Whether it be the worldwide “Into the Spotlight” Young Performers competition or the YoungArts National Arts Competition, thousands of teenagers take the stage to perform in theater competitions every year.
Among 150 submissions, judges for this year’s “The Show Must Go On” Teen Monologue Festival selected senior Bryce Collis as one of the competition’s top 10 finalists in early October. The contest was open to high school students across the nation and was hosted at the A Noise Within theater in Pasadena.
Collis said she decided to enter the competition after learning about it from theater teacher Tracy Poverstein. She prepared and performed a monologue from the play “Heavy Weather” by Lizzie Nunnery. The production follows a young girl hoping to find solutions for the climate crisis, as she searches for her mother who had left her and her sister three years prior.
“What drew me to [this play] is how the [main] character wants to believe in a special reality … and believe that her mom’s love for her meant something,” Collis said. “Wanting to believe that our lives and moments in our lives really do mean something is something that a lot of people can relate to. I can especially relate to it because I’m always romanticizing life.”
To prepare for the contest, Collis said she filmed herself performing the monologue, watched the videos back and experimented with various ways of acting it out. The finalists performance took place on the A Noise Within’s main stage Oct. 27, along with a Masterclass taught by actor Riley Shanahan and a performance of August Wilson‘s “The Piano Lesson” Oct. 29.
“My goal is to be open to any feedback and grow during the finalist performance because we’re going to be taught by a master teacher. I’m excited for that,” Collis said. “I also want to make friends since there are nine other finalists I get to meet.”
Fellow senior and Drama Queens member Hayden Seid has been acting alongside Collis as a part of Archer theater for the past five years. Seid described Collis as an inspiring, passionate performer who has a warm presence in both social and professional environments.
“She’s definitely had such a big impact [on Archer theater]. She is the kind of person that makes sure everyone’s enjoying themselves,” Seid said. “She’s very passionate about what she does, but she shares that passion with others and creates such a safe, exciting space to explore theater. She makes people excited to show up to rehearsal, because she’s such a positive force.”
Poverstein has been teaching Collis since she was in sixth grade, and she said Collis’ open and supportive attitude towards her peers encourages others to cheer her on, too. Poverstein said she was not surprised to learn Collis was selected as a finalist, describing her as a triple threat — someone who can sing, dance and act.
“I was really happy for her because she works so hard and has the skill,” Poverstein said. “Also, I was really happy that she would get this positive feedback before she submitted her auditions for colleges. I thought that might be a boost for her confidence.”
Poverstein said Collis loves the acting and collaboration process, not just the end product. Before performing in the finalist show, Collis reflected on her favorite aspect of performing and acting.
“When people can relate to a story, it brings them together and makes them feel connected,” Collis said. “And so I think my favorite part is being able to connect over a shared human experience.”
