Onstage since the age of 10, this month's First-Year Focus subject has loads of experience and talent.
Emily Schultz is a first-year student from Lisbon, Iowa. Schultz shared that "though Lisbon is a very, very, small-town" her high school had a really strong theatre and fine arts program that helped her grow in her love of theatre.
Schultz got her start because of her mom's love of theatre. "My mom is the [Lisbon's] drama director and was a theatre major in college...that's what sparked it all," Schultz said.
While her mom may have pushed her to give theatre a try, ever since she started acting she can't help herself from coming back.
"[Theatre] gives me an opportunity to be not myself for a bit, and I really just don't have to worry about my problems or getting things going on my life," she began. "I can just like be someone else for a little bit. It's really nice. I love it."
Schultz was able to play many roles throughout her four years of high school, but some of her favorite roles are Donkey in Shrek the Musical, which she played her senior year of high school, and Mayzie LaBird in the musical, Seussical. More recently, Schultz performed in SAU's Fresh Face Revue, and is currently rehearsing her role as Mom in Leaving Iowa, one of the upcoming directing class productions.
While she has learned something valuable from each role she has taken on, Schultz still has some dream roles she would like to play.
"I love musical theatre, so Wendla from Spring Awakening is a top contender for sure," said Schultz. "But I would also love to play Maureen Johnson from Rent as well."
Although theatre is a big part of her life, it is not the sole thing that brought Schultz to St. Ambrose University. With the opportunity to be involved in a 3+1 program with Palmer Chiropractic College, Schultz is currently majoring in Exercise Science and minoring in Biology. Furthermore, when Schultz is not onstage or studying, she can be found hanging out with friends or knitting.
Schultz is excited to branch out and meet new people here at SAU, and the entire department is ecstatic to have her here on campus. She has gotten involved very quickly, and we can't wait to see what she accomplishes next!
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