Victoria Whatley: A Life Shaped by Theatre and Community

Victoria Whatley, Eastern Shore Repertory Theatre alum

Victoria Whatley was a part of ESRT’s very first Theatre on the Bluff show not as a cast member but in the audience. She tears up remembering the “otherworldly magic” of Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat in such an idyllic setting. Two years later, she experienced that same magic from the opposite vantage point as a cast member of Bye Bye Birdie. Her talent and contagious energy helped land her in many memorable roles like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz,  Joanne in Godspell, and Leading Player in Pippin as she became a mainstay on the ESRT stage. 

As a senior in high school in 2021-2022, Victoria auditioned for over 30 musical theatre programs and ultimately chose Belmont University in Nashville. 

“It was my first audition and my first acceptance,” Victoria said. “The people working the auditions came from the program and were such kind people. You could tell there was a family bond, and it felt familiar.” 

Victoria Whatley performing at Belmont University

Now, as a college junior, Victoria is the only musical theatre student embarking on Belmont’s semester in New York City. She is enrolled in an independent study with Broadway Dance Center taking 12 hours a week of dance classes, while also balancing two acting classes through the Barrow Group, two online classes, voice and violin lessons and a group seminar. On top of that, she plans to go to as many open calls as possible. 

“I’m a little nervous but mostly excited. I have always wanted this,” Victoria said about living in New York. “This is a good test for me to meet people, set up connections, experience the city and the lifestyle, all while having the safety net of being a student.”

Because in New York you must have an agent to be seen for a lot of auditions, Victoria explained that back at Belmont her senior year, she will be a part of a showcase that agencies will be invited to see. This will hopefully lead to callbacks and an agent. For now, she will get lots of experience through the “cattle call” audition process.

When asked about her favorite experience during her years with ESRT, Victoria quickly named the Junior Theatre Festival (JTF). 

“I loved every second of it,” she remembered. “I met so many people and always left feeling inspired.”

JTF adjudicators loved Victoria too, naming her the “All-Festival” Winner of JTF in California for her role as Nala in The Lion King. This “unicorn award” is only awarded to one person out of thousands of JTF attendees and is such a high honor, many years it is not given at all. 

“I did not see it coming,” Victoria said of the pivotal moment. “I looked around and saw my dad who has always been my number one fan beaming, other moms crying, the whole group cheering, and I thought this is what it means to be a part of a group. I really caught the acting bug from my time with ESRT at JTF and winning this award was when things started getting serious.”

Victoria Whatley and ESRT celebrating at the Junior Theater Festival in Sacramento, CA

After graduating high school, Victoria became a two-time performer at Carnegie Hall; one was a solo performance of a Concerto on the violin and the other was a vocal solo of the Great American Songbook classic “Since I Fell For You.” At Belmont University, she played violin in the orchestra pit for two mainstage musicals: Beauty & the Beast and Sondheim on Sondheim. Her favorite role so far at Belmont has been playing Feste in Shaina Taub’s Twelfth Night.

Outside of school, Victoria has been working regionally with Street Theatre Company in Nashville; she played the Violin 1/ Keys 2 book for their production of Next to Normal and the role of Ghost of Christmas Past/Mrs. Cratchitt in VHS Christmas Carol. This past summer, she played violin in the orchestra pit for eight different shows at the College Light Opera Company in Cape Cod.

As our current ESRT group prepares to leave for JTF and another crop of seniors enter into their final stretch of high school, Victoria’s advice is simple: “In every room you’re in, think of it as an audition, whether you’re with your BFFs or their parents. Also, always be a kind person, your heart has to be pure. People want to cast people who are easy to be around and won’t cause trouble. Reputations carry.”

Victoria in a regional production of A Christmas Carol at Street Theatre Co.

In addition to musical theatre, Victoria has learned from Founder & Executive Director Erin Langley the importance of community. 

“Ms. Erin is such a light, involved with so many things,” Victoria noted. “Watching her network and talk to people inspired me to get more involved in the community.” This led to Victoria joining the Fairhope Junior City Council and heading a city beautification project during high school. 

Community is still on her mind as she envisions bringing people together for an  ESRT Christmas Cabaret alumni performance in December. 

