, I have branched out to learn choral singing, including how to blend within an ensemble, basic sight-reading skills, and discovering my artistic voice. With each performance opportunity, I discover a new way to express character and myself through song, whether through belting as Pearl Krabs or the mixed country accent of Margot Crawford. Applying this alongside my acting and dancing experience, I have learned to synthesize lyrics, movement, and subtext to become a true triple threat. Despite the high interest and talent among women in theatre, equal representation in professional productions remains inadequate. I aspire to bridge that gap, whether through directing or acting, as I believe that regardless of your gender, background, or race, you should have a say. Theatre speaks for those whose voices have been silenced. In a time of such great political turmoil, the arts are crucial to generating hope, determination, and a voice for the oppressed. I want to help spread these messages of persistent adversity and history by using my own voice for good and committing to the industry's evolution toward equality and diversity.

What I love most about performing is being able to have an impact on other people. Getting to express how I think and feel through dance is a privilege that I'm endlessly grateful for. Not only am I making an impact on other people but also Dance is something that helps me regulate myself. The way the music moves me and the passion I feel when I dance is transformative, healing even. I get to speak my mind without saying a word. I spent my young life feeling out of control, and almost immediately through movement, I found the ultimate control. I had a passion for mastering my body. Throughout my formative years, I put all of my physical and mental energy into becoming technically proficient. Now, when I dance I feel superhuman and the part I love most is the space to be human. I’m a person above all, and dance has space for all of me. When I walk into the studio everything that has shaped me comes with me. I get to put down and pick up all of my baggage as needed, and the art I can create is infinite. I plan to go to college as a dance major, where I will work toward earning either a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or a Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) in Dance. So far, I have been accepted into several schools with strong dance programs, including the University of California, Irvine; the University of California, Santa Barbara; Pace University; Dean College; New York University; and Mercyhurst University. As I decide where to go, my main goal is to choose a school that will give me a solid education while also helping me grow as a dancer and artist. Dance has always been a huge part of my life, and I am excited to continue developing my artistry, further explore different movement styles, and learning more about the choreographic side of dance. I especially enjoy choreography because it allows me to create unique movement patterns and truly express emotions or ideas in my own movement. I also love teaching and getting to watch the next generation of dancers and artists grow, helping them improve and gain confidence in their own abilities. In the future, I plan on using my degree to continue choreographing, as well as working and dancing in the industry. I love getting to learn and adapt to different styles, as well as meeting new artists and teachers and experiencing their work whether it be me performing or watching their art. One of my favorite roles I have performed is the Snow Queen in Central California Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker. This role was especially meaningful to me because I have participated in The Nutcracker every year since I was eight years old, beginning as a baby mouse, so being cast as the Snow Queen felt like a full-circle moment. It was also my final year performing in this production, and the Snow Queen is the most advanced role a student dancer can achieve, which made the experience even more rewarding. In addition, I had the opportunity to partner with a professional guest artist and perform pas de deux work, which challenged me artistically and helped me grow both technically and in my confidence as a performer. In the future I'd love to get to be cast for commercials and movies both acting/dancing and further in the future choreographing as well. I'm also excited at the prospect of moving to New York for college and getting to connect with current broadway dancers and choreographers. My mom initially inspired me to pursue this path because of her love for the arts in general but more specifically her passion for dance education. However more recently in my life I challenged myself to think further into why I want to dance and why I love being an artist as opposed to having a heavy influence or wanting to please. In complete honesty it was hard for me at first to remember why I love dancing, being a competitive dancer who dedicates an abundance of time it's easy to take the art for granted and for dance to seem more like a chore than a passion. After personal reflection I realized that my inspiration to continue dancing and pursuing it as a career comes from two places; my childhood; and for the future of young dancers and artists who have a passion that needs to be nurtured. Remembering myself as a child who wanted so badly to be seen and appreciated, I want nothing more than to make her proud, and getting to witness and be apart of the next generation of young artists feels so special especially knowing the threat that Artificial intelligence poses for the arts community.

