“I toured with Matilda and got to perform at the Hobby Center in Houston, my hometown, where I used to go see shows. It was so strange. I was standing on the stage knowing exactly where I sat in the audience for Wicked, Legally Blonde, Sister Act, Rent, The Lion King—I knew exactly how old I was when I saw those shows and was thinking about how I had no idea I was going to do musical theatre until I saw Rent all the way at the top of the balcony. That night I told myself that I would be coming out of that stage door one day. And I did.
I don’t know how all of that happened, but it all goes back. If I hadn’t been on the track team, if my friend on the track team didn’t invite me to this audition, if I didn’t meet Mr. Unroe, my theatre teacher who pulled me aside and told me that musical theatre is a career, I wouldn’t be where I am now. And I am very thankful for those people who brought this into my life. It wasn’t about dancing, singing, or acting—It was about being in a community where I felt connected to the people around me. We all came together to put this show together and built the sets over the winter break. We were just kids having fun on stage, and they were some of my best friends that I got to work with until 8 or 9pm everyday.”