Published: Nov. 26, 2016
Sisters learn to be confident together
Once-shy twins recently recognized for on-stage performances
Germantown High School senior Sydney Salter never imagined doing what
she did during the Utah Shakespeare Festival in October in Cedar City,
Utah.
She stood by herself on stage in front of people and recited a monologue.
Why was it a big deal? Well, once upon a time, she was shy, incredibly shy.
“I never liked putting myself out there,” Salter said. “I liked staying in my own box.”
In an almost perfect sign of how far she’s progressed as a performer
and as a person, her monologue earned her the Larry Lott Acting award
for outstanding performance in her division.
“It’s crazy to me. As a kid, I never thought I’d be able to do that,”
she said. “I’ve gotten so comfortable in my skin, which helps not only
in theater, but also every day life. I’ve come a long way.”
So has her twin sister, Alex, who was also shy.
Together, they overcame their shyness, are now regulars on stage and full of confidence.
The twins have been cast for First Stage’s production of “The Comedy
of Errors,” which opens Dec. 9 at Milwaukee Youth Arts Center, 325 W. Walnut St., Milwaukee.
The show runs through Dec. 18.
Hubertus’ Grace Becker and Sylvia Arnold have also been cast in the show.
As it turned out, the Salters can’t imagine life without the theater.
“I couldn’t sit at a desk all day,” Sydney said. “I like the impact theater has on the audience.”
Being in theater shouldn’t come as a surprise.
Heidi Salter, their mom, went to college for theater. She met her
future husband, Eric, in a community theater group performance of
“Joseph.” Plus, Heidi and Eric run Imagination Theater in Germantown,
founding it in 2008.
“Our parents grew up doing theater and they always said how much fun it
was,” Alex said when asked why she got involved in the performing arts.
“I thought it would be fun.”
The show “Comedy of Errors” is a story about two sets of twins
separated at birth who collide in the same city. Alex and Sydney play
half of those twins.
“It’s a comedy, but it’s kind of like a farce because there’s a bunch of misunderstandings between characters,” said Alex, who plays Dromio of Ephesus.
Sydney plays Dromio of Syracuse.
“It’s nice to have her be in the same show,” Alex said. “We run lines all the time.”
Being in the theater was one way the twins developed their relationship.
“It’s something we both really love to do,” Sydney said. “It’s something we have in common.”
Their first audition was when they were 7 years old. They auditioned
for “The Sound of Music” for Patio Players in Menomonee Falls. Alex said
the audition “didn’t go well.”
“I was extremely nervous,” she added. “I was a very shy kid. I had to sing in front of a bunch of people so I kind of shied away from it.”
Despite that, the opportunity still piqued an interest for Alex and
Sydney. At about that time was when Heidi and Eric started Imagination
Theater.
When Alex and Sydney were 9 years old, they took classes at First Stage. They kept at it, determined to not be shy.
“I met a whole bunch of people that were amazing and I learned so much,” Alex said.
Sydney said, “Theater definitely
changed that for me. First Stage is such a willing and open atmosphere.
I think after doing a few plays, getting in the hang of everything with
people that weren’t shy. I think that rubbed off on me.”
Once clear of being shy, they each found a different reason to continue acting.
“There are messages in the shows that need to be presented to the world,” Alex said.
“It was really fun to me,” Sydney said. “Even though I was shy, I knew I wanted to do it.”
In the years that followed, the twins have done more than 15 shows
together. Among the shows they’ve done together include “All’s Well That
Ends Well” and “The Cat in the Hat.”
For “Cat in the Hat,” they were Thing 1 and Thing 2. Sydney said that
hasn’t become a nickname for them. However, one has been mistaken for
the other several times. They also often do things together and have
most of the same friends.
“I want to pursue this as a career,” said Alex, adding Broadway would
be a dream. “I’ve learned there are messages, important ideas that need
to be shared. I want to be a part of that and give that to the
community.”
Sydney wasn’t alone as far as bringing home recognition from the Utah Shakespeare Festival.
Alex took first place for her duo scene with fellow First Stage member Lawson Mitchell.
“I don’t think of trophies that much,” Alex said. “It’s a nice acknowledgment to the hard work I’ve put in.”
“I put in a lot of work,” Sydney said. “It was a good feeling to win
that. It made me more confident in myself. I didn’t think I could be
someone that could win that kind of award.”
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