You’re in! were the only two words senior Karlie Pinder saw when she opened up a long awaited e-mail from the New York University Tisch School of the Arts.
“I just thought, what? This isn’t even real,” Pinder said. “It was one of those moments that you barely remember because you’re so excited and happy.”
But it was completely real. Pinder was one of only 17 students who received a “You’re In!” from the prestigious NYU Tisch Summer High School Program for acting. After applying in secret back in February, Pinder had waited anxiously for months. It wasn’t until May that she found out she would be heading to New York City for the summer of a lifetime. With only a month and a half to come up with nearly $10,000 for the program, Pinder organized a Cabaret variety show, featuring her classmates as singers, actors, and musicians to raise the money.
“I just thought by raising the money myself I would be a lot more thankful for it when I got there,” Pinder said.
Pinder raised a total of $5,000 through the Cabaret and got the rest of the money in the form of a student loan.
“Karlie raised all the money to attend this program. If that doesn’t show dedication and maturity, I don’t know what will,” Pinder’s friend, senior Anna Ellsworth said.
With the money raised, Pinder flew out to New York and moved into her dorm right on Washington Avenue.
“New York was like a different world. Living in the city was great. There’s always something happening,” Pinder said.
During the program Pinder took classes including from Dancing and Singing for the Actor, Speech Class, Stage Combat, Clowning and even Yoga.
”The yoga was designed for acting so it taught us to never quit,” Pinder said. “It taught you to think on the spot, relax and breathe.”
After exhausting but rewarding days of training, on nights and during the weekends Pinder said she and her fellow actors were treated to main stage shows and workshops. After seeing a Broadway show, someone from the cast would come in and talk to the program participants about their personal experiences in the acting field. Through hearing personal stories and embracing each course during the four weeks, Pinder said she grew as an actress.
“This opportunity couldn’t have happen to a better person. Karlie is the type of actress that can soak up all that valuable information and then use it later here at PCH or where ever she will end up at college,” drama teacher Ms. Nicole Voss said.
Pinder is no stranger to the theatre spotlight. She has performed in various shows and has won two Cappies (Critics and Awards Program) Awards. As a freshman Pinder won the supporting actress Cappies Award for her role as Sandy in “The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie,” a pivotal moment for her as she considers that award the deciding factor that theatre was what she wanted to pursue.
“[The play] is very, very hard to produce at the high school level because of the mature themes and story line,” Voss said. “The role of Sandy is one of the two most demanding roles in the show. Karlie was only a freshman then, and she blew me away. What she brought to that role was beyond what I had expected from her, and she has continued to grow from there.”
Pinder went on to win another Cappies Award her junior year for her comedic role in last year’s fall play “Don’t Drink the Water.”
”I wouldn’t say I have one favorite role, because every role is different, but I really liked being Sister Drobney because I got to be a crazy nun, and who doesn’t want to be a crazy nun who speaks in an Irish accent and does magic tricks?” Pinder said.
Theater can be a lot to handle, so Pinder encourages finding a balance. For her, when she’s not on stage, Pinder feels most at ease roller blading.
“I love roller blading. Roller blading all the way,” Pinder said. “I roller blade around Creve Coeur Lake. It just helps me be free. I should work at Sonic.”
Pinder will probably use roller blading as a means of stress relief as she embarks on the road to a final college decision. She’s currently looking at both NYU and the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, also in New York, where she’s been offered a merit scholarship. No matter which school she chooses, Pinder plans to pursue acting.
“Music and theater are not only fine arts, but they’re also life skills, just being able to get up in front of people and put yourself out there. You become more worldly because you see different situations and live different characters lives,” Pinder said. “[It] shaped me as a person. That’s what I do.”
