Alyssa Peters, theatre and performance senior, trains in all aspects of theater.
Peters is from Arlington, Texas. She said she found OCU through her high school theater teacher, who had graduated from the theatre program.
Peters said what drew her to OCU was the atmosphere.
“I guess what made me stay at OCU were the people,” Peters said. “Everyone here is very genuine and kind, and we truly want to see other people’s successes.”
When Peters came to OCU, she was part of the inaugural class of the BA theatre and performance degree.
Peters said being in the first group of students for a new major was difficult.
“Obviously, we are the pioneers of the new program, but it’s been fun to discover what works and what doesn’t work, but in the same way it’s been frustrating,” she said. “I’m still thankful because the new BA program makes young theater artists more well-rounded and prepared to go out into the real world.”
Peters said she has some plans for what she wants to do after graduation.
“First and foremost, I just want to work at a theater. I’ve applied to a few places, and I’ve gotten a few offers, but I haven’t made an official decision. I’m just going to take it one step at a time. I’m 80% sure I want to move to New York, but then there’s that tiny 20% that says maybe L.A. or Chicago,” she said. “I just want to create thought-provoking art.”
Peters said she has an idea of what she would like to do in the distant future as well.
“Eventually, I would like to become a drama therapist and work with kids in juvenile detention centers and foster care systems,” she said. “Instead of choosing negative or violent ways to deal with their emotions, I want to work with them on how to deal with their emotions through art.”
Peters said she first became interested in performing in the first grade.
“Back in elementary school, we used to take field trips to go see community theater productions, and there was this production of ‘Seussical’ put on by Creative Arts Theatre,” she said. “Seeing this in the first grade, I was like ‘Oh my god, these people are so fun, and I want to be up there with them.’”
Peters said she ended up joining the Creative Arts Theatre when she got older.
Peters said her involvement in performance, however, didn’t begin until she was about to start high school.
“In high school, I was really involved in theater and choir,” she said. “I was involved in the International Baccalaureate Program and National Honor Society and orchestra too.”
When asked about her dream roles in theater, Peters was torn.
“I honestly, could not tell you in this moment. I’ve always wanted to play ‘Becky’ in ‘Waitress,’ but also ‘Dawn’ in ‘Waitress,’” she said. “Oh my god wait, pause, scratch all of that. ‘Kinky Boots’ is one of my favorite musicals, and I would love to play ‘Lauren.’”
Peters said her favorite show to be a part of was “The Bluest Eye,” a mainstage production in the 2018-2019 TheatreOCU season.
“That’s probably been my favorite show that I’ve been a part of overall,” she said. “Being with the group of people I was with, we all understood each other. We’re all black, so we all come from different yet similar backgrounds.”
Peters said Courtney DiBello, assistant professor of stage management and director of “The Bluest Eye,” did a great job with the show.
“She gave us the freedom to play. She made it known from the beginning that like ‘I am not black, so I do not have the same experiences that you all have. I could not imagine what it is like to be black, but I’m just here to guide you.’ She was a very supportive person,” she said.
DiBello said Peters’s excellence shows in her work.
“Alyssa Peters is a fearless storyteller,” DiBello said. “She loves people. You can see this in the kindness that she dedicates to her work and her relationships.”
Peters said students should make their voices heard.
“Maybe this sounds cliché to say, but fight for what’s right. Fight for what you believe in, and don’t let the powers that be try to take your voice away,” she said. “It’s easier said than done, but I have found in my years at OCU, there were times where I felt like my voice was being suppressed. Freshman year I would have just let it be, but I’ve had a lot of great female role models who push through that. Observing them, they’ve given me the strength to know that what I have to say being a black woman is important and needs to be heard.”
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