Landing my first lead role was the most transformative learning experience of my life, as it came with tremendous pressure to be perfect. I became so focused on giving my best work, that I neglected my health, developing vocal nodules. For someone who loves performing, losing control of my voice felt like losing a part of myself. I began vocal and speech therapy, where I learned that the real issue stemmed from how I use my voice everyday, not just singing. Forcing me to unlearn years of unhealthy vocal habits. This is not a linear story with a happy ending full of unicorns, rainbows, and an easy solution. It is a cyclical journey of healing and self-discipline. Even now, more than a year later, I still struggle with the symptoms and limitations of my voice. I have learned that recovery is not about regaining my sound but learning to respect my boundaries and honor my limits while still exploring my artistic freedoms. The journey that once felt like punishment for my stubborn habits has shown me that recovery is really about redefining what resilience means and finding the balance I never knew I needed. However my understanding of storytelling and purpose deepened on October 17, 2023. My family, in Rmeich, Lebanon, was being bombed. Being thousands of miles away, all I was able to do was send them prayers, terrified of losing the people and the place I consider home. As one of the few Arab students in my communities growing up, I struggled to openly appreciate my heritage, or even speak out about it. Watching my family suffer turned my fear and my grief into the spark that pushed me to act instead of staying silent. I established a growing community of students who finally felt seen, reigniting my school’s Middle Eastern Club. We organized fundraisers to support Doctors Without Borders, Palestine Red Crescent Society, and created a space where minorities don't have to pretend. These experiences reshaped how I see performance as not only entertainment, but it is representation, a voice, and the power to make people feel less alone. This courage I found in advocacy is what I bring to every role I take on. Utilizing education as empowerment aren't just actions, they're core to my identity. Igniting the club supported my own growth and helped others appreciate, uplift, and empower minority voices and heritage together. That understanding followed me everywhere, pushing me to pursue performance as a form of advocacy and empowerment. Past significant performances include Paulette Buonafonté from Legally Blonde, and Ensemble in both Hunchback of Notre Dame, and Dave Malloy’s Don't Stop Me, with Korsa Musical Theater Company. Other performances include American Conservatory of Theater’s Youth Cabaret program where I was able to not only gain training and experience, but tell stories from a broad variety. My favorite role was Hermes in Hadestown with the American Conservatory of Theater. Hermes forced me to step into a role that required both strength and restraint as a narrator who guides others while carrying their own quiet weight. It challenged me to find subtlety in storytelling, using tone, stillness, and intention rather than constant movement. Hermes marked the first time I felt fully connected to a character not only as a performer, but as a storyteller responsible for holding the audiences trust. What I love most about performing is that exact connection, something deeply powerful about stepping into someone else's story while still bringing your own lived experiences into the work. Performing is one of the few spaces where vulnerability becomes strength, where telling the truth no matter how uncomfortable can actually bring people together. A dream role I would be honored to even audition for would be Grace in Don’t Stop Me by Dave Malloy. The musical follows high school students competing in a dystopian dance-a-thon, where each character is driven by intense pressure to succeed. I was in the ensemble of the 2024 performance rendition with Youth Musical Theater Company, I had the opportunity to understudy both Grace and Harper, but I found myself especially fascinated by Grace. Stepping into her perspective allowed me to explore a level of vulnerability that felt deeply personal because it reflects the kind of raw, honest storytelling I hope to bring to my work as a performer. In the future, I plan to continue my training at Marymount Manhattan College’s BFA Musical Theatre program to further develop my abilities in a sustainable and authentic way. I hope to use my artistry to advocate for diverse, genuine portrayal of minorities often misrepresented or erased in today’s media. This scholarship will allow me to continue pursuing performance without compromising my health, my education, or the purpose that drives me to amplify voices and stories that deserve to be seen and heard.

My name is Matthew Draper. I am a 21 year old Theater student who has been in the performing arts for 13 years. I have always loved performing. As a young child, I would put on performances in my room and for my family. I would design my own costumes, lights, and scenery, and do full musicals in my house. I performed in my first real musical when I was 8 years old and was immediately bitten by the theater bug. My parents realized that I had found something that I really loved. It was not cheap to participate in theater though. My mom, so determined to help me participate, cleaned our local community theater after an 8 hour day of teaching 1st graders, to cover a portion of the workshop costs. Soon, I was doing at least one community theater show each season. I continued my performing throughout high school, doing the school shows along with my community theater performances.. During my senior year of high school, I was in 4 musicals at the same time at one point. I could not get enough. I eventually realized that this is what I wanted to do for my career. I applied to several musical theater schools, and I am currently a student at the Boston Conservatory, getting my Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theater. There is an endless list of things that I love about performing. I love the opportunity to escape to do a different world outside of my own, even if just for a short time. I love giving audiences a chance to escape the stresses of real life as well. I also love how much this art form brings people together, I have met some of my closest friends doing this craft, and I have seen people grow from quiet introverts, to confident performers. Theater is a career in which people have each others’ backs. It’s exhausting. It can be very inconsistent. But I think that is what keeps us all close as artists. I love being a part of an extended community of talented artists. My parents have been my biggest champions in my artistic pursuits There were several times throughout the years where I thought maybe I wasn’t cut out for this profession or if I should study something “safer.” My parents were always supportive of this dream. They were always at every show, cheering me on and driving me to rehearsals, often sacrificing their own needs for my dream. Seeing how much they believed in me made me believe in myself. My favorite role I have played thus far has definitely been Jamie Wellerstein in The Last Five Years. This role was a huge challenge. It is a two person musical by Jason Robert Brown, and it has some of the hardest music in Musical Theater history. It required me to physically, emotionally, and vocally reach heights I never knew I could reach. All of these challenges are what made it my favorite though. I loved getting to push myself and to experiment and collaborate with the creative team, which I had never had a chance to do before this. The arch that the character took was something else that was so fun to drop into every night. My character goes from a carefree, fun-loving guy, to a depressed, tired husband. I felt so accomplished after the run of that show. Looking back on all the rehearsals and work outside of the rehearsal room I did, it was a marathon and I am very proud of that performance. A dream role I would love to play is Quasimodo in Hunchback of Notre Dame. The musical is much different than the movie. It requires a lot vocally and emotionally. I feel I connect with this character so much. Feeling like an outcast and having so much love to give, but no one to receive it. I feel this would be one of the biggest challenges as a performer, but that is what keeps this job so interesting. Taking on projects that are outside of your comfort zone and that will allow you to push yourself is what keeps me going.

In "Poetics" Aristotle discussed how theater aided the masses through catharsis - that being the feeling of emotional cleansing an audience member gets through observing a character and their actions. I love preforming, not only because it means I get to spend time with my friends, working towards a common goal, but because I get to connect to my character emotionally and achieve that catharsis. It's truly wonderful! I am a multi-talented person, and though I don't really like to toot my own horn, I feel as if now is the best time to. Not only do I sing and act, but I write plays, musicals, screenplays, and film music. Though a lot of my passion has to do with storytelling, acting is with me forever, and as such, I plan to act and write my own stories. I suppose I became inspired when - in fourth grade - I saw my school's production of Seussical. You best believe I was signed up to do there next show, and I haven't stopped doing theater since. As for past performances, I was Aladdin in Aladdin, Emmett Forrest in Legally Blond, Link Larkin in Hairspray, Ren in Footloose, Warbucks in Annie, and that was all before high school. In highschool I was featured ensemble in Catch Me if You Can, then they did Six which is an all female show, Hades in Hadestown, and Javert in Les Miserables. My favorites are definitely Javert and Hades. I seem to enjoy playing darker characters, probably on account of the catharsis it provides. For example, I was also costumer for Les Mis and I had a co. costumer who did nothing to help. There was even a point during a rehearsal when I had to go on stage and I asked them "could you possibly costume the wedding guests while I proforma my suicide" and they said "could you just get someone else to do it?" Needless to say it was infuriating. But when all is said and done I am a very passive guy, so I let it slide. Now, normally someone else might explode because of this. However, I had Javert on my side. His overly emotional and angry songs provided me a healthy canal to channel my anger into. It was an incredible relief to go on stage angry, preform my suicide with fury and vigor, and leave the stage feeling better than before. That healthy release of emotions is what I think theater is all about. Though spectacle and high notes are amazing, when it really boils down to the basics, theater is about feeling emotionally connected to the characters, just like Aristotle said. Though it may seem basic and/or obvious to some, that is why I love the theater. It is innately human.

