The Performing Community at CUA and some lucky others personally know Emma Cooley. Emma is known for being extremely talented, funny, and always running around. Her own suitemates sometimes don’t get to see this girl until it is dark outside…again. But you can always guarantee to see this beauty with a smile on her face. Even though her schedule is a little packed, I was able to catch my beautiful (soon to be) suitemate while she was watching the football game.
Name: Emma Cooley
Hometown: Ellicott City, MD
Year: 2018
Major: Musical Theatre
Least Favorite Noise: Slurping
Spirit Animal: Does Perry the Platypus count? Yes? Okay perfect!
Voice Part: Mezzo-Soprano
Favorite Musical: A Chorus Line
Zodiac Sign: Gemini
Guilty Pleasure: Netflix
Current Netflix Obsession: Friends
Fun Fact: I studied with the Radio City Rockettes for three summers in their summer intensive.
HC: You are in Pure Alignment Dance Company, correct?
Emma: Yes, I am on the Board for Pure Alignment. I choreograph for them when I have time. Our showcase this semester is in April.
HC: What was your first ever show?
Emma: My first ever show was a dance recital version of Cinderella when I was three. When I was eight, I was in my first musical which was Annie.
HC: What show are you in now?
Emma: I am in Start Spreading The News: The Music of Kander and Ebb. It is a musical revue of the work of Kander and Ebb and includes music from their shows such as Curtains, Chicago, Cabaret, and Steel Pier. I play a variety of characters in which I do ensemble and solo work. My favorite character that I play in the show is Velma Kelly from Chicago.
HC: What are you doing after Kander and Ebb?
Emma: After I am done with Kander and Ebb, I am working on crew for Into The Woods. I am the Light Board Operator.
HC: What is an average day for you?
Emma: I get up at 6:30am for my 8am class which is jazz or conditioning. After that, I am in class until 5 or 6pm. Depending on the night, I could be in rehearsal until 10:30pm. Throughout the day I try and get a little bit of homework done from time to time. On my worst days I get to bed at 2am. A good night, I am in bed at 1am. Seeing as the work I do for Musical Theatre is hands on, I am always doing something and most of my time studying is spent in the classroom doing rather than studying a textbook. My version of studying as an MT major is practicing.
HC: When did you know you were going to go into performing?
Emma: I actually didn’t really know that I was going to do this until I was in high school. The bug caught me when I was in Annie, that was when it turned into a hobby. I danced and did choir, but I did not take my Musical Theatre path seriously until Sophomore year of High School. The first time I took the stage at the Rockettes Summer Intensive was when I truly knew that I was going to go into performing. As I continued to study and work with my theatre teacher, I really found out the Musical Theatre was the right path for me. That was what led me to CUA because once I decided to do Musical Theatre, I knew I needed to catch up with music. The Musical Theatre program is very music heavy here at CUA. When I started here, I knew this was the right fit.
HC: What is your dream character?
Emma: I actually have a few. My top three are: Reno Sweeney from Anything Goes, Cassie from A Chorus Line, and Janet Van De Graaf from The Drowsy Chaperone.
HC: What do you like to do in my freetime?
Emma: (What’s free time?) In the little free time that I have, I will watch netflix, study music (does that count as being free time though?), or listen to music. I mainly use my free time to recharge.
HC: What is one of the craziest thing you have done at CUA?
Emma: Either randomly ordering Pizza Boli’s at 3am with people or Metro Madness last year. Metro Madness would be one of the most adventurous things I have ever done. Honestly, I did not think I would succeed in doing something like that, but I did. I have never seen so many people on the metro at once.
Well thanks to SnowStorm Jonas, the population of DC was unable to see the beautiful, quirky, and talented Emma Cooley perform in Kander and Ebb. No need to worry though! The performance is being rescheduled to a later date sometime soon. The world will have multiple more occasions where you can see this amazing girl perform like the Pure Alignment Showcase in April! Just keep an eye out for the different opportunities!! <3 Also, Emma, remember the HerCampus CUA ladies when you are famous - especially RoRo (your absolute favorite)!!