Today, it is rare for students to pursue performing arts in college as it is very difficult to find roles and break out in the world of music, media, and art after graduating. Despite this, two seniors from Liberty are taking the chance to pursue their dreams.
Elle Spahn and Andrew Browne are two talented Liberty seniors who are majoring in musical theater and theater respectively. Both are very experienced in their craft, with Spahn starting theater in kindergarten and Browne being in Liberty theater for five years along with six years of choir and fourteen years of dance.
“My school offered theater and my mom told me I should do it,” Spahn said. “My dad is a very musical person so I got into theater because of him listening to stuff as well.”
“I’ve been involved with Liberty theater for five years because my older sister roped me into the spring musical in 2020,” Browne said. “They needed more tap dancers so I auditioned and made it in, but the musical got canceled because of COVID.”
Both Spahn and Browne credit Dr. Butterworth and Liberty’s theater department in their decision to go into musical theater and theater.
“Liberty theater definitely gave me the confidence to feel free to pursue my dreams,” Spahn said. “It’s really influenced me to talk to people, celebrate everyone’s talents, and not be afraid of collaborating because there are some great people out there.”
Spahn committed to Five Towns College located in Dix Hills, New York which offers a variety of programs focused primarily on music, media, and other performing arts.
“I chose it because it’s more of a conservatory type school,” Spahn said. “I get to sing, dance, and act every day.”
On the other hand, Browne is pursuing theater outside of the United States. He committed to Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh, Scotland. QMU is known for their acting and performance courses and is ranked first in Scotland for drama.
“I knew I wanted to go to college in the UK due to all the political stuff going on in the U.S.,” Browne said. “I found Queen Margaret University on the internet and I did some research and found that they have a really good program.”
Although they’re leaving, the Liberty theater program will have a special place in the senior’s hearts.
“I love Liberty’s theater program,” Spahn said. “I think there’s just a certain community that we have here that’s unlike anywhere else. It’s really like a family.”
Both seniors most enjoyed playing their characters from this year’s spring musical, Anything Goes.
“I’ve had the most fun with Billy Crocker as I got to really goof around the stage,” Browne said. “I got to tap dance, I got to sing, and I got to do the horrendous accents.”
“My favorite is a tie between Bonnie from Anything Goes and Hermia from A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” Spahn said. Hermia gave me the confidence to put myself out there, and Bonnie was just a lot of fun.”
Even as their last year at Liberty comes to an end, the memories made with the Liberty theater program will continue to follow them as they continue their theatrical journeys.
“My biggest memorable moment was being able to take my final bow on closing night and see all the people that impacted me and made me a better person,” Spahn said. “I’ll never forget my time at Liberty.”