From the moment I sat in a velvet theater seat at age five, watching my first live musical, I was hooked. The stage came alive with color, music, and emotion, igniting a passion that has only grown stronger over the past twelve years. My parents and I soon became season ticket holders at the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood, and each show deepened my love for dance and musical theatre. I began to dream that one day, I wouldn’t just be in the audience, I’d be on the stage. That dream took shape when I started competitive dance at age seven. The adrenaline of performing and the discipline of rehearsals fueled my desire to explore acting and singing. By middle school, I joined my school’s musical theatre program, taking on lead, supporting, and ensemble roles. Those early experiences taught me collaboration, storytelling, and how to express emotion through movement and dancing. In the summer of 2023, I took a major step toward my goal by attending the NYCDA Pre-Professional Summer Intensive in Manhattan. Training with seasoned professionals and immersing myself in the fast-paced world of New York City confirmed that this is the life I want to pursue as a dancer. During that same trip, I took advantage of the class offerings at Steps on Broadway, Broadway Dance Center, and Ripley-Grier Studios, each experience sharpening my skills and strengthening my drive. The following summer, I was honored to join the Musical Theatre Ensemble at Jacob’s Pillow for their three-week dance festival. Performing on the Pillow’s historic stages and training under acclaimed choreographers challenged me to integrate storytelling with physicality on a deeper level. Collaborating with other dancers and theatre artists from around the world expanded my understanding of the evolving art form. Another defining moment came in 2024, when I was named a YoungArts Winner with Distinction in Jazz/Dance. Traveling to Miami for YoungArts Week, I collaborated with dancers, musicians, writers, and visual artists from across the country. Surrounded by such creative energy, I learned that being an artist isn’t just about skill, it’s about connection, curiosity, and the courage to take risks. Today, I walk into every class and performance excited and thankful for the opportunity to do what I love. Dance and musical theatre have pushed me to become confident and open, even when being uncomfortable feels scary. I enjoy the constant challenge of growing and messing up. Performing isn’t just about technique, it’s about telling stories that make people feel something. As I step into the future, I am excited to keep training, collaborating with inspiring artists, and stepping on to stages where I can keep learning, evolving, and doing what first made me fall in love with the theatre.

Acting came and stole my heart ever since that day when I was seven, sitting in the theatre with my mom watching Matilda the Musical, and has kept it close, giving it water, food, shelter, and warmth. There are many acting angles and techniques. Some exercises move me to tears, others I’m still practising, like losing myself in a scene with my scene partner. What I have learned from acting is that it’s teaching me to play. I’ve also learned new lessons from every character I play. The role of Nina in Christopher Durang’s Vanya, Sonia, Masha, and Spike taught me to take up space and be loud. I learned to be playful in this role, acting as if I were a molecule reporting that all living creatures are dead. I committed every night to acting out each of the animals. While Juliet in Romeo and Juliet taught me that it’s ok to be vulnerable and go to deep places within myself. Standing under the warm stage light, speaking poetry to someone each night, I understood what it meant to deeply connect with my scene partner. Every role puts something about myself under the microscope, and it helps me learn and discover who I am. I love to fixate on the character I’m playing and daydream about what they are thinking. It’s feeding the storyteller child in me. I want to challenge my creative brain to learn more about the craft of this wild child called acting. My first taste of acting came at the Youth Academy of Dramatic Arts, where I attended from the ages of seven to twelve. There, I built the foundations of memorising lines, following directions, and gaining confidence on stage. Later, at the California School of the Arts-San Gabriel Valley, I began exploring acting beyond the surface, learning to find emotional truth in performance. The summer before tenth grade, I attended the California State Summer School for the Arts, an intense and transformative experience. There, I took voice and movement classes that taught me how to enunciate, trust my instincts, and feel comfortable in my own body. I realised then how much I thrive in a rigorous and creative environment, which inspired me to apply to Idyllwild Arts Academy. At Idyllwild Arts, I have performed in numerous productions. In my second semester of sophomore year, I played Nina, a supporting character in Christopher Durang’s Vanya, Sonia, Masha, and Spike. The first semester of junior year, I played Juliet in Romeo and Juliet. In my senior year, I played Bessie in Marvin’s Room. Beyond acting, I directed a short play and stage-managed Silent Sky by Lauren Gunderson, which gave me a greater appreciation for the technical and creative aspects of theatre. My upbringing has shaped my craft just as much as my training. I grew up traveling and visiting my family in El Salvador and Mexico. Because of my multicultural upbringing, I’ve had exposure to different cultures and speak both Spanish and English at home. This has shaped how I view the world and my art. Studying in the UK excites me because it offers new perspectives on acting, teaching styles, and ways of seeing the world. That’s why I want to study abroad, to expand my horizons even more and learn from different people and cultures. Studying theatre, I’ve realised that art reveals truths about humanity and society. Theatre and storytelling have the power to bring comfort, laughter, and escapism during dark times. There is something magical about a group of people gathering in a dark room to watch another group tell a story and feel moved afterwards. I want to use my art to create work that makes people feel seen. Whether it’s through laughter or empathy. If I have the power to impact someone's life by making them feel seen or loved, that is more than enough for me; that’s why I do my art. If I can impact at least one person, if I can make someone feel understood or less alone, that is enough. That is why I do my art.

