After COVID-19 began, some passed time by trying the newest air fryer recipes, binging their favorite movies or learning how to crochet. However, Olivia Broock (’27) was determined to start her career in the theatrical arts. Broock went from annoying her neighbors with singing to being heavily involved in the Archer theater community.
Broock found her passion for the theater arts during the lockdown, when she would practice singing and dancing in her room every day. Before she started attending Archer in seventh grade, she had never participated in a play or musical. During her first year, she took part in the play, musical, choir and a cappella. Since then, she performed in the musicals “Charlie Brown“, “Frozen“, “Mean Girls” and her most recent, “Mamma Mia!“
During the casting process for “Mamma Mia!” theater director Samara Kelly said she picked Broock for the role of Tanya because of the “toolkit” she possesses, making characters come to life and never failing to make the room laugh. Kelly called Broock a “triple threat” because of her talents in dance, singing and acting. Broock has demonstrated she is a dedicated performer, she said, staying late after rehearsal and actively seeking feedback on her performances.
“She really rallies the community by being a strong role model for some of the other actors and younger performers,” Kelly said. “She shows a very strong work ethic, which you need as a performer.”
Playing the role of Tanya tested her acting abilities, Broock said, since it was a comedic role rather than the dramatic ones she typically tends to pursue.
“For this [show] I’m obviously not a middle-aged woman, and it was just really difficult for me at first to try to capture that,” Broock said. “But I think, eventually, I got the hang of it, and it’s really just disconnecting myself from the character that I’m playing that really helps.”
Assistant choir director Emerson Cohen (’26) met Broock during middle school. She said Broock is a member of a cappella and choir, always bringing energy and showing her knowledge of the material.
“I think she’s really grown into a very well-rounded and comfortable performer, and she always just seems very happy and comfortable on stage. She always brings the energy, and she’s so dedicated.” Cohen said. “If anyone’s having issues with learning music or with their part, she’s always someone that people know to go to.”
Broock was a captain at a theater summer camp, dancing for nearly six hours a day and rehearsing for another four. She said she had fun at the camp, while also meeting other competitive performers.
“Some of the people, they were really, really competitive and so talented,” Broock said. “[They] made me realize that I have to work so hard if I want to pursue it.”
For her first upper school musical, Broock was given an ensemble role, along with the other freshmen. Kelly said she saw Broock’s confidence and technique grow throughout the musical.
“The fact that she was able to take what was really an ensemble role and build it out, create her own character and really shine on stage was really impressive to me,” Kelly said. “So to watch her navigate that, not be the lead, not have the most lines, not have the most information from the playwright or have a solo where she could, really build off her character, she had to take what was given and build it off herself.”
Broock looks up to the seniors involved in theater, as well as Archer’s theatre teachers. She said she is very passionate about dance, songwriting and singing and hopes to take her talents outside of Archer.
“I think it shaped the person that I am today,” Broock said. “Doing theater at Archer made me realize that I want to do it as a career.”
Shae Killam • Feb 5, 2025 at 2:34 pm
Yay Izzie!!!!!! Such a good article, lots of great quotes!! You’re such talented reporter!
Kayley Joss McPherson • Jan 24, 2025 at 10:34 pm
GO LIVVVYYY!!!!! I love getting to watch you grow everyday!!! Great article Izzie!