Blue Valley is home to many talented musicians ranging from band to orchestra to choir. Junior Charlie Lynn is a part of the musical theater and choir departments and has been performing for the past nine years.
“Growing up, I did a lot of sports, but I didn’t really learn that much from them,” Lynn said. “My mom was like, ‘I don’t know what to do with him — let’s put him in theater.’”
Lynn started with performing musicals and ended up gaining more confidence and better abilities.
“I’ve learned a lot of etiquette and skills,” Lynn said. “I feel like I can apply that to my public speaking and my daily life.”
Throughout the years, Lynn has had a growing love for performing in musicals and cabarets with his peers. However, he said no show could top the atmosphere that “Newises” had.
“I was close with a lot of cast mates during ‘Newsies’ — it had a really interesting plot to it,” Lynn said. “I had at least a feature role, so I had some kind of character to work with and applying that to the show and connecting my real life person to it made the show interesting.”
While constant rehearsals take up much of Lynn’s time, nothing prepares him more than what he does before going on stage.
“I like to have a moment to breathe,” he said. “[I] turn my phone off and escape reality for a second to get into the plot and my character.”
As Lynn has been involved with performing arts all his life, he sees a future in pursuing the field in college.
“I went to a pre-college audition process, and the whole audition process is very complicated and scary,” Lynn said. “I’m preparing in many ways, and I think I’m going to get a coach that’s going to help me. I’m going to have a few schools I audition at and get accepted to.”
With the close connection he has to theater, Lynn feels like the stage is a place where he can let go and explore his creativity.
“When I’m on stage, I like just forgetting about who I am and becoming someone completely different,” he said. “[I have] the opportunity to change someone’s life in the audience and have them become immersed into this different reality.”
