Celebrating Our Seniors: Class of 2021

We are thrilled to celebrate and send huge congratulations to the 2021 graduating seniors! These talented young people have participated in Cadence programs such as KdentsTV, TRAIN Pre-Professional Acting, 4th Wall Student Leadership Program, Mainstage shows, Rehearsal and Performance Programs, and STAGE WRITE student leadership and workforce readiness program. Also, a huge shout-out to Anjali Sharma and her college essay. Read how a stage moment transformed her life below!

 Zoë Brown – Carnegie-Mellon University

Ellie Duffey – Chicago College of the Performing Arts (Roosevelt University)

Mia Krivanec – Columbia College Chicago

Eden Johnson – Columbia University

Jonah Hodari – Emerson College

Christopher Stone – Howard University

Anjali Sharma – JMU

Luke Freisner  – JMU

Izzy Scozzaro – JMU

Brandon McKinney – JMU

Theresa Carpinelli – JMU

Maria Carpinelli – JMU

Elizabeth Rose Cobb – Liberty University

Zach Kenney – Longwood

Elizabeth Thorne – Northeastern University

Angelina Anderson – NYU TSOA

Cullen Parrish – NYU TSOA

Sophia Bunnell – NYU TSOA

Drew Brown – NYU TSOA IMA (Interactive Media Arts)

Myasia Goode – Stanford University

Owen Rice – Texas Christian University

Maggie McQuillen – UNCG

Nicholas Caviness – VCU

My First Kiss by Anjali Sharma

Photo courtesy of Maura Varley Photography

First kiss stories are one of the many life experiences that everyone hopes to share with their children one day. Parents typically reminisce about one of two options: a fairytale-like romantic moment or a cheek-burning sloppily awkward encounter. It is safe to say that my children will one day hear the story of my experience that fell into some sort of warped subcategory of the second option. My story is set on a big drafty stage with five laughing friends and two directors.

My musical theatre journey over the past six years years brought me one of my greatest experiences when, the summer before my junior year, I was cast as a leading role in an all-teen professional production, 13 the Musical. After hearing the news, I did what any sane theatre kid would and immediately raced to scour the internet to research my character, Lucy. My eyes, sparkling with premature excitement, began to dull as I watched what would soon become the story my kids would surely giggle about and tease me for.

“So, your tongue is still available?...Great!” (Lucy grabs Brett, pulls him to a standing position, and kisses him.)

Fast forward to September when rehearsals began, and you could find me a jittery mess every time the weekend rolled around. The weekends meant two things: 10 hours of rehearsal and the possibility of my first romantic encounter, minus the romance.

13: The Musical by Jason Collins Photography

After a month of a will-they-won’t-they game, the directors finally led me and a few of my castmates onto the famed Richmond November Theatre stage to rehearse the kiss scene. Sharing in camaraderie over our anxieties, we threw our heads back in nervous chuckles and popped breath mints with sweaty palms.

Having made our breathe minty fresh, the kiss rehearsal entailed the following actions: kissing each other on the cheek as a warm up, him holding me, me grabbing his face and kissing him, me awkwardly running my fingers through his hair, and us doing the scene with a subpar version of grace.

Being the model example of a sloppily awkward encounter, this rehearsal fit perfectly into the second option of first-kiss experiences. However, what this category fails to mention was my constant uncontrollable laughter out of discomfort, my friends snickering as they watched, and the hundreds of somehow intimidating empty theater seats.

Photo courtesy of the Sharma family

When the time comes, I will at least be able to tell my kids that my first kiss was one enriched with passion, even if it was not of the romantic kind. No, this passion was that of my dedication to the thing I love. Thus, no matter how unorthodox, my first kiss was one that I can say helped shape me into a person I am proud of. That person does not let discomfort scare her away from accomplishing something great. That person got to experience unforgettable moments of standing ovations and official raving reviews. Not to mention, that person has a pretty unforgettable first kiss story.