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