What started off as a childhood hobby, writing and performing plays with her siblings when she was three years old, has become what theatre senior Madelayne Shammas plans to do for the rest of her life.
''I think theater, to my life, just means telling stories and getting to be a part of something that is bigger than yourself and getting to be a part of something, like, that just makes you feel like you’re at home,” Shammas said.
While at MSU, Shammas has taken full advantage of the widespread range of theatrical experiences MSU's theatre program has to offer.
During spring 2015, Shammas played the part of Mary in the MSU production of ''Hair."
“This was the first time I really felt like I was a part of a family, and ever since I did 'Hair' theater has gotten even more enticing and exciting to me," Shammas said.
MSU Department of Theatre instructor and "Hair" choreographer Kellyn Uhl describes Shammas' presence as "vibrant" and "excited."
“Maddie is the ideal student and collaborator because she is enthusiastic and curious about learning,” Uhl said. “During our time working together she was thirsty for as much dance as I could throw at her. She has a beautiful intuitive sense about her body and when she moves you can sense the feeling rushing through her.”
Shortly following the closing of "Hair," Shammas journeyed to London for an MSU study abroad program through the MSU Department of Theatre.
During the five-week program, students took classes in the morning, traveled to landmarks around London in the afternoon and spent their evenings seeing plays.
By the end of the program, Shammas had seen roughly 23 or 24 shows, one almost every night she was on the trip.
Not only did this experience make her determined to see as many shows as she can for the rest of her life, but it introduced her to aspects of theater she hadn't before been exposed to, allowed her to learn about theater from the eyes of the actors and allowed her to get an inside look at the technical side of theater, Shammas said.
Shammas' most recent theatrical experience was taking on six of the 36 roles in the MSU production of "And Away We Go." This show follows 36 characters through six time periods and locations.
Theatre junior Derek Bry, one of the other actors in the show, spoke highly of his time working with Shammas.
“One of her strengths as an actor is her ability to bring something different to each rehearsal, during that process when it is so important to explore and play, she is always trying a line in a different way or changing her tactics to make new discoveries,” Bry said.
Shammas recommends live theater to everyone regardless of the growing popularity of film.
“I think the most incredible thing about live theater is that it’s happening for the very first time right in front of you and maybe the actors have said the lines before, but they have never said them before for this audience, on this day and it’s all brand new right for you," Shammas said. "It’s original and it’ll never be exactly the same again."
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