“Fellow ESRT alums are still my best friends,” she explained. “But, as we get older, it’s harder to keep in touch. Having an annual event to continue our shared passion for the arts, even if many aren’t pursuing musical theatre full-time, will be a great way for us to come together and hopefully inspire the younger generation.”

Stay tuned for Christmas Cabaret details and much more from Victoria!

written by Meg Willett

From ESRT to the Big Apple: Jacob Schmitt on Embracing Rejection, Building Community, and Finding His Path in Theatre

Jacob Schmitt, Eastern Shore Repertory Theatre alum

ESRT alum Jacob Schmitt has been making moves– wrapping up a role in Huntington Theatre Company’s production of the drama Leopoldstat and then immediately relocating from Boston to New York City. In between carrying a bed frame for a mile and a half and reconnecting with people (like David Redman Scott!) in his new city, he shared what life has been like since leaving Fairhope in 2020, what’s next and what advice he would give ESRT students now. 

Jacob’s start with ESRT was as the baker in a summer camp production of Into the Woods JR. Eventually, he became a mainstay in shows and as a part of the Junior Theatre Festival (JTF) group. You may remember him as Jack Kelly in Newsies, Rudolpho in Matilda or behind the scenes as a director for Descendants JR summer camp. 

“Everyone at ESRT was professional, committed and nice. I took advantage of every opportunity ESRT offered, started getting positive feedback and found that this passion could morph into a career for me,” Jacob remembered. 

When the end of high school was nearing, he auditioned for at least a dozen musical theatre schools in cities that also offered a vibrant theatre scene. As a history buff with a particular fascination in the early American era, Boston fit the bill. He enrolled at Boston University, taking every dance class he could and building his own major with a movement direction concentration. He graduated this past May with a contract already in hand for Leopoldstadt (and credits his comfortability on stage to his ESRT training).

Jacob Schmitt as Jack Kelly in Eastern Shore Rep’s production of “Newsies”

Boston was the perfect stepping stone for a move to New York, which was always the goal. Now, only a few weeks into the move, Jacob sounds energized describing his days full of working the audition circuit (Equity Principal Auditions), looking for a side hustle, networking and also cramming in all he can experience with catching shows or dance classes. Because Leopoldstadt is a co-production between the Huntington and Shakespeare Theatre Company in DC, Jacob will also be traveling as needed as an understudy for their run.

It’s not easy to get established in NYC but his time at ESRT prepared him well, starting with his very first big show audition. With a laugh, he recalls scrambling to think of a special skill during the audition and ending up with one knee on the ground in a cheerleader pose sporting a big-toothed smile while others performed backflips and candlesticks around him seamlessly. He did not get cast. 

Turns out the early rejection was helpful. “Ninety-five percent of auditions I submit to, I don’t hear back from,” Jacob said. It can be really disheartening, but you have to remember it’s all endurance, sticking it out and still believing in yourself.” A strong support network has been crucial to helping him stay grounded and positive.  ESRT Founder, Executive Director, and Artistic Director Erin Langley and fellow ESRT actors are all a part of that network. 

“I became a dancer here, I grew my singing and acting here, and most importantly, I learned how to be a professional in this industry,” said Jacob. “We were given so many great opportunities to be part of excellence (JTF, New Works Showcases, performing in front of huge crowds in the bluff shows). I was able to come into school with a great foundation that only grew through my time at BU. I also learned that being prepared, respectful, and generous during a process is more important than being the ‘best’ actor in a room.” 

A lot of his advice to ESRT kids centers around being present: “Enjoy the time you have with his company. Most of my best friends are people I met at ESRT, and I still talk to them every day. Also finding someone as caring, dedicated and polished as Erin is rare. I learned how to be a real performer under her direction and from the great training from choreographer Matthew Kiel. Remember that theatre is fun! Don’t stress so much about it being perfect.”

Jacob Schmitt training at Boston University

And for those students who want to follow in his footsteps and pursue theatre in college: “Learn what you really want out of a program whether that’s location, class size, training style, how many recent graduates are currently booking. The college audition process can be stressful, but cast a wide net and try to make friends who support your success — I have people over all the time who are currently working on Broadway, HBO, etc, that I met during the audition circuit. Everyone’s in the same boat, and what’s meant to be will be.”

To read more about Jacob’s last stage role, read this article from BU’s alumni publication.

written by Meg Willett