Senior Elias Franciscus is well known for his artistic endeavors, which includes community and school theater, photography, select ensemble for choir, jazz band and marching band.
According to Elias, his career in the arts was influenced by the encouragement of his family and friends. “My friends who were already in it heavily peer pressured me into joining marching band, and my brothers, who were both in theater, had encouraged me to audition and they also did choir,” he said.
Elias said that he is currently concentrating on making his own music and getting better, adding that he’s working on his own rock album. He practices about two to three hours every day between playing his guitar and writing music, he added.
The hardest part about being an artist is being able to take criticism, he said. “Not everyone is going to like what you do, and you have to be able to take that and not let it drag you down,” he added.
Elias said his favorite event was the Sister Act at Community Theater in Williamsport, in which he played Curtis. “…I got to meet so many amazing people and work with so many amazing actors and friends, but I also got to work with a great team of directors, and it was my first semiprofessional theater experience,” he said.
Milton Drama Club Director Mr. Steve Aguirre has worked with Elias throughout his stage career.
“Elias displays a ton of charisma and energy on stage that is hard to teach,” he said. When Elias takes the stage, he is always giving it his all, which is often all is required to give a good performance, added Mr. Aguirre.
“Elias’s greatest quality on stage is his willingness to conjure the silly and out-there moments,” Mr. Aguirre said, “Young actors often are afraid of doing what’s required for a role because it feels absurd, strange, vulnerable, but Elias has finally moved past that mental filter.”
Elias said he sees his artistic abilities becoming his future career because music and art will always be needed to entertain the world. Elias added that he plans to attend Penn State or Millersburg University.
Elias is most passionate about seeing improvement and performing for others, he said. “If I can make someone happy with what I’m doing that makes me happy,” he explained.
The advice he would give to others trying to pursue music or theatre in school or outside of school is “No matter what just keep going because you’re not going to be well at first, it takes time.”
