Senior Taylor Niedwick spent much of her high school career participating in various theater arts productions, from “Guys and Dolls” to “The Diviners.” As president of Uni Theatre Arts, a theater program that includes Comedy Sportz, Cappies, Thespians and the drama club, Neidwick serves as the face of the theater arts company and manages, leads and promotes the drama club.
“One of the highlights of the year is after we’ve closed our spring musical [when] we get to attend the Macy Awards and the Cappies, which are award ceremonies where our school and other schools are assessed and it’s kind of just a celebration of how far everyone’s come and what we’ve all worked hard to do,” Niedwick said. “A lot of schools perform at the galas, and it’s just a fun opportunity to dress up, and it’s kind of like a high school Tony Awards.”
Niedwick started acting in fourth grade at a summer camp at South Coast Repertory, where a class taught her the basics of singing and acting. From there, her love for the theater brought her to a Portola summer camp where she continued to develop her acting skills.
“I was pretty quiet [as a kid], and having to go on stage and sing or act when you’re not comfortable singing, it’s a challenge,” Niedwick said. “So it was good. It got me out of my comfort zone and definitely made me a more confident person.”
Neidwick’s beginning drama class in high school, taught by Miss Ranae Bettger, expanded her knowledge of the history of theater and the rules of staging while preparing her for auditions and a performance in her first musical, “Urinetown.” The long hours spent after school and on weekends prepping for productions build close bonds and strong friendships between members of the theater arts program. Upperclassmen mentor freshmen, and altogether they cultivate an inclusive and welcoming environment.
“It was really fun, and I definitely feel like I got lucky with the class, “ Neidwick said. “The group of people that was in the cast, even though I was a freshman, they treated me with respect, and they were super sweet and fun. I’ve always tried to kind of continue that legacy while I’m doing theater now.”
From her first audition to her current roles, Neidwick has seen immense growth. Auditions required her to submit a singing video online, perform a few lines and practice a dance. These auditions taught Niedwick to choose a song that vocally fits her voice and to always prepare beyond what is required.
“I was ready, but it’s always better to be extra, extra, extra prepared cause you never know what they’re [going to] ask you to do,” Niedwick said. “They could literally say do a cartwheel and balance on one foot and sing ‘Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.’ I feel like you have to go in knowing that they could literally ask you to do anything, read for any part, sing any song from the show and you just have to be ready for that.”
Throughout the rest of her high school career, she has also performed in spring musicals, including “35 MM” and “Guys and Dolls,” and fall plays, including “A Wrinkle in Time” and “The Diviners.” Musicals bring a special challenge, because, beyond acting and memorizing a script, performers also learn choreography and songs.
“My favorite part is the sitzprobe, which is the first day that the live pit plays with all of us and we hear all the music for the first time,” Niediwick said. “It sounds completely different than the cast recording, and it’s always been a super fun day for everyone.”
After high school, Neidwick wants to continue theater arts at a community theater or through a minor at her college or university, but plans to major in a foreign language or art. She believes her experiences with theater have developed her important life skills, such as improvisation, adaptability, time management and communication.
“I think that everyone I have joined the program with and also have watched join the program has grown in so many ways,” Niedwick said. “I think it’s given me a lot of great skills and benefits that I wouldn’t have expected going into it in the beginning, so I would say just do it even if you’re scared.”