Hi, my name is Malia Barnhardt. I am a Freshman B.F.A Acting Major at Howard University. I have been auditioning since I was 9 years old. Someone who inspired me to act is my Dad. What motivates me is being able to thank him when I receive my Oscar. My goal as an actress is to become a Cultural Activist. I want to take on roles that showcase Black woman in a positive light and teach lessons that will live on through generations. What I love about performing is how the outside world seems to stops spinning for a moment when the light hits my face. So far, I am most proud of my role in Euphoria as Young Leslie. I remember having to sing a church song, and while we were filming Zendaya was sitting in the front row of the audience. That was my first time experiencing life on a set, and it will definitely be one of many. This experience taught me to keep my head up and know what is meant for me will find me, while still working hard to reach those goals. A few months earlier I was runner-up for the role of Young Serena in King Richard, starring Will Smith. I got the opportunity to do a screen test beside him. I remember getting a fist bump from him after the first take. It is those small moments that I will carry with me forever. My dream role on stage is to play Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors. I remember watching Joy Woods take on this role, and as a young Black woman, it inspired me that one day I can play Audrey. For film, my goal is to be in A24, and NEON productions. I think the movies they make are always so engaging and cinematic. A lot of them are coming of age which I really like and want to be apart of. During my college years, I am still going to be auditioning for roles, and during my free time I want to intern for an agent or manager. I aim to become their assistant. This will allow me to learn the ins and outs of the industry. It will also give me the knowledge to pursue other career paths in the industry. Howard has also taught me the importance of networking, which is something I will always be doing around campus and off campus. The goal is to have a job ready for me after college.

Acting allows me to take a brief refuge in the world of the script before me. It is the only setting in which I feel safe to fail miserably - the one thing that never disappoints me and provides me with opportunities to create, learn, ponder, explore, and question. I view the arts - the process of storytelling - as vital to our contemporary world. These creative avenues allow me personally to feel comfortable within myself and embody my life's purpose. The truth of the matter is that I am extremely inquisitive, driven, loyal, and value my education more than I could ever sufficiently express. I approach all opportunities in life as a chance to grow. I seek out challenges in my personal, educational, and professional settings with a yearning to solve problems in the most inventive, effective manner possible. I revel in conversations with both opposing and like-minded individuals, for I view these opportunities as chances in which we can both learn from one another while thinking critically and creatively; these such experiences allow me as an actor to better understand more and more stories, scripts, people, and characters. Simply put, I am a proud Mexican daughter of immigrants, an actor, a writer, a debater, a travel enthusiast, and an aspiring activist. As a Mexican American and low-income student, I have been taught to value my education as well as the principles of hard work, creative problem solving, and perseverance in the face of adversity. For the three years, I have held two part-time jobs simultaneously in addition to being a full-time student. I pay for my college expenses, assist my family monetarily with our monthly bills, food/groceries, and pet care costs. I am also an amateur entrepreneur and sell upcycled household items and clothing in my free time. All of this, I do in an effort to fund my ambitions and aspirations. Approximately 1% of Latinas in the country have obtained a PhD; the statistics for Latina collegiate professors and Latinas in leading positions in the media and performing arts are nearly the same. It has been my dream to pursue a doctorate in Literature or Theatre Studies one day, to be a collegiate professor, and work in both local government and the Hollywood industry since I was extremely young. This pathway is ambitious and, unfortunately, rather expensive. Therefore, this scholarship would assist me immensely in paying for my higher educational pursuits - particularly my tuition for a four-year university. If fortunate enough to receive this scholarship, I would be inexplicably grateful. These funds would partially lessen my family’s emotional distress and financial strain resulting from the cost of college, going directly towards my continuing school journey and life-long dreams.

