Stepping on stage as Belle in the Beauty and the Beast — Live on Stage show at Disney's Hollywood Studios for the first time was one of Katy McCarty's most memorable experiences by far. Being in the same stage version she watched as a child, she said singing those songs "epitomized a childhood dream come true."
Since she was a little girl , McCarty dreamed of playing Belle.
She recalls an experience at the Fulton Opera House her sophomore year of high school. In a production of The Sound of Music she realized she couldn't see herself doing anything else.
"I was able to get to know and work with professional performers. I gained an insight into the life of a working actor," McCarty said. "To work at a professional and well-respected regional, equity theater at that age … I realized that I also wanted to be a working actor."
UCF has about 60 hopeful students, studying in the BFA musical theatre program dreaming of one day having a career in the field, according to Earl Weaver, a theatre professor at UCF. The entire program of both major and minors at UCF consists of about 450 students.
"A degree in theatre is not necessary," Weaver said. "But, it lays a strong foundation. Many students get jobs simply based on their talent, but those who complete a university training program seem to have longer careers."
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Finding success in the acting world...successful jobs
So do all students who major in theatre ultimately end up in that field?
Some do, but many have opportunities during college and once graduation day comes, the opportunities are gone.
McCarty has been one of the lucky ones to make a long-term career out of it. McCarty currently works for Disneyland, Hong Kong performing in "The Golden Mickeys" as a singer, dancer and actor. She earned a bachelor's of arts in English/theatre from Lebanon Valley College.
"I had the opportunity to study and perform shows of varying genres," she said. "It provided me with useful training that has been incredibly applicable and prepared me for a career in performing."
"I see myself in this business for as long as I have the privilege of doing so. I have always had such an undying passion for performing, that not only have I never been able to envision myself doing anything else, but I have also continued to look to the future and to the next project/show with excitement."
Like McCarty, Sarah Amengual, who didn't attend UCF, holds a degree in theatre.
However, Amengual looks back at her college experience with mixed feelings.
Of the numerous teachers Amengual worked with, she only calls one of them exceptional. An acting teacher, Bruce Miller, served as an inspiration to her. While less supportive teachers made Amengual feel like giving up.
"College severely damaged my self esteem," Amengual said. "At times it made me feel like throwing in the towel … like I could never do anything right."
Despite the lack of support Amengual received academically, her life would be considerably different if she hadn't majored in theatre.
Amengual performed two Spanish songs for a musical theatre Styles class and heard about auditions for West Side Story. Before even graduating, Amengual traveled back and forth between Miami and New York, auditioning for the national tour of West Side Story. She had not been cast as Maria in the tour; however Amengual had landed the role of Maria on Broadway.
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Theatre graduate doubles as orthodontist and actor
One thousand miles away, in Daytona Beach, David Lowe, now an orthodontist, studied theatre and biology in college. He finds it "foolhardy" to pursue acting as his career.
"While performing in productions in college I saw many talented actors. Some of them beating me out for the roles I went out for. Many of those same actors I saw hanging around the theater long after they graduated," Lowe said. "I looked at my classmates, some of whom were much better than me and weren't getting jobs. I said to myself, ‘What makes me so special?'"
Lowe idolized his father, also an orthodontist, spending eight summers working for him.
"I remember watching my dad ‘perform' to his teenage patients. Hundreds of them a day and he always made them laugh," Lowe said. "That probably pleaded to the theatrical side of me."
Married to another dentist with 7-year-old twins, Lowe wouldn't change a thing.
"The arts are a huge part of my life, but a career in orthodontics gave me the opportunity to still pursue my love for performing while providing for my family," he said.
Most recently he portrayed the role of Milos Gloriosis, in Stephen Sondheim's A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. Lowe charmed audiences with tantalizing one-liners, and comedic numbers such as Bring Me My Bride.
Though he isn't making a living at it, the theatrics is still an enormous part of his life. Lowe exercises his love for the arts in community theaters throughout the Central Florida area.
"I get to be a big fish in a little pond," Lowe said of his performing. "I get my pick of roles. People tell me I'm good at it and they keep casting me."
Weaver is not surprised in the least by Lowe's decision to have a career in one field and live his dreams throughout the community.
"Most of our theatre studies majors are double majoring in something else. Often theatre is their secondary major," Weaver said. "Many people find themselves pursuing other careers for many different reasons and participate in community theater to fulfill their love of performing."
After graduating with a bachelor's of arts in theatre/dance, Weaver began teaching. He also holds a master's in musical theatre. As a performer he worked Off-Broadway, but Weaver feels the best achievement of his career is teaching.
"I still do both," Weaver said. "It's the greatest gift of being a teacher. You have summer breaks to go work professionally and keep honing your craft. You don't have to sacrifice one for the other."
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Rejection tough for aspiring actors out of classroom
One thing a student can't learn in the classroom is how to deal with the constant rejection. The field is subjective and dependent on other people's opinions.
Amengual attributes the most discouraging part of pursuing theater to just that.
"It's frustrating when you don't do as well as you want at an audition. It can be equally frustrating when you do as much as you can and you're just simply not right for the role."
However, she remains positive.
"You have to be willing to let things go and live in the present," Amengual said. "If you're too busy looking behind you, you'll miss the things ahead."
McCarty shares a similar outlook.
"The competitive nature of the business and the uncertainty can be discouraging," McCarty said. "I have found that as long as I just keep pushing forward, staying as positive as possible, looking forward to whatever the next opportunity may be, the joys of pursuing my passion outweigh such obstacles."
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