Emerald Toller is quite the character; No really. This junior Theatre and English major from Lakemont, Georgia, is a star on campus and finds her home to be the stage.
“I was a kinda shy as a child, but when I was 6 years old my mom asked me if I wanted to audition for The Sound of Music. It was through the community theatre in my hometown. I got cast and fell in love with being on stage,” Toller said.
At a young age, Toller found a passion for the art of acting and has been at it ever since.
“I have performed in at least one play a year since,” Toller said.
She loves several different aspects of the theatre because it allows her to travel and explore in more ways than one.
“There are so many things I love about theatre…. I would have to say one of my favorite parts about performing is giving the audience a chance to escape to another place, time, or emotion,” Toller said.
This drama diva is a lover of the classics. Her favorite play is one written by Jane Austen.
“My favorite play was the most recent one, Pride and Prejudice. I played Elizabeth Bennet. I grew more during that rehearsal process than any other show I’ve done. The entire cast felt triumphant after the closing night. It was amazing,” Toller said.
After college, Emerald hopes to take her acting to a professional stage.
“I guess my rough post-college plan is to audition for professional acting studios in New York while auditioning for film and theatre on the side. The University of Georgia Theatre Department has helped me in many ways. When I came from high school my performances were lacking in technique and nuance- my classes here have helped me develop in those areas. I have also gained a lot more confidence using my body and voice in ways I hadn’t used them before,” Toller said.
Want to catch her skills in person? Check out her next performance in The Bakkhai on March 25.