What I love most about performing is the feeling of being completely present. There’s a moment in a scene when it truly works where everything else falls away. I am not thinking about the next line or how I look; I am just listening and responding. It feels simple, but it’s not easy to achieve, and that is what keeps me coming back. I didn’t grow up acting, so discovering that feeling later made it especially meaningful. I grew up in Dawesville, Western Australia, playing football on dry, sun-baked fields where the wind blew straight off the coast. I was raised by my British Jamaican mother and a British Welsh father, which shaped how I see the world. I learned to listen and connect with people from diverse backgrounds. Storytelling was always part of my life, especially through my mum, who was an actress, and through my brother’s interest in drama and media. However, acting was not something I seriously considered until much later. I moved to the United States in 2024 to pursue college football, and I spent two years at Ventura College, California, studying arts and humanities alongside football. I’m carrying a 4.0 GPA in theatre units (3.7 overall), which reflects the level of focus and discipline I strive to maintain. My first acting class was a turning point for me. I remember standing in that room, not knowing where to look or what to do. But something about what we did that day stayed with me. I was asked for honesty and presence in a way I had not experienced before. I thought about it long after class had ended, and that curiosity turned into commitment. My athletic background has shaped how I approach acting. I relate to preparation, discipline, and teamwork. I bring that mindset into rehearsal and performance. Acting has pushed me to grow in new ways, especially in becoming more open and vulnerable. Balancing football, academics, and acting has not been easy, but it has taught me how to stay focused and consistent under pressure. Since commencing my studies, I have taken every opportunity to develop my skills. I have worked on a range of student films, which introduced me to the demands of screen acting. Being on set showed me how much the camera captures everything; it forced me to let go of trying to perform and instead focus on authenticity. I have also been building my stage experience. I am currently performing my first theatre role as Skeeter Robbins (First Man) in And They Dance Real Slow in Jackson. This has been a significant step for me, as it is the first time I have played a character in a stage production while working in a Deep Southern accent. There have been many moments where it has felt so natural, and a few where I have had to step back, adjust, and keep working at it. That process has taught me a lot about consistency, discipline, and attention to detail. This role has been my favourite so far because of the level of responsibility it requires. It has pushed me to prepare more thoroughly and to stay present over the course of an entire performance. It has also shown me how much I love the challenge of developing a character over time, rather than in shorter pieces. I have recently been accepted into a highly selective BFA Acting for Stage and Screen programme, which I see as the next step in my training. My goal after graduation is to pursue a professional career in acting, with a focus on roles that combine strong character work with physical demands. I am committed to developing my physical skills further, including ongoing training in stage combat and movement for stage and screen. With my athleticism, I want to build the kind of control and precision that allows me to perform physically demanding roles in a safe and believable way. I am also continuing to refine my American regional dialects so that it becomes natural and consistent in performance. My inspiration has come from a mix of experiences. It comes from professors who have challenged me and from being on set and seeing how everything comes together. Those experiences have shown me that this is not just an interest, but something I want to pursue seriously. A dream role for me would combine physical intensity with emotional depth, where the character is expressed through both action and stillness. That is the kind of work I am drawn to, and it is what I am working toward. Performing asks for focus, discipline, and honesty. It challenges me in ways nothing else has, and that is exactly why I want to pursue it through intense, professional training and education to a successful career.

My favorite part of dancing is the experience of movement as an art form. At USC Glorya Kaufman school of dance, my understanding of movement deepened. Under Brett Easterling, I was introduced to Ohad Naharin’s Gaga technique, which completely reshaped my relationship to dance. Gaga taught me to move from sensation and inner listening rather than outward perfection. I began to trust my instinct, my rawness. At the same time, working with Fiona Lummis Eddy, a former dancer with Nederlands Dans Theater, gave me access to the subtlety and emotional clarity of Jirí Kylián’s choreography. She set his work on us, performing Kylian's Sarabande comprised of multiple male solos and through that, I learned how to hold weight, tension, and stillness with intention. These professors didn’t just refine my movement—they helped me discover the language I was meant to speak. Outside the university, mentorship has played a vital role in shaping my journey. Francisco Gella, a Filipino choreographer based in New Mexico, taught at my studio across multiple years—setting my junior year group piece, guest teaching, and ultimately choreographing The Final Phase, my senior solo. That solo became a milestone—it held my history and momentum, and helped me get into USC. Francisco’s guidance through Zeitgeist Dance Theatre continues to inform the way I move—with integrity, generosity, and curiosity. Sandra Rubi, my studio owner, believed in me when I didn’t yet know how to believe in myself. By supporting and fighting for me, she helped me reach spaces that once felt out of reach. With her advocacy and Francisco’s mentorship, I’ve had recently received opportunity to train at the Nederlands Dans Theater Summer Intensive in The Hague, Netherlands, and the Jacob’s Pillow Contemporary Program in Massachusetts. I’ve fought to stand in these esteemed rooms with artists I once looked up to from afar. My dedication has also led me to Orsolina028 in Turin, Italy, where I studied the repertoire of Crystal Pite and Marco Goecke, and to the Ballet BC Summer Intensive in Vancouver, British Columbia. These experiences didn’t just sharpen my technique—they deepened my purpose. I’m drawn to movement that is instinctual, animalistic, emotional—language that lives in the bones. Artists like Crystal Pite, Goecke, and Kylián showed me that dance can be intimate and enormous at once. That’s what I want my work to hold: the tension of vulnerability and power, the echo of a personal history moving through space. After graduation, I plan to perform with contemporary companies that engage with social and emotional storytelling. I want to choreograph and collaborate on work that speaks to ecological awareness, memory, and transformation—creating space for others to feel seen through movement the way I was. My dream companies include Nederlands Dance Theatre, and Ballet BC, and Batsheva Dance Company all of which I've attended an intensive, plan to attend one, or have been exposed to the movement languages within these companies. All of this happened because I was believed in and somebody took a chance on me. This scholarship wouldn’t just support my education—it would allow me to continue to deepen my knowledge of dance and movement to share with others, and help me invest in the ongoing journey of an artist still uncovering what’s possible. I move to process, to express, to remember. I move in hopes that someone, somewhere, feels a little less alone. And I’ll keep moving—for all of us who are still finding our way back into our bodies and into belonging.

