From Rehearsal Room to Stage

Florida Beta Lily Kaufman began dancing at age four. But it was not until she was encouraged to audition for a show in 5th grade that she fell in love with musicals. Her mom, Missouri Alpha Joni Cobb, tells Lily: “You came out of the womb asking for your dressing room.”

So what does a “typical” week look like in the life of an actress at Florida State University (FSU)? For Lily, she has two acting classes a week for workshops, showing of scenes, and taking notes on other performances. At least two hours outside of class is spent in rehearsal with a partner for character and scene work. She has two dance classes a week, studio class once a week to sing for classmates, and private voice lessons once a week. There are music theory courses, theater history class, and piano listening and transcribing classes as well. To top it off, Lily has rehearsal six nights a week from 7 to 11 p.m. Whew, I am tired from just reading all that!

Lily has completed a role as “Paulette” in FSU School of Theatre’s production of Legally Blonde. “It has been a rewarding year [getting to] put knowledge I have been building up into actual work,” she said. She recalls one night when about 70 of her Pi Phi sisters ordered a block of seats to see a show. For Lily, it was one of the coolest experiences to see a quarter of the audience jump up and cheer when she came out on stage for her bow during the finale.

After college, Lily will move to New York City for that “age-old surviving actress gig,” as she lovingly calls it. She will network with agents, agencies, and casting directors while working from contract to contract in hopes of one day working on Broadway. Lily, I know your sisters cannot wait to see your name in lights and will continue to be in the audience to support you always.