Anji Ashaye ’24 is a four-year Senior from Eagle, Idaho. She is an all-school president, proctor in Tinker, co-captain of Varsity Track, and former News Editor for The Record.
Since her Prep year, Ashaye has participated in the school’s theatre program, starring in several Black Box and Mainstage productions, including Little Shop of Horrors in the fall of 2023. She plans to pursue theatre as she studies economics at Harvard University next year.
How did you discover your passion for theatre?
My Prep year, I signed up to do theatre, because I knew it would push me out of my comfort zone. Coming from a small school in Idaho, adapting to the environment of a competitive boarding school was a huge challenge. I was confused about who I wanted to be and how I wanted to portray myself. Acting seemed like a way to escape it all and experiment with characters and roles. Mr. Marcus Olsen, who has retired, was my Prep theatre teacher. I remember him making me choose a song and improvise a dance in front of all my classmates (and I am most definitely not a dancer). That taught me to just let loose. I discovered that although theatre is scary, it’s a space where you can be free to express yourself and feel rewarded for it. So I embraced the intimidating aspect of acting and performed in my fi rst mainstage production, Clue, in my Lower Mid year. Mrs. Peacock was the perfect breakout character, because I had to do so many ridiculous things. It fully prepared me for my future roles.
What performances have you participated in this year?
I took part in an “outside the box” Black Box production that was a satirical take on abortion. It was a fascinating role for me, very different from all the other characters I’ve played before. Later in the fall, I played Mrs. Mushnik in Little Shop of Horrors. I had never had a solo or acted in musical theater at that level before. The role was unique-– Mrs. Mushnik is grumpy, shallow, and money-obsessed—but it was fun and challenging to bring more dimension and depth into my acting. This past winter, I spent a lot of time directing and acting in a small production about a vampire that we performed during the All-School Meeting before spring break. Right now, I’m planning a “four-by-four” with three other Seniors, where each of us directs one production and has the other three act in it. I’m very excited about that.
Have you had experiences with stage fright and if so, how do you deal with it?
I have stage fright every time I perform. When I first started acting, I used to think nerves were a sign that I was unprepared and was going to fail. But I remember one of my theatre instructors told me that the nerves just meant I cared about the performance and the work I was putting into it, so that changed the narrative for me. Whenever I feel nervous now, I just take it as a sign that I’m “locked in,” excited, and ready to give it my all.
How has the school’s theatre program helped you develop as an actor?
One thing I really love about the school is that the community is very supportive of art. You see people talking about going to dance shows and theatre productions as their weekend activity with the same energy they have around sports games. I wasn’t embarrassed sitting in a cage wearing a cape during the Black Box we performed at all-school, because I knew that the community enjoyed it. I can always put on the best version of myself on the stage, feeling reassured that the art I was working on would be respected and appreciated throughout the school.
Have your acting skills affected your work as an all-school president?
In terms of my role as all-school president, I still get a lot of stage fright, but with three years of performing and speaking to audiences under my belt, I am much more prepared and confident with public speaking. Theatrical skills like pronunciation, projection, and thinking on my feet have also helped me so much.
Do you plan to pursue theatre in college?
I’m hoping to either minor in theatre or casually join theatre clubs at Harvard. After talking to students on my campus tour, I found that there are many opportunities to participate in student-run productions. Harvard has one of the oldest collegiate theatre groups in the entire country. There is also a Black student affinity theatre group that focuses on writing plays. I’ve had experience with directing, acting, and even stage design, but have never tried playwriting, so I think that will be a fun area to explore next year. I know that I also want to take advantage of Boston’s vibrant art scene to continue engaging in my passion.
