Arts Student of the Week: Audrey Owen

Audrey Owen's all-time favorite theater show is the coming-of-age musical "Bare" by Damon Intrabartolo. She performed in this show in the spring of 2023, playing the character Diane Lee, an actress who has trouble remembering her lines. "I have never been in a show so educating and heart wrenching," Owen said. The story follows a group of teenagers who reside at a Catholic boarding school in the early 2000s. "What makes this show so relatable is how similar the characters are to teenagers today, for the most part. Most of the characters are trying to figure out their identity while also just trying to pass school and make friends."

Some of the characters are also struggling with their sexual identity, and trying to fit in at a school where being queer is looked down upon. "But there are a group of students who are dealing with drug usage, alcoholism, teen pregnancy, depression, and other mental health issues," she said. "This show really gave me a perspective of how damaging religious trauma can be. As well as how an unsupportive parent can be. One of the main characters, Jason, is secretly homosexual but doesn't want anyone to know because of how unsupportive the church/school is."

Growing up in a religious family, Owen said she was always taught one side of the story. "But this musical shows so many more perspectives of how students going through anything complicated can be looked down on. This show is such a good watch for everyone. No matter someone's personal struggles, or sexuality, it is so important that that person has support in their life and this show really teaches that."

NHS drama teacher Amanda Foust selected Owen as Arts Student of the Week. "Audrey is a true powerhouse in our program, being talented, dedicated, welcoming, and positive," Foust said. "Audrey has been in Advanced Drama for two years and has participated in five mainstage shows since her freshman year, most notably being Brooke in our 2022 Play 'Noises Off' and a fabulous blind mouse in 'Shrek the Musical.'"

Theater has been a good way for Owen to make friends and understand more about herself. She explained. "Theater gives me so much life, and I lean on it and the people in it a lot whenever I'm having a hard time."

"Audrey is a leading senior in our theater program," Foust said, "and even sits as the senior class representative on theater leadership." As the senior representative, Owen follows instruction from the president, Grace DeRose, performing a variety of duties. Owen is also responsible for advertising Niwot Theater, not only to the whole school, but specifically to those in her own grade.

Hazel Rinehart, a Niwot graduate, who was in technical theater and performed on stage last year, has been a huge influence on Owen. "Hazel is so talented and so dedicated to what she does," Owen said, "and has always encouraged me to keep going. She can work in the booth and make the stage look amazing during shows, but she can also dance, sing, and act amazingly on stage too."

Owen recalled a memorable moment in the NHS production of "Puffs." She said, "There was an improvised scene that only one actor knows about. The rest of the cast would be so excited to see what that character would do, and on my last night in the show, both the actor and his double came out on stage as the shining twins. Aiden Sagner and Jasper Allison, who played those characters, were dressed up in these super girly blue dresses. It was hilarious because no one was expecting it. Everyone broke character on stage."