I plan to make a positive impact on the world through my art and music in several ways. I have been a musical theater performer for 13 years, and it has become my greatest passion. I am currently studying at the Boston Conservatory, working toward my Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theater. I feel I have learned a lot as a performer during my first two years there. One priority I have always maintained is making sure that I can bring the community joy through my artistry. While I am attending Boston Conservatory, I go to several different retirement homes throughout the greater Boston area on the weekends and sing songs and connect with the residents through our shared love of music, which can be such a powerful unifier. I have also been hired as a Resident Assistant for my school this coming year. One of the things I wrote about in my application was how I want to create a forum for the students in my building where, each week, they can perform what they have been working on in class for their peers. This would include singers, dancers, instrumentalists, actors, etc. This will allow artists to learn about the amount of hard work that goes into each art form and foster deeper connections, despite our different backgrounds and skillsets. A common aspect of the Musical Theater industry is the “competitive energy,” and this very “cut throat” ideal. I am working to break this stereotype within the musical theater world for good. I have also taught musical theater for a few years, and I make sure it is explicitly stated and understood that, in my class, no one is above anyone else, and that the connection we make as a class and as a community is far more important to me than putting on the perfect show or making the most money. I intend to keep teaching during my time as a performer, and I will continue to make sure that the up and coming Musical Theater community understands that other people’s successes are not your failure, and that the meaningful relationships you make in this industry are far more important than any job you may book, big or small. Thank you for your consideration and for supporting the arts.

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.

I was nine years old the first time I set foot on a stage. I had been cast in Once Upon a Mattress, and I was thrilled. I had always loved musical theater, but now I was making the shift from observer to performer. I enjoyed everything about the process--the rehearsals, the costumes, the dancing, the singing. At nine, I had found my happy place, a place where I truly felt like I belonged. Since then, I have performed in many productions. I have been cast in lead, supporting, and ensemble roles. I have worked backstage, played music in the pit, and directed and choreographed several school productions. I have built and broken down sets. I really love all aspects of theater. My recent acceptance to Boston Conservatory was a dream come true. This fall, I will leave my hometown in California and travel roughly 3,000 miles, where I will embark on the next part of my journey. There have been many steps between that stage in my school cafeteria and this point, but a cross-country move is definitely the biggest, and I am ready for it! During the pandemic, I started to explore career options outside of theater, so afraid it may never come back as it once was. I considered becoming an EMT or a teacher, like my parents. While I knew these were admirable career choices that could be very fulfilling, in my heart, I knew that I was born to do theater. Still, I grappled with a need inside of myself to make a positive impact on the world. Would performing impact the world in any meaningful way? I thought about how performances have positively impacted me in my own life, and how seeing live theater can be a transformative experience. I thought of the people who have guided me along the way–teachers, directors, choreographers, vocal coaches–and how they helped me to realize my dreams and become who I am meant to be. In addition to performing, I want to use my skills to teach and direct other young performers. In short, I am an aspiring artist who wants to make a positive impact on my community through performance and teaching. I want to be able to use the gifts and opportunities I have been given to help others become who they are meant to be and to find a space where they belong.

I still remember the first time I set foot on a stage. I was in 4th grade, and the stage was in my elementary school cafeteria. I had been cast in the ensemble of Once Upon a Mattress, and I was thrilled. I had always loved music and live performances, but now I had an opportunity to make the shift from observer to performer. I gave everything I had to the role of "Knight Number 4," and so began my love affair with the theater. I enjoyed everything about the whole process--the rehearsals, the costumes, the dancing, the singing, and the friendships. At age nine, I had found my happy place. More importantly, I found a place where I truly felt like I belonged. Since then, I have performed in many shows, both at my schools and at various community theaters in my area. I have been cast in lead and supporting roles, as well as in ensembles. I have worked backstage, played music in the pit, and directed and choreographed several elementary and middle school productions. I have built and broken down sets. I truly love all aspects of theater, but crafting, cultivating, and executing my own unique interpretation of a character for the stage is what brings me the most joy. To say that my acceptance to Boston Conservatory at Berklee was a dream come true would be an understatement. This upcoming fall, I will leave my hometown in Northern California and travel roughly 3,000 miles to Boston, where I will embark on the next part of my journey. There have been many steps, both big and small, between that stage in my school cafeteria and this point, but an impending cross-country move is definitely the biggest thus far, and I am ready for it! During the early part of the pandemic, I started to explore other career options outside of the performing arts, so afraid theater may never come back as it once was. I considered becoming an EMT or a teacher, like my parents. And while I knew these were admirable career choices that could be very fulfilling, in my gut and my heart, I know that I was born to do theater. Acceptance into Boston Conservatory has solidified my conviction and brought me one step closer to making my dream a reality. What I still grappled with, though, was the need inside of myself to make a positive difference in the world. Was performing on stage going to impact the world in any meaningful way? I started thinking about how performances have positively impacted me in my own life, and how seeing live theater can be a transformative and thought-provoking experience for the viewer. I thought of how the people who have guided me along the way–teachers, directors, choreographers, vocal coaches–have truly helped me to realize my dreams and become who I am meant to be. In addition to performing, I want to use my skills to teach and direct other young performers in the future. I have been working in this capacity at local elementary and middle schools, as well as a community theater, and it has been so fulfilling. Supporting young people and helping them to find their voice, their confidence, and their passion is extremely rewarding. In short, I am an aspiring artist who hopes to make a career for himself in musical theater. But I also want to use the gifts and opportunities I have been given to help others become who they are meant to be, and to find a space where they belong. Thank you for your consideration.

