Since her freshman year, Senior Delaney Bottorf has been doing musicals, and she has loved it.
She said at first, she did not want to participate in the school’s musicals until a friend recommended joining the spring musical and said, “What could it hurt?” So, she then joined her first musical in spring of her freshman year, playing the role of Annie in the musical Chicago, in 2023.
According to Delaney, she adores every part of the process when it comes to the musicals. When they begin rehearsals, she said everyone is always in a good mood and they always have a lot of fun on and off stage. She explained that being in the theater department, “has helped me make a lot of friends. It feels like a big family now.” While doing theater, it is plenty of work, but it’s all worth it in the end, she added.
She said her favorite musical she has participated in is a close tie between The SpongeBob Musical at Milton and Six the Musical, which was performed at the Community Theater League (CTL) in Williamsport.
“Both musicals had an amazing cast and said it was fun getting to know everyone on and off stage,” Delaney said.
Her least favorite musical was White Christmas because of the dancing requirements she said. “Learning to tap dance was a huge challenge, but it wasn’t any less enjoyable than any of the others,” she added.
According to Delaney, Chicago was the easiest musical she has been a part of. “The dance style was much easier to learn, and the cast was super helpful if I had any questions since at the time I was very inexperienced,” she said.
The hardest musical she participated in was Six the Musical, which had only had six girls in the entire cast. They also never got to leave the stage during the two hours of the musical, and there was no intermission. “If I was given the opportunity, though, I would do it again 100 times over,” Delaney said.
The theater community is the most welcoming community she has ever met, Delaney said. “Today I still talk to the seniors who graduated three years ago, and I know through this theater department I have made friends that I will have for life,” she added.
Delaney said she has never met anyone who hasn’t enjoyed being in theater after trying it. She thinks everyone should at least give it a shot and audition, even if they don’t plan on sticking with it.
If Delaney had to describe the theater community in a single word, it would be “diverse:” she explained this is because there is such a wide range of people in their community, some of whom she never would have talked to if she hadn’t joined.
Some challenges she faced during the musicals are balancing her life on stage with life off stage. Theater often takes up a large part of Delaney’s time during the season, and that it heavily limits the time she has for her other hobbies, she said.
According to Delaney, she plans to attend Bloomsburg University for business management and a minor in musical theater. She also plans to continue her theater career in the community theater during her time there, she added.
Milton’s Drama Director Mr. Steve Aguirre said Delaney is a strong leader in Milton’s theater family. “She is a friend to all and has no problem making strong connections with classmates,” he said.
To describe Delaney in one word, Mr. Aguirre said “dependable,” and that she makes others feel safe. Her professionalism and experience make the cast, crew and director feel safe when she’s on stage, he added.
Mr. Aguirre said that Delaney is a true triple-threat on stage (acting, singing, dancing,). Aside from her on-stage prowess, he added that “she is a very easy-going and fun individual. She knows when it’s time to work and be serious, but also knows how to lighten the mood or cheer someone up.”
