By Norah Jewett ‘25
Since her sophomore year, Brianna Gambill has been an active member of Stage Right’s fall plays and Dramafests. Making her debut as the Singing Telegram Girl in Clue with a single line, she has grown into one of the leading actors for the club. Since her sophomore year, she’s appeared in various roles, such as the understudy for Agnes in She Kills Monsters, Ellie in Game of Tiaras, Elizabeth in Frankenstein: Among the Dead, and most recently, Medea in Medea. I got the chance to speak with Brianna about her experience as a part of the drama club.
Q: What’s been the best part of the past few years in the Stage Right Drama Club?
A: Honestly, just getting to know everyone in the club, and getting to watch them grow as performers and as people in general. It’s fun to watch them break out of their shell from when they first join the club to where they are today.
Q: Favorite memory from the past few years?
A: Last year, when the She Kills Monsters cast list first came out, a few of the seniors and I were on a call waiting for it to be posted. It came out when we were on the call, and I didn’t think I was going to get Agnes, so my surprised reaction and the support I got from my friends make it such a fond memory of mine.
Q: What’s a role that’s been a challenge for you? Why?
A: Medea, one hundred percent. I tend to get type-casted in the very feminine roles, but Medea is such a complicated character in general and is so different from that. She’s everything at once, she’s evil, she’s motherly, she’s just so complex, so working to understand who she is and her motives was a challenge.
Q: What’s been your favorite production/role you’ve done?
A: I think Frankenstein: Among the Dead and playing Elizabeth in that was my favorite. Frankenstein came together beautifully, and Elizabeth was such an easy role for me and came to me so quietly that it allowed for me to have fun with the character and add my own spin to it.
Q: What’s your next step?
A: I’m going to Salem State University as a theater major. I’m going to keep working towards being a professional actor.
Q: What would you tell people who are interested in getting involved with theater?
A: Just do it. It seems really scary at first to just go on stage and audition for someone you know nothing about, but you just have to do it. You’re going to meet so many wonderful people who will help you become a better person. It’ll be the best four years of your life, you just have to go for it.
Q: Anything else you’d like to add?
A: Get involved in high school! You’ll make so many new friends, and you may discover a passion you had no idea you had!
Image credit: Brad Griffin
