The artist of the week is Josh Dennison, ’19. He is a musical theater major who lives for performing and entertaining others through his art.
Gianna Scheuneman: What is your favorite part about being on stage?
Josh Dennison: My favorite part about performing is the reactions you can get out of people when you perform. For example, I was in “Jekyll and Hyde” my senior year of high school, and my character had a suspenseful death. When I got the DVD of my show, I could hear someone during my death scene whispering, “no, get out of there!” On the opposite end of that spectrum, I played a Wickersham Monkey in “Seussical” in January of 2017, and when my little cousin watched it, my aunt said she couldn’t stop laughing. Emotional reactions like that are why I love being onstage.
GS: How many productions have you been in or worked on within the past year?
JD: I’ve performed in three shows and worked on six. One show I was in was “Fiddler on the Roof” at Wheaton Drama during fall term. It was really funny. I didn’t audition for it, but three days before they went on, a friend told me they lost a man and being a small cast, they needed someone to jump in. So with only two or three rehearsals to go, I joined the cast. The other two shows were actually what you might call a double whammy. They were two different community theaters I do shows with a lot, and they both did “The Little Mermaid!” The second time I got my brother to audition, so I got to perform with my now 14-year-old brother in his first show ever, which was really special.
GS: What are some goals you hope to achieve for your last year at NCC?
JD: I just hope to grow in my last year of college; have more confidence in myself, grow in my acting and singing ability, as well as my knowledge of theater.
GS: Who inspired you to pursue theater and the performing arts?
JD: My parents have always been extremely supportive of my love of theater since I first got into it when I was 12. So many loving friends have also helped me and supported my love of it, whether it’s someone great at music who helps me read music better or someone who always comes to my shows and cheers me on.
GS: Which North Central professor has made an impact on your performing career?
JD: My choir director, Dr. Wis. She just loves what she does and always puts a smile on my face when I walk into choir. Others are my current voice teachers, Joseph London and Victoria VerHoven. They all have taught me so much, and I feel my singing voice has improved so much with their guidance. Also, shoutout to Professor Paul Mullen, whom I met in community theater before I went to North Central College! He is so talented and funny, and I hope I have the talent in and excitement for theater that he does throughout my entire life.
