A Drama Student’s Journey Through Theater

Close your eyes.

Powerful lights beam down upon your face, and hundreds of eyes fixate on you, awaiting your first line. You hear your heartbeat ringing in your ears as you feel a surge of nervousness fall into the pit of your stomach. The scene is about to begin.

To some, the art of acting may seem nerve-racking, but to junior Lucy Pease, acting on stage is home.

“I love the thrill of performing,” said Pease.

Ever since she was little, Pease knew she belonged on stage.

“Watching all of your hard work in rehearsals go from something so simple and turn into something great is amazing to me,” said Pease.

Her theatrical career began when Pease was in sixth grade and joined the apprentice company at Atlanta Workshop Players, an organization described on its website as a “course designed for dedicated, talented, experienced, serious performers who wish to enhance their careers with professional training.” This company is where Pease learned the basics of acting and began to see her full theatrical potential when she takes the stage.

Since then, Pease has been in 12 theatre performances, seven of which were right here at the school, and she has experience as an assistant stage manager. She is also the vice president of the Thespian Society, an organization that recognizes and honors the achievements of young drama students across the world.

Pease will be performing in “Elephant’s Graveyard” Thursday and Friday in the auditorium. She– alongside the rest of the school’s cast– will compete against other high schools at the regional one-act competition on Oct. 29th right here at school. Her efforts in practice have paid off and she is ready to perform.

The minute a scene begins– with no time to waste at all– she snaps into focus and the world around her disappears.  The audience’s eyes are focused on her as she uses the space around her to produce movements, expressions and a projected voice to engage every audience member from the front row all the way to the last seats in the auditorium.

Pease has been nominated for the Shuler Student Ensemble, a Georgia-based musical theatre award program, as well as the Governor’s Honor’s Program for theatre. Both are prestigious achievements for young actors.

Although she has been recognized for her excellence many times, Pease doesn’t focus on the awards she has been given. Pease does theatre because she adores it.

Pease wouldn’t be where she is today without the help and guidance of drama director Tracey Buot. Buot inspires Pease to be a better actress every day.

“She cares about everyone on such a personal level and pushes them to do their absolute best. I always wanna make her proud,” said Pease.

Buot said Pease is a true leader in the program and a real standout when it comes to performances.

Pease’s fellow cast member, Junior Kendall Warner, agrees.

“She’s really fun to be around and she seems like such a natural born leader,” said Warner.

Buot also acknowledges Pease’s determination to make the best out of any position she’s given.

“No matter what role she gets, big or small, she always puts the same amount of effort every time,” said Buot.

Thanks to Pease’s skills of working with others and her ability to take risks on stage, Buot sees her as someone who could make a career out of acting and achieve immense success.

Buot first saw these qualities in Pease last year when she got the lead in the production of “I Never Saw Another Butterfly,” a one-act play about children in the Holocaust. Buot said this was a heavy and intense role for a sophomore.

Pease credits her successes to the positive and uplifting environment the drama program provides, and to the support from her friends in the cast.

“We are all extremely close. Almost all of my best friends are in drama and this is a place where we can really be ourselves,” said Pease.