While interviewing Begum Inal (they/them), a dramaturg from National Queer Theater, for a school fellowship focused on LGBTQIA+ spaces in NYC, I asked what they love most about theater. They answered, “Life – theater brings it to the stage. So does every form of performance.” I completely agree - that's what I like about it. There’s a unique power in performance; no other field makes people stop and feel so deeply. Whether it’s a concert that gives you chills or a play that resonates with your story, performance gathers, represents, inspires, empowers, and even saves. For me, theater brings people to life – it creates something out of “nothing”, and that “life” often reflects the artist’s soul. When I first arrived in New York at 17, I’ve been following a plan ever since. I’ve been working full-time to pay for school, rent, and all the responsibilities of adult life. That’s why I applied for the Economic Hardship Program and several scholarships because I lost financial support from my sponsor. As a theater major, I truly value my education, it helps me grow as an artist, keeps me motivated, and drives me to stay in this country until I can say, “I did my job, it was transformative for me and the audience, and, last but not least, I was financially valued for my work.” My mom once told me we have to create our own opportunities because nothing just falls from the sky. Even while juggling a full-time job and college, I’ve committed to helping others through the fellowship I’m part of. When choosing a community-based organization to work with, I looked for one that reflected who I am: an immigrant, queer, and an artist. That’s how I found the National Queer Theater. After my interview with Begum, they encouraged me to apply for the Criminal Queerness Festival at Lincoln Center to present my play. In the next few years, I plan to graduate, keep performing in theater festivals, and film productions, share my work, build connections, and use theater/acting as a tool of resistance to amplify voices like mine. During my career, I have participated in a total of five plays and three short films. My performance journey began with a short film inspired by Machado de Assis’s story, “O Enfermeiro,” in which I acted alongside my grandfather, with my brother as the filmmaker. It took a significant step forward when I joined the Barracão Encena Theater Company in Brazil, performing in productions such as “Palavra,” “Nossas Mentiras, Nossos Pecados,” and “Teicoscopia – The Vaudeville of Horrors,” as well as in the film “Os Desvalidos.” After studying English for two years to prepare for college in the U.S., I performed in the play “Love & Information” by Caryl Churchill, directed by James Caldwell, who is currently my drama professor. My favorite role I’ve played was Perseus and Ipupiara in the mentioned play: "Teicoscopia –The Vaudeville of Horrors". It was an original and experimental production that combined physical theater, and mythical narratives. First, the actors had the opportunity to create the play from scratch. The stories were told through clowns directly to the audience – it was essentially a devised theater process, which I loved. Second, we used Commedia dell’Arte to embody our characters, and I worked intensely on body control, voice, and creativity. And third, we could truly feel the audience enjoying it. They were laughing and engaged – and even though it was back in 2022, I still remember the sparkle in their eyes as they had fun during the performance, it was when I could first see the power of a performance. My dream role would be to play a character like a clown, a dancer, a gay man, or someone who faces physical or health limitations and still chooses to carry on. I believe they give voice to resistance, the beauty of vulnerability, and the strength of those who keep going even when everything seems against them. They represent human complexity in its truest form. I'm not looking for perfect or simple characters, I'm interested in stories that delve deep inside someone, that show their pain, their conflicts, their courage, and, above all, their humanity, their life. These roles appeal to me because they force me to go deep, investigate real emotions, to use my body, my voice, and my soul truthfully. They allow me to explore pain, laughter, love, failure, and hope - all in the same character. And when the audience sees that on stage, or on the screen something changes. I think that's what drives me as an artist: the possibility of touching someone through the truth of a story. That’s why I keep going: to tell stories that matter, connect souls, and make people feel alive.

Throughout my life, I have often wondered who I wanted to be when I grew up. Would I become an architect, bound to sit all day and make designs? That doesn’t sound particularly exciting, does it? As a child, my parents encouraged me to consider a career in medicine or engineering for a better and more stable income. However, I didn’t enjoy either of those paths. No matter how interesting or unique they seemed, I never found joy in them. That’s when I had a realization: “What if I could act on the big screen? What if I could make a name for myself? What if I could choose a career that makes me proud and happy?” That’s exactly what I aim to pursue in my journey toward an acting career. My plan is to build a career in performing after graduating by receiving a comprehensive education in theatre and understanding what goes into acting. This preparation will help me embark on a journey filled with drama, comedy, romance, and more. I intend to start with small projects to build my portfolio and gradually work my way up to bigger opportunities. This approach will ensure that I don’t overwhelm myself while discovering my strengths and weaknesses, allowing me to improve over time. As a child, I often watched cartoons available to me without cable, particularly on Cartoon Network. I recall enjoying fascinating animations like "Adventure Time," "Regular Show," and "The Amazing World of Gumball." What intrigued me most was how these characters were given distinct personalities and voices that made them unique. As I watched them interact, I told myself, “I could voice a character!” Now, I am taking that self-advice from 13 years ago and working to make it a reality. The same can be said for acting; watching Hollywood stars throughout my life has shown me the immense effort and passion required to bring a character to life. Some memorable performances that have impacted me include Andrew Garfield, Adam Sandler, and Charlie Cox. From Andrew's emotional and physical portrayal of Desmond Doss in "Hacksaw Ridge," to Adam Sandler's comedic roles in hits like "Pixels," "Grown Ups," and "The Waterboy," to Charlie Cox’s incredible performance as the vigilante in "Daredevil," each of these actors is unique in their way. I plan to use their performances as guidance to better understand the characters I portray. This year marked my first introduction to acting, and it has been nothing short of inspiring. Having a passionate theatre professor has deepened my love for the art. I was fortunate to perform a monologue from the play "Living at Home" by Anthony Giardina. The character I played, John Bogle, has dinner with his family when his brother, David, announces he is getting married. When a family member asks why I dropped out of college, I initially hesitate, but my bottled-up thoughts and emotions come flooding back, and I share my decision to leave college. With my professor's guidance, I delivered a natural and well-told story about a young man grappling with present challenges and his future. One effective method my professor taught me was to identify the obstacle and objective of a scene. Understanding these key elements makes it easier to convey emotion and expression in performance. I have always believed that imagination plays a crucial role in visualizing who I’m speaking to and understanding the context of the scene I’m in. I will perform this piece so that you can gain a better understanding of what I’m conveying in the video provided! My dream role has always been to play a young version of Robbie Reyes' Ghost Rider. While Marvel has cast Gabriel Luna as Robbie Reyes' Ghost Rider, they have yet to cast a younger version, as depicted in the comics. I believe I can bring this character to life with the right guidance, a deep understanding of the character, and a commitment to landing the role. I know I can do it and will achieve this goal along my journey. Great accomplishments are possible when you are passionate about something, and I am passionate about acting. It has opened my eyes to a world of creativity and art. Theatre and films have inspired me to pursue acting, a role I never imagined I would have the courage to play. Now it’s my time to turn that dream into a reality and work in a passionate field alongside other talented individuals who share my enthusiasm for theatre.

