Nicky Caldwell

“After graduating from Carthage, I want to tell stories. Whether it’s through performance, music, writing, or teaching; I love storytelling and the ways in which it can help us explore our humanity.”

“Carthage faculty have been supportive of my dreams and aspirations. It’s been such a comfort having these seasoned professionals and talented educators in my corner.”

“My favorite class so far has been Voice For The Stage. This is essentially an accent and dialect class. I’ve always loved accents and learning new ones, and it was so fun and rewarding to master more than a dozen new ones in a single semester.”

“I am involved in the Merely Players Comedy Improv club on campus. We rehearse three times a week and put on improv comedy shows at least once a month. It’s a great outlet and an awesome way to learn quick wit.”

“The most challenging class for me was definitely Movement For Singers. I’m a singer and an actor first, so this intense dance class was a huge challenge for me. The dance program at Carthage has been a huge asset for me, though. After a couple semesters, I actually feel fairly confident about my dancing as well.”

“Carthage has given me the opportunity to participate in one of the most prestigious college vocal ensembles in the country, the Carthage Choir. It’s also given me the opportunity to perform in at least three shows per semester, as well as help behind the scenes with additional shows.

“I’ve received scholarships from both the music and theatre departments, as well as the Tarble Scholarship. These scholarships really are the reason I am able to come to Carthage. It’s scary to go into music theatre with debt, but Carthage makes the program affordable.”

“My favorite Carthage memories all revolve around good friends. The Carthage community is awesome, and the people here are wonderful. It’s especially cool to be in shows with your classmates. Sometimes, you’ll spend your whole day with your best friends!”

“There’s a nice bench just outside of The Caf that I love to sit on while I eat. It faces the lake, and it’s just a beautiful place to think and reflect.”

“The biggest surprise for me is that I feel like I can do this. Musical theatre is a really scary thing to dive into, but the faculty and classes here have prepared me in a way I truly never felt possible. For the first time in my life, I really feel happy and confident. It’s amazing!”

“My 8-year-old self would be ecstatic that I’m chasing my dreams and pursuing music theatre. This is what I’ve always wanted to do, and I can’t imagine doing anything else with my life. The fact that I get to study singing and dancing for college is one of the coolest things ever.”

“If you’re thinking about pursuing music, theatre, or music theatre, I highly recommend you try it out! It’s a big challenge and there’s certainly a lot of pressure in this industry, but this path is so very rewarding. Carefully consider your options, but if this is your path, don’t second guess yourself. You’ve got this!”

“I chose Carthage because it has an amazing music theatre program (all of the arts programs at Carthage are pretty awesome). The College is also allowing me to graduate in three years and helping me minimize debt, which is important in this field.”