Peter Dessert

I was a member of the Ensemble and understudied Kristoff in Syracuse Stage’s production of Disney’s Frozen the Broadway Musical. I worked alongside theater professionals for 2.5 months to create this show, which we performed nine times a week. One thing I really enjoyed about this process was working alongside Actor’s Equity members who were also in the cast. They were huge role models throughout the run and taught me so much.

I was not expecting it to be so much fun. This show was my first experience in a professional theater environment, and I assumed it would be all work, no play, but there was such a great balance of fun and work. I plan on adding this to my resume as well as posting this experience on my professional Instagram.

This award from Honors really helped me stay afloat. Due to the rigorous rehearsal and performance schedule of this production, I was unable to have a job outside of the show. So, as this was an unpaid opportunity, the funding I received from honors allowed me to buy groceries, toiletries, and all the tools that I needed to sustain 5 weeks of 9 shows a week.

This experience showed me what it would be like to be a professional actor in the industry, something that I am now 100% sure I want to do. Having an Equity credit on a resume is huge, and I’m sure that the connections I made here will follow me for the rest of my career. The Department of Drama really opened this door for me. Every year, Syracuse Stage teams up with the Drama Department to put on a co-production, using both students and professionals. It’s an amazing program that benefits both parties.