What is Genevieve Taylor up to now?

Sun, 11/19/2017 - 8:00am

Genevieve Taylor, a 2016 Boothbay Region High School graduate, has been a full-time student at Molloy College in Long Island, New York since fall 2016. Taylor studies under the school's CAP 21 program, an intense and rigorous theater arts program connecting students to the New York City acting scene, 0n and off-Broadway.

“Being away from Boothbay has been a wild experience,” said Taylor, 19. “Looking back to when I moved to the city last September I remember it being a major culture shock. It’s loud, smelly, stuffy, crowded and expensive.”

She said the hustle and bustle of the Big Apple forced her to pick up the pace in her everyday life. There are no more leisurely strolls or scrutinizing of produce for the freshest picks — something she said sticks with her even when she is visiting home.

“I found it’s not that easy to get a nice breath of fresh air in NYC when you’ve lived in Boothbay your whole life. I was exposed to many different lifestyles just when I was simply walking to school — some sad and some great. This was a very awesome experience because it’s always good to be well-rounded socially as well as being aware of what’s going on with people in the world around you.”

Taylor's schedule keeps her busy throughout the week — six hours of dance, eight hours of acting, four hours of vocal performance, three hours of voice and speech class and one hour of voice lessons, in addition to the general education requirements like mathematics, science and social science, and the homework.

“My schedule is run like a conservatory so I am taking 10 to 12 classes per semester,” said Taylor. “It is a lot to keep up with.”

Despite the demands of her academic schedule and the fast-paced environment, Taylor has been having the time of her life living and learning in New York. She said she works with the best professors. Most have worked on Broadway shows or have trained renowned performers, Lady Gaga among them. All of it has enabled her to learn about herself both as a performer and as a person, she said. With instructors helping her identify all of her insecurities and imbalance and working with her to overcome them, Taylor said she has been able to flourish on stage.

“As actors we learn it is absolutely crucial to be comfortable in our own skin and to be very aware of our bodies and what they can do,” said Taylor. “We learn that our body is our instrument and our most important tool that we use to be a successful actor. After all, acting is action. No one is going to pay money for a show to come and watch you stand there and think on stage.”

All of Taylor's hard work began to culminate earlier this year, with her first paid gig. It put her on-stage in front of an audience of 500-plus, with an 80-piece orchestra pumping out tributes to 1940s Broadway musicals. She was chosen as the lead soloist in both the opening and closing numbers. Additionally, this gave Taylor the opportunity to meet and talk with professional performers from “Les Miserables” and with the lead for the upcoming Broadway musical, “Frozen.”

“I can confidently say that I am living my best life,” said Taylor. “I have great friends, I love school and my teachers (and) I have grown so much as a performer and as a person since I have been here in the city. Through performance work you really are able to find yourself in ways you never thought you would.”

Taylor said her biggest lesson learned since leaving Boothbay and high school for New York City and the Broadway scene is never to apologize for anything.

“Often it’s easy for me to contract and fall into an apologetic state of being just for simply existing. I think the most life-shaping lesson I’ve learned so far in my training is to know who you are, to know you’re enough, and know that you are amazing – to celebrate yourself for existing and celebrate the existence of others.”

“I do miss Boothbay a great deal and I think of home all the time. It’s always exciting to come back and gain a greater appreciation for the town. I’m very grateful that I was so blessed to grow up in such a pretty, small town with an amazing community filled with people who have supported me all throughout my years. I hope I am making them proud!”