I love performing because it is an art form which reflects social issues in order to create connections between people. Seeing "Indecent" (2015) by Paula Vogel this past summer reinforced why I love theater. This show is about the controversy surrounding the romance between two Jewish women in "The God of Vengeance" (1906). During its 1923 Broadway run, the actors were arrested on obscenity charges. Indecent tackles themes that are still relevant today, such as homophobia, anti-semitism, and censorship while depicting happiness and love. Portraying these themes with humanity helps the audience to connect with the characters and story. Even before I was truly able to grasp the abilities theater has to elicit empathy, I knew it was able to affect and inspire, which is why I first fell in love with it as a small child. As long as I can remember, I’ve been performing. I spent late nights singing and dancing in the theater of my local Jewish Community Center where I performed in plays and musicals. In fact, as I write this essay, I’m sitting in the greenroom of my high school theater, face full of makeup and a mic pack strapped to my back. The founder of the JCC's children's theater is still one of my biggest inspirations. I acted in three shows with her as my director, and she believed me when I did not believe in myself, always encouraging me. At the end of each rehearsal, the cast would sit in a circle, and each of us would compliment someone else in the cast. It would go until everyone received a compliment. She's the reason for my deep love of theater, which has continued to this day. This past year, I’ve acted in five productions and written two original plays for my high school theater department. In October, we put on the 24-Hour Plays, a series of ten-minute plays written, produced, and performed within twenty-four hours. I wrote one play and performed in another. I also wrote a one-act, “Claustrophobia,” about an unhoused family, for the annual One-Acts festival. My favorite role was Natalie in "Next to Normal," which I played in February. The local newspaper said the show was as good as professional productions, and the principal said it was the best show ever produced at my high school. I am extremely proud of the work we did, as the show addresses mental health awareness and the stigma surrounding it. In this production, a family hides how the mother’s bipolar disorder has driven them apart. By overworking herself, Natalie aims to be the “perfect” child, in hopes that her parents will pay attention to her. This was my first musical lead, and I plan to learn more about singing and musicals throughout college. One of my dream roles in Nina Rosario from "In the Heights." Her big song, "Breathe," is one of my favorite songs, and was the song I used to audition for Natalie. I love her story: a young, gifted Latina girl, who is struggling to keep her life together at Stanford University, while her community looks to her as a beacon of hope. I see a lot of myself in her, which is why I'm so drawn to her character. I will attend University of California, San Diego, in the fall, where I will double major in theater and literary arts. The UCSD theater department produces multiple plays per quarter, which gives me an opportunity to get involved onstage and behind the scenes. I have worked behind the scenes for multiple shows, mostly in wardrobe, as I enjoy exploring how a character’s costumes can impact audience interpretation. I’ve also painted sets and done stage makeup, as well as learned about special effects. In college, I hope to learn more about technical theater in a wider variety of departments. Additionally, the acclaimed La Jolla Playhouse, which has sent countless shows to Broadway, is in the UCSD theater district. As soon as I arrive on campus, I will try to be involved with them as an intern, usher, or Playhouse Partner. Working in the La Jolla Playhouse will help me make connections within the industry and allow me to see how I would enjoy a career in a professional theater.

What I love most about performing is the escape it offers. Initially, this escape was experienced as an audience member—a way to leave behind my own life as a closeted gay kid growing up in a Mormon household. Watching productions transported me to new worlds where I not only found refuge but also glimpsed places where I could truly belong. Once I began performing myself, that escape transformed into something even more joyful and vital. Theatre became a safe haven, a space where I could let my true self and creativity run wild without fear. Over time and as I found more mature shows, what I loved most about performing grew much deeper than personal escape. The core of my work as a performer shifted to be about creating and experiencing art that reflects both individual and shared human experiences. I believe theatre holds a unique power to build empathy and forge connections across local, national, and global communities. My goal is to use my art to bring people together through stories that resonate deeply with our shared humanity. Completing my training at school is not only about achieving dreams like performing on Broadway but also about staying true to this core purpose—using theatre to connect, inspire, and make a difference in the world. I’m sure of making a career after I graduate because I am a multi-hyphenate artist; I am a strong actor, singer and dancer with directorial and writing experience who is always learning. These will all be assets in this industry as I am a curious and “yes, and” artist. No job is too big or small. I am eager to contribute to theatrical work in all capacities. Additionally, my passion for inspiring and teaching young artists is unwavering. I adore kids and have been teaching them since I was 16 years old. The biggest inspiration for pursuing this path came from my mom, who was a professional modern dancer throughout my childhood and early teenage years. I was always a mama’s boy, and one story she shared has stuck with me. When she was about to enter her senior year of high school, her longest dance mentor told her she should quit. Though she was a great dancer, her mentor said she didn’t have the right body type and would never make it in the industry. Naturally, my mom was shattered, but instead of giving up, she dedicated the next few years to proving that wrong. She went on to perform in numerous regional productions and joined a dance company where she stayed for twenty-five years. Her story of perseverance has been a guiding light for me, especially when pursuing a career in the arts feels daunting or even impossible. Some of my favorite performances over the last few years include playing Miss Trunchbull in Matilda, Bert in Mary Poppins, and Will Parker in Oklahoma!. Out of these, Miss Trunchbull stands out as my favorite role so far. I know what you’re thinking here, and I see it too. How can you go on about the deep emotional meaning of your work and list off your favorite roles as caricatures or surface level Disney characters? But something I’ve learned is that in even the most commercial work, our job as actors is to find the humanity in characters like Belle or Miss Trunchbull, because that experience is what draws audiences in. Looking ahead, a dream role I hope to audition for in the future would be Riff in West Side Story or, likely when I’m older, Marvin in Falsettos. They’re very different characters but both come from some of my all-time favorite shows, and I’d love the opportunity to dive into those worlds one day.

