This week I would love for you to get to know some of the cast and hear from them on a personal level. I wanted to highlight the Belmont MT seniors that are a part of Lightning Thief here at NCT! Christian, Katie, Aliya, and I are all extremely grateful to be spending our second to last semester at college working with such an incredible team. An opportunity to do a show at a theatre that is so well respected isn’t something we take for granted.

The opportunity has also been a measure of how far we have come since our freshman year, 2018. We are now capable of balancing multiple performance opportunities, senior recitals, jobs, schoolwork, and social activities – a task that seemed impossible when first entering college. These years have sped by, but we have enjoyed, learned, and grown as people and performers.

Working in a show with sophomores, juniors, and seniors has built a great sense of community. Throughout the production preparation, we continue to lean on each other. I have personally learned so much from watching the underclassmen, and we all love to help and support each other. That’s the awesome part about Belmont Musical Theatre and the reason we have gotten to where we are now – it’s more than a program, it’s a family. This is like Nashville Children’s Theatre and likely while we all feel so at home while working on this production.

It is hard to believe that we are preparing to graduate and enter the real world. Luckily, we have opportunities like Lightening Thief to meet more people in the Nashville Theatre community and gain experience working in a professional environment.

o, let me shine the spotlight on our Belmont Seniors…

Christian Sandelin (Chiron, Poseidon, & Hades)

Hometown: Bowling Green, KY

“I feel getting the opportunity to work at NCT is amazing as it is a professional theatre, and it expands our connections to the Nashville theatre community. It is also a new environment to create in aside from our Belmont school setting. It has also been amazing to get to work with all of the staff at NCT and learn helpful new tips and put a show on with them!”

Katie Yeomans (Clarisse & Mrs. Dodd’s)

Hometown: Franklin, TN

“Working at NCT this semester has been such a beneficial experience! It’s been great to work alongside such a gracious creative team to build Lightning Thief and debut it regionally. As a senior, I’m so thankful to get to collaborate with open-minded directors, crew, and cast members to produce live theatre!”

Aliya Johnson (Sally & The Oracle)

Hometown: Dayton, OH

“Working on Lightning Thief has been a blast. It’s so fun and educational to be working on a relatively brand-new show. I feel grateful for the directors allowing me to make new choices with my characters and encouraging me throughout. It’s been the most amazing learning experience playing 4 completely different characters. I am so grateful to have had this experience as a senior, my past 3 years of training definitely got me here!”

Jamie Bradley (Silena & Dance/Fight Captain)

Hometown: Lexington, KY

“I know you hear about me every week- but young Jamie would be so proud to see where I am now. I can’t thank the people at NCT enough for this incredible opportunity.”

Now that you know a little more about us, I hope you are as excited as we are for Lightning Thief to open on the 22nd. Please come and be part of our senior year journey as we take you on a magical journey of your own.