New Jersey Stage November 2014 | Page 56

life! Growing up, I viewed Paper Mill as this untouchable theatrical palace. I remember standing on the Paper Mill stage singing at the glamorous Rising Star Awards ceremony. It was such a surreal and magical experience. The craziest thing is that I almost didn’t accept the scholarship. I was afraid of not being good enough. It was a last minute decision, egged on mainly by my parents. I owe it all to past Paper Mill Education Director Susie Speidel for still letting me join. I don’t think I would have chosen this career without it. New Jersey Stage Where did you go to college? I went to Montclair State University and was the first class selected under the new BFA Musical Theatre program created by the one-andonly Clay James. Did you only study theater or also have ‘something to fall back on’? Because BFA degrees are very demanding and time consuming, it makes it hard to take on another major so I just went for it no fall back, no double major, but a lot of faith and trust! Do you know if any of your classmates are also working November 2014 pg 56