In this life, I guess you could say everyday is a performance. The clothes you wear, the way you speak, the daily acts, the person you're perceived as, and the person that you know yourself to be. So naturally, we all have performance qualities in us, but with that said, we also all have fantasies. People we envision are held in our crowded yet infinite imagination waiting for moments where we can express them. The stage is an offering to our minds. It is ground made to hold the expression of one's creation, without judgment or question, it is a place where one can simply be, and that is why I love performing. To me it is a meditative practice that pushes mankind to fully commit to zoning into his immersive imaginings and using his talents to channel them into the physical. Performing has become a sacred opportunity allowing me to be anyone and experience everything. Physical performance has the power to connect people all over the world, through the beautiful release of self expression. As I am graduating highschool and heading into college, combining the two is a goal I am working towards. After nine months of yoga training, I have become fascinated by ancient body practices, and as dance is a big part of that, I want to focus on combining healing/somatic release movement with the contemporary movement of dance, and someday putting that on stage to create an eye opening experience for both dancer and viewer. I have been performing since I was 4 years old, whether it be in front of my mom in my living room, or on stage in front of 1,000 people and my performance experience has grown tremendously. During junior year of high school, I choreographed my very first solo. The assignment was to choose a poem and create movement following the feeling of that poem, then present our work to the whole class. This work was done in complete silence, using only the flowing breaths that escaped within the dance and foots thump on the floor. I chose to write my poem which made me extra connected to my work and after careful decision my teacher featured my solo in our winter dance show. Ever since that moment I knew that performance was going to be a big part of my life. My class travelled to Pittsburgh to perform three of our pieces this year at the National High School Dance Festival. That was the first time I had ever performed in front of such an audience, 1,000 people filled the theater to watch us perform. WIthin my high school's dance department there is a composition class, which happens to be my favorite program. This class has truly opened my eyes to the process of creating a dance and the hard work it takes to turn your thoughts into reality. We have held four shows dedicated to this class where I have performed 12 dances in total not including my solo work and set my own choreography on stage. I have been a fairy, killer, psych ward patient, mountain climber, evil mother, alien, and so much more. And although each of these characters were completely different they all held the same magical essence. Through each role I played, danced, and created, I found a place to let myself live in its truest form. When I think of each experience, I do have my favorites, but I have to acknowledge my very proudest moment, my senior solo. After my dear friend passed away last year, I dedicated my senior solo to our story, but two weeks before the show I attended Calarts RedCat performance and everything changed. Something came over me, and that something felt right. I frantically called my teacher and told her that I knew I had to redo my solo completely. I realised that my first creation was in a state of grief and, now healed from that time, I was ready to present something that showed who I am, not what I've gone through. Two weeks before the show, I worked day in and day out on this solo. I painted my hands green, wore a bright purple unitard, and brought my all to the stage. It was the biggest hit thus far of my dance career, and I have learned the most about what art can do and how to trust it. A dream role I would love to play in the future as a dancer would have to be as one of Lady Gaga's backup dancers or to be a part of Mike Tyus’s company. But for now, I am taking my time to learn who I am in the process and see who I can become.

Growing up in poverty and homelessness, the one constant factor that helped me through tho times, was music. It truly heals and I want to share that power with the world, to give back to others, the pure joy it gave to me. For ten years, I worked alongside a well-known DJ as an occasional deejay myself. Ultimately, this role evolved into a hype dancer. In other words, he brought the music and I brought the moves. We were a dream team. Our diverse gigs ranged from school proms, to bar/bat mitzvahs to weddings, fundraisers and annual holiday parties at The World Bank. My earliest memory of my love for performing, was tap-dancing at age four and at nine, rewriting the lyrics to the Sister Act II soundtrack. Since then, I have written and recorded hundreds of songs, performed all over the U.S. and overseas at various events. After establishing life in Arkansas in 2018, the following year, I created an alter-ego in the form of drag persona Glossy Gephistone. Glossy was borne of my successful stint as The Usherette in a ten-show run of "The Rocky Horror Show". It was one of the best experiences of my life. If it seems hyperbolic for me to say that, I don’t mind. I was gifted with the opportunity to host, write my own stand-up routine, dance and sing one of my favorite songs to perform, "Science Fiction: Double Feature". For a dark comedy, the song is quite moving. Admittedly, The dichotomy of executing a major production like that, could not eschew the hard work it required. Yet still, it was rewarding in the end. One of my favorite aspects of being in such a big ensemble was the bond I made with my castmates. There was a unique kind of euphoria, performing in harmony and rhythm with such talented people. Another one of my favorite parts of the play, was getting to dress up, not as the traditional Usherette but I had the honor of portraying, Elvira, Mistress of the Dark. This past semester has been the busiest and most fruitful so far when it comes to my growth as a singer and dancer. My participation in the school choir, has lead me to singing with a sixteen piece jazz ensemble as the soloist. This was a dream come true! On top of that, I performed in a theater production that was featured in a national broadway magazine. I have also started learning how to play the piano for the first time. One day, I dream of performing my soulful songs and add professional pianist to my repertoire. Singing is not my only love, of course. Dancing, songwriting and acting are some of my deepest passions. Featuring in a sitcom, or a sketch comedy is something I’ve wanted to do since childhood. Being cast as The Doctor in the British Sci Fi series, "Doctor Who" is a quirky, fun role that is at the top of my bucket list that I would be overjoyed to secure. I was inspired by comedy shows like "Primetime Glick, with Jiminy Glick" starring Martin Short," "In Living Color" and "30 Rock" to name a few. Like music, laughter heals but both stir stir my soul.