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The Indiana Daily Student

arts

Theatre vet brings dedication to IU stage

Theatre is by no means a new trick for master of fine arts student Ashley Dillard, and Bloomington theatre is well within her repertoire.

During her time in Bloomington, she has secured a reputation as a local acting veteran by performing in multiple campus and community productions. Now facing her final year, Dillard is preparing for her thesis role in the upcoming IU Theatre production of “Dancing at Lughnasa” as the character Kate Mundy.

Though she has experimented with other art forms, Dillard said that acting is the most engaging.

“You go to see a play or a musical, and there are live bodies in front of you telling a story — it’s exciting,” Dillard said.

Before coming to IU, 
Dillard received her B.A. in theatre at Indiana State University. After leaving ISU, she traveled across the country gracing the bills of musicals and plays as well as the credits of commercials and films.

“When I was younger, all I wanted to do was musical theatre, and I shut myself off to a lot of opportunities because of that,” Dillard said. “I learn something new with every job I have.”

She said she finds this dedication to variety can make life spontaneous and unpredictable. There is an element to being an actress that makes it difficult to plan far into the future, she said.

But Dillard said this can be embraced given the right circumstances.

“The only way to survive is to surround yourself with people who love you and understand what the lifestyle entails,” Dillard said. “Having a solid foundation of people around you is essential in keeping some sort of constancy in your life.”

Dillard has appeared in local productions such as “Antigone,” “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and “Pride and Prejudice.” She said these roles are the result of hard work.

“You can be the most talented person in the world, but if you can’t memorize your lines on time or your fellow actors can’t rely on you, the talent is wasted,” she said.

As a veteran of the IU stage, Dillard is also well-known among the theatre department faculty.

“She brings dedication and discipline as well as creativity to every role that she takes on,” said Jonathan Michaelsen, Chair of IU’s Department of Theatre, Drama, and Dance. “She makes every production that she is in stronger.”

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