Today we’d like to introduce you to Emma Nossal.
Emma, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Although I have had jobs ranging from dog walker to substitute teacher, my real passion is musical theatre. Pursuing a career in theatre is a full-time commitment with many ups and downs, and yet as an artist, I can’t imagine myself doing anything else