BY: Allison Stewart
As seniors in the AUM Theatre Department, Kate Saylor and Tony George know what it takes to succeed in college. They made it through the nerves of freshman year, the stress of sophomore year (or should I say continuous stress) and the excitement of junior year. Now, they are beginning the last chapter of their Warhawk story.
The fun thing about Kate and Tony is their friendship. They both graduated from Wetumpka High School in 2016 and have been friends for over a decade. Being able to go to college together has made a positive impact on their relationship.
Kate started her college career as a theatre major. She recently chose photography as her minor. She thoroughly enjoys her major because the professors have extensive experience in the field. Many of them are active in professional work, which helps open doors for students. When asked about advice she would share with incoming theatre students, Kate stated, “Take every opportunity to learn something new and improve upon what you already know.”
Learning more about photography at AUM has inspired Kate’s creativity in her personal and academic life.
Kate’s ultimate goal is to be an actress. She is open to all forms of the industry, whether it be film, television or more. This semester, Kate’s goal is to maintain her GPA and be cast in Theatre AUM’s competition show.
During her spare time, Kate enjoys photography, thrift shopping, hiking, watching movies and binging Netflix. Travel is one of her passions, too. Oxford, England is her favorite place she’s traveled. One day, Kate hopes to visit New Zealand. She is an avid Lord of the Rings fan, so she would love to see where the movies were filmed. If you ever want to put a smile on Kate’s face, buy her a white mocha coffee. It will be sure to make her day!
Tony came into AUM undecided but quickly discovered that theatre was his path. With a minor in communication, Tony hopes to one day be a film and television actor. He loves being a theatre major because of the networking opportunities. Tony’s advice to upcoming theatre students is to understand the difficulties of this profession, but to “accept the struggles and learn from them.”
A fun fact about Tony is that he loves anime and cartoons.
This past summer, Tony worked at The Lost Colony in Roanoke, VA. Produced by the Roanoke Island Historical Association, this outdoor play tells the story of the first settlers. Tony played King Wingina, a native chief. He also assisted in technical work, such as lighting and sound. The most rewarding thing about his experience at The Lost Colony was the authentic atmosphere. He felt as if he was really in the 1800s while he was performing. Also, he shared that meeting different people with various professional goals was a great learning opportunity. During his time there, he became certified in stage combat, unarmed sword, and single sword.
Tony’s biggest goal for the semester is to get nominated at The Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (KCACTF) and pass SETC state screenings. His favorite thing about AUM is the sense of community. He loves how we are a family and care about the success of others.
Other interesting things about Tony include: he played basketball for ten years, loves to write screenplays and enjoys hip-hop dancing. His favorite movie is The Lion King. Also, Tony enjoys listening to Rihanna, Billie Eilish, Bruno Mars, and Queen.
Kate and Tony will be in Theatre AUM’s showcase of “World Tour.” The show begins on September 19. This is an exciting way to support your fellow peers.
Be sure to say a friendly, “Hello!” next time you see these Warhawks and be on the lookout for the next Student Spotlight. Who knows—it may be you next!