Since the age of 8, I always loved performing. I would put on private performances for my parents in our living room almost every night. I remember from the earliest of ages, as well, that I was never really satisfied with my work and what I had learned. I always wanted to get better. For example, once I got a certain dance move down, I immediately tried to do a harder one. Once I hit a certain high note, I immediately started trying to hit an even higher one. At age 19, with 10 years of theater experience under my belt, I am still not satisfied with my work and I always feel there is more to learn and further to go. That is what keeps me motivated to work hard, push myself, and perfect my craft. I want to be the best I can be at this art because I truly in my gut feel it was what I was made to do. Nothing gives me more of a thrill than performing in front of an audience and letting people escape the stress of their everyday lives for just a little bit of time. That is the magic of theater. While I knew I loved theater from an early age, I didn't realize how much I would enjoy directing and choreographing shows until I pursued volunteer opportunities at elementary and middle schools in my area. Through these experiences, I have sharpened my own theater skills, but I have also learned patience and compassion. I have honed my leadership and communication skills and in doing so, discovered a new purpose within the theater: giving back to my community. Similarly, when I was a junior in high school at the height of the pandemic, I was a teacher's aid for a drama class. Our teacher, unfortunately, lost her father and was out on bereavement leave for several days. Almost immediately upon her return, she got Covid. None of the substitutes knew what we had been doing in class or how to teach theater, so I stepped up. I taught a whole drama class of 50+ kids for a whole month. Workshopping monologues, teaching improv games, and educating them on the history of theater were just some of the responsibilities I took on during that time. This not only gave me great experience in teaching and helping others, but also it gave me a new insights into the joys and challenges of facilitating students. Throughout that month, I tried to spend individual time with every student making sure they all got the attention they needed and deserved. Most of these students chose drama as an alternative class and got put in it not by choice. Throughout that whole month though, I feel I motivated these kids even for just that hour and 45-minute class, to focus on art. I felt by the end that I had inspired and brought out more confidence in those students. The change from when they walked into the class on the first day, to when they left on the last was indescribable. Seeing how much confidence can come out of theater and teaching was what gave me the passion and drive to teach and help others. I feel fortunate that I have been able to pair my own performing with helping others to be their best.

I still remember the first time I set foot on a stage. I was in 4th grade, and the stage was in my elementary school cafeteria. I had been cast in the ensemble of Once Upon a Mattress, and I was thrilled. I had always loved music and live performances, but now I had an opportunity to make the shift from observer to performer. I gave everything I had to the role of "Knight Number 4," and so began my love affair with the theater. I enjoyed everything about the whole process--the rehearsals, the costumes, the dancing, the singing, and the friendships. At age nine, I had found my happy place. More importantly, I found a place where I truly felt like I belonged. Since then, I have performed in many, many shows, both at my schools (elementary, middle, and high school) and at various community theaters in my area. I have been cast in lead and supporting roles, as well as in ensembles. I have worked backstage, played music in the pit, and directed and choreographed several elementary and middle school productions. I have built and broken down sets. I truly love all aspects of theater, but crafting, cultivating, and executing my own unique interpretation of a character for the stage is what brings me the most joy and truly makes me feel alive. To say that my acceptance to Boston Conservatory at Berklee (BFA, Musical Theater) was a dream come true would be an understatement. This upcoming fall, I will leave my hometown in Northern California and travel roughly 3,000 miles to Boston, where I will embark on the next part of my journey. There have been many steps, both big and small, between that stage in my school cafeteria and this point, but an impending cross-country move is definitely the biggest thus far, and I am ready for it! The brass ring of my career goals is to make it to Broadway, supporting myself as a stage performer. This has been my dream for as long as I can remember. During the early part of the pandemic, I started to explore other career options, so afraid theater may never come back as it once was. I considered becoming an EMT or a teacher, like my parents. And while I know these are admirable career choices that could be very fulfilling, in my gut and my heart, I know that I was born to do theater. Acceptance into Boston Conservatory has solidified my conviction and brought me one step closer to making my dream a reality. In short, I am an aspiring artist who hopes to make a career for himself in musical theater. When people ask me why I have chosen this path, the answer is simple: it is because I must. Thank you for your consideration.

