Belmont's Department of Musical Theatre recently put on their spring production -- 42nd Street -- in the Fisher Center for Performing Arts.
When Caroline was 14, she saw the show live on stage and thought, more specifically, she wanted to play this role. The role of Peggy.
When she got to Belmont, this dream came true!
"I have been a tapper my whole life – tap is something I really cherish. Seeing a role that I could see myself in... that taps the whole show? That had to be something I played some day."
42nd Street is the ultimate "show within a show" and the best way to describe it is: The show must go on!
The story of a young, green actress who comes to the City for her first big break and gets way more than she could have ever asked for.
The show represents the hopes and dreams of Belmont's musical theatre students.
Read on to hear Caroline detail her experience as Peggy in her own words...
"Peggy is someone I am very familiar with, but also someone I never thought I could fully be.
Getting to believe in her and finding in her more than that one-dimensional character that most people see from the show – her stubbornness, her excitement, and how she relates to me has been an incredible experience."
"I played this woman who is doing exactly what I want to do when I graduate – so how do I feel that, how do I believe in myself in that way?
It’s been a lot of well-timed self-discovery in my last year of college!"
"And getting to do so in the Fisher Center has been surreal. To do a show that takes place in such a gorgeous theater has been so special."
"It’s been an adjustment to make everything a little bigger and louder, but to see how we can play to different spaces has been great educationally."
"Through the Fisher Center, we are finally going to be able to pull off some of those bigger shows that weren’t possible before and get to see the full picture of the talent of our students."
"When they announced the season at the beginning of the year, I was a mess of emotions..."
"I’m going to get to do this dream show of mine with my favorite people in the world? What a gift."
"Walking into the theater every day before rehearsal, I take a deep breath and say, “Wow… When is the next time I’m going to get to that?”"
"I've had the joy of performing in 'Little Women,' 'Urinetown,' and 'Bright Star' during my journey at Belmont. It's been a great, crazy four years.
The more I moved along, the more I was able to see myself within grasping reach of that role. To be presented the opportunity at one of my favorite places -
it was the perfect storm."
"I have been so blessed to be surrounded by a cast that believes in me as Peggy. And that has made my Peggy so much more exciting."