Discover the magic of the stage as CapU’s acting students share their passion for theatre—and their excitement about everyone trying improv
Lily Rosen (she/her) // Crew Writer
Andrei Crabs (he/him) // Illustrator
The Capilano University Theatre Department is pulling back the curtain, and this time, it’s not just for the drama kids. Improv classes—once a hidden gem of the acting programs—are now open to all students. So, what’s it like when the spotlight shines a little brighter across campus? Student performers reveal what goes on in the wings and how they feel about sharing the stage, metaphorically speaking, with the rest of us.
Sienna Da Silva-Rolph, an Acting for Stage and Screen (ASAS) student, shares a glimpse of the production process. “At the end of each year, there’s a mass audition. You perform monologues or songs in front of the directors of all the productions, normally three plays and a musical. You write down your top choices and then—hopefully—get cast into those roles.”
If that sounds hectic, it’s nothing compared to the rehearsals. Hanna Mack, a Musical Theatre (MUTH) student, says, “The majority of our rehearsal process is blocking, going back to the beginning and blocking again. Then it’s immediately tech, dress rehearsal and shows back to back to back. It’s an interesting process, getting thrown into a tech rehearsal after just finishing months of blocking.”
From script-diving table reads to late cue-to-cue nights, the time crunches quickly. Another ASAS student, Manuela Palmieri, adds, “We have eight classes a semester, and then at the end of the day, you go into rehearsals. I mean, I had four days of six-hour rehearsals per week working on Romeo and Juliet.”
Despite the chaos, Da Silva-Rolph sees the program as a masterclass in adaptability. “It’s expected that this industry we’re going into will be a lot. It’s brutal. And as actors—as a team—we have to power through together as best as we can,” she insists. Palmieri adds, “Working with people just as passionate about theatre brings us together.” The camaraderie found in their tight-knit cohorts makes each long day manageable.
Even better, the devoted team effort guarantees consistent encouragement and feedback. Mack explains, “In workshops this year, we got to write each other feedback to add to the professor’s. So, you have to assess while enjoying watching somebody sing, like, ‘Oh, they need to work on this range of notes.’ Or, ‘They need to feel more present in their body.’” A range of eyes and ears inspires more nuanced, diverse critique.
Feeling that sense of community is comforting; they’re all in it, arm in arm. “We all band together,” says Da Silva-Rolph, thinking fondly of her class and castmates. “I think because we’re all actors, we’re naturally extroverted. So if someone needs help, someone will speak up, jump in and help them, no questions asked.”
All three performers celebrated the department’s decision to unlock improv classes for everyone. The move is excellent in Mack’s eyes, who admits improv terrified her as a first-year. She comments, “As a very detail-oriented, perfectionist type of person, improvising is really hard. But that class definitely broke me out of my shell.” She learned to love the break that improv provided from standard semester stressors like homework and exams. “You just need to receive what somebody else is giving and then react. It’s a way to get out of your head.”
Da Silva-Rolph, a drama class devotee, agrees wholeheartedly. “I honestly think high school should have mandatory theater classes, even up to university. Theatre helps open up confidence, specifically improv. You learn to expect failure, and that failure is a beautiful thing.”
To those curious potential thespians, Palmieri advises, “Have fun, enjoy it, take risks and don’t be afraid to fail.” In other words, do it, even if it’s totally terrifying. Who knows? Maybe your next epiphany will start with a one-liner in improv.
Theatre life may not be for the faint of heart, but the performers’ enthusiasm for their craft is infectious. With improv classes now on the table for all students, CapU’s Theatre Department is opening the door to step into the unknown, embrace the awkwardness and discover that sometimes, the best performances come from making it up as you go.
