COLLEGIATE THEATRICS: NYU's Delaney Amatrudo

One needn't be clairvoyant to sense that Delaney Amatrudo is destined for stardom; that's been evident, at the very least, since she was a middle schooler. For Nashville area audiences who have been lucky enough to see her live and onstage, it's very obvious that she possesses that ethereal quality which makes her stand out in any crowd, that is especially noticeable when she is onstage, and which burns brightly regardless of the situation.

Delaney Amatrudo has "it"-that indefinable, somehow inexplicable, trait that sets her apart from the other young actors striving for stardom. Since she was a kid even, it's been easy to see that she was born with that light inside her and it's been clear in her onstage performances for Nashville area theater companies that she's fated for greatness.

Whether it was as Patrice, the slightly eccentric and bookish girl in Jason Robert Brown's 13 the Musical, directed by Jamie London for Circle Players in 2011, Dorothy Gale and Janet Van De Graaff in Page High School's productions of The Wizard of Oz and The Drowsy Chaperone, or the moment she took the stage at the 2012 First Night Honors with the rest of that year's Most Promising Actors to sing "One Short Day (in the Emerald City)" from Wicked, singing Elphaba's part, she has dazzled audiences with her innate talents, her remarkable range and her sheer determination and hard work.

Now, as a sophomore at New York University Tisch's New Studio on Broadway studying musical theatre, Delaney-who's originally from College Grove, Tennessee-she seems destined for even further onstage glory, yet another of the up-and-coming young actors who are studying their craft and burnishing their resumes, with their eyes fixed squarely upon the prize.

With the end of the semester fast approaching, we were able to pin the peripatetic Delaney down for a few quiet moments to get an update about her college career and catch up with her about her future plans...

So, how's your college theater career going? Has it lived up to its advance hype? College is pretty much what I expected it to be. It is not easy by any means. I have class from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. twice a week and from 9 a.m. to about 5 p.m. two other days each week. Even though it sucks up a lot of my free time, having long studio days like these allows me to really focus on what I'm here to do. I'm exhausted by the end of the week, but I feel like it is worth it considering how much I am able to learn and accomplish every week. Also, being in New York City has been such a great experience for me. It gives me opportunities I don't think I would have anywhere else. Moving to New York at 18 is a massive learning experience in and of itself.

What's your favorite part of studying at NYU Tisch's New Studio on Broadway? Every day, I come away from class so incredibly grateful for the awesome faculty I get to work with in my program. It is so great being taught by people who are actually working professionals. Several of my professors have been on Broadway at least once. Two of my teachers are Tony nominees (Michael McElroy and Michele Shay). This year, my vocal performance professor is Eden Espinosa (Wicked, Rent, Brooklyn). And anyone who knows anything about me knows how exciting it is to be working with a former Elphaba. I consider myself so lucky to attend a school that provides opportunities to work with faculty of this caliber.

Have your future plans changed since the reality of college became apparent? So far, my plans haven't really changed. I'm still hoping to make it to Broadway someday. However, I think these past three semesters have inspired me to pursue theatre beyond just musicals. I have really found a love of acting that I don't think was there for me before, and I really hope to pursue that area of my work further.

What collegiate theatrical moment looms largest in your mind? At Tisch, you are not allowed to audition for anything until your sophomore year. In my case, my studio will not be producing any shows until next semester, at which time we will be putting on four projects (A Midsummer Night's Dream, Seussical, The Apple Tree, and Legally Blonde), so you'll have to stay tuned.

What advice would you offer to high school students considering making the plunge? College is not easy for anyone. But going to school for musical theatre (or any art form really) is particularly difficult because it challenges not just your mind, but your spirit. Every day, you are going into class and pushing yourself both physically and emotionally. If you want to study musical theatre, you have to really really want it. There will be days when you were up until all hours learning music or memorizing a monologue, but the next morning you still have to drag yourself out of bed for a 9 a.m. ballet class. Studying theater will push you, I guarantee it. But you just can't lose sight of what you're doing it for. If you're a high schooler, it is never too soon to start preparing for college. Start looking for monologues. See lots of theatre. If you mostly do musical theater, read some plays or, better yet, go see some plays. And take care of yourself. Make sure your body and mind are healthy enough for a strenuous curriculum. Also, apply for a lot of scholarships. Because college is expensive. And do lots of theatre in lots of different places. Work with as many people as you can, adults in particular. There are tons of very knowledgeable, experienced actors in Nashville. Expose yourself to as many of them as you can because you will learn from them. I will be forever grateful to people like Clay Hillwig, Jamie London, Carolyn German, Jeffrey Ellis and of course my dad (Ed Amatrudo) for everything they taught me during my time in Nashville. And these are all people who would love nothing more than to teach you and help you find your love of the theater, too.

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