Like many people, my mom and my older brother were obsessed with The Office. I could hear them laughing out loud every night as they worked their way through all nine seasons. I was invited to join the fun, but as middle-schooler, I couldn't be bothered. I thought it looked slow and boring. I mean, iCarly had a laugh track, Hannah Montana had music; how could a show about an office with a beige and gray set ever compete? One night, I was in the kitchen while my mom and brother were on their first of many re-watches of the series. It was Season 1, episode 5: Basketball. I don't know what grabbed me, but for the first time, I sat down with them to watch. Maybe it was because I was really into Troy Bolton in High School Musical at the time, so I was naturally intrigued when I saw them playing basketball. I honestly don't remember what, specifically, tickled me, but I do remember laughing hysterically, and then watching that episode--and only that episode--over and over again. Eventually, my family talked me into giving the other episodes and seasons a try, and thus began my obsession with The Office. For my 16th birthday, my family threw me an Office-themed party, complete with an "IT IS YOUR BIRTHDAY" sign, brown and gray balloons and streamers, and soft pretzels. The Office shirts, posters, books, calendars, and knick knacks fill my room. As a pre-teen, I was all about in-your-face, slapstick comedy. Once I found The Office, I discovered dry humor and how cringey, uncomfortable moments can make me laugh until I cry, my whole idea of humor changed. I still like slapstick, but nothing makes me giggle like an average day at Dunder Mifflin. The character with whom I relate the most is Andy Bernard. Andy is kind, well-meaning, and dorky. So am I! Andy is often the butt of a joke, and I think my friends would agree that this is true for me too, even though I don't always realize it (also like Andy). Andy is known for his infrequent but explosive anger issues. I have never punched hole through a wall or thrown a pizza box, so I cannot fully relate with Andy. I do have a short temper once in a blue moon, and when I do, I like to put on my boxing gloves and take my anger out on a punching bag. If I ever did have to go to anger management, I would definitely graduate the same way I plan to graduate from Boston Conservatory--on time. Perhaps the way I relate most to Andy is in my love for music and theater. I have been doing plays since I was nine years old. I also play guitar and drums, and maybe someday, I can master the banjo like Andy. I've learned some comedic timing from all of the characters on The Office, including Andy. Roo doo doo doo doo! In all seriousness, I am obsessed with The Office. It's my comic relief after a busy day. It's what brings me comfort during hard times. Sometimes, it's just the background noise I need to cope. I'm grateful for The Office, and plan to pack all 9 seasons-worth of DVD's when I head to Boston for college in the fall.

When I was in fourth grade, I was cast in my first theater production at my elementary school. Despite the fact that, as a member of the ensemble I had no lines, I was hooked. I had found my happy place, and it was on stage. At the time, I didn’t realize that this small part in a kids’ show would be a launching point for my future goals and dreams, changing the trajectory of my whole life. After that first show, I started auditioning for parts at community theaters in my area. At times, the cost of participating was out of my family's budget, so my mom would clean the theater in exchange for the cost of my tuition. She knew that this was more than just a hobby; I had found my passion. Ten years and many productions later, I am preparing to attend Boston Conservatory at Berklee in the fall to earn my BFA in Musical Theater. Once I graduate, my goal is to be able to support myself in doing what I love most, which is performing on stage. When I got my acceptance to Boston Conservatory, I was overjoyed. However, when I started looking at tuition and housing costs, my excitement became overshadowed with concerns for how I would pay for school. My parents are both public school teachers in California. They have been saving money for college for my two siblings and me for many years, and have funds to cover a substantial portion of my tuition and expenses for the first year. They are currently helping my older brother, a recent college graduate, with his student loan payments. Additionally, my mom went back to school and obtained her masters degree in education two and a half years ago. My parents are are also paying for her student loans. During the last 18 months, my family has been faced with some unanticipated expenses related to my younger sister’s special needs (academic and mental health). Some of these expenses include tutoring, therapy, disability advocacy services, and legal expenses pertaining to her IEP. With the money my parents have saved, my own savings, and the modest financial aid that has already been offered to me from Boston, I am still need of approximately $25,000 to cover my tuition and related expenses for the year. I am hopeful that I can secure work study employment once I am acclimated to the rigors of the Conservatory to help offset some of my expenses. When I think of that little fourth grade boy and how far he has come, I am both proud and humbled. My family, school, and theater communities have supported and lifted me for many years. I do not take the opportunity to attend such an elite university for granted. I hope to share my passion with the world, beyond my hometown, and to create the special brand of joy that is conveyed through musical theater. I cannot wait to take the next step on my journey. Thank you for your consideration.