As a theatrical artist, I believe, as all arts do, I am contributing to the betterment of my community. Theatre holds a special advantage as an audience watches the actors on stage and begins to a feel a sense of "self" in them. By creating an environment where any one is welcomed to come as their authentic selves, we give artists an outlet to express themselves, but not only that, we provide a form of entertainment that not only occupies, but captivates an audience. Regardless of the intent of each show, the artistry moves the audience. Art shapes society, and through theatre, I get to be a small piece of this. Whether it is a small child finding their passion through our shows, or an old woman reliving her youth through a character, theatrical performance has an impact on each and every audience member. As a participant in this, I help my community to learn, grow, and foster a further love for this art.

As a young child I used to watch The Wizard of Oz; recorded freshly in the 80's onto an old, unraveling VHS tape. I'd kindly rewind it, gently and slowly, preserving the tape which was slowly degrading. However, it eventually gave in to time and my tape was done. Being a devastated child, my grandma took me to see my first live play: The Wizard of Oz. I still remember the entire production like I watched it just yesterday. I watched as Glinda entered from the audience, blowing the most magical bubbles my young 8 year old self had ever seen. From that moment on, all I wanted to do was be on that stage making other kids feel the same euphoria I had felt seeing my favorite story come to life. I joined theatre right away, and continued this passion for years. Eventually, I found not only the warmth of the stage lights to be a comfort to me, but also the behind the scenes life which often goes overlooked. I discovered a passion for fashion and clothing long before, but when I discovered the world of costumes; my two favorite worlds combined, I was hooked. In high school I went on to compete in International Thespian Society competitions, in which I won the Top Honors for Florida for my costume design as a junior. My senior year being my last chance to top myself, I knew I had to play homage to play that started it all. So, naturally, Glinda's whimsical dress became my largest passion project. With countless hours of research, hundreds of yards of tulle, and many lost needles, I created a dress I was, and still am, very proud of. I found inspiration in the renaissance painting of fairies, as well as the 1800's depictions which were created alongside the story itself. I also chose to draw in elements from Queen Victoria, whom was the reigning queen and fashion inspiration for much of England when Wizard of Oz was written. From this, my dress garnered it's ruffled lettuce tulle layering and switch from star shaped accents to floral appliques. Although I wanted to portray aspects of historical accuracy, I also wanted to ensure I did well to preserve the iconic image which is associated with the beloved character. So, despite my personal changes, I kept many elements from the silhouette of the dress, to the bright pink coloring, the same. In the end, I created a dress which captured the magical and whimsical essence that captivated my young mind, while also adding my own artistic touches to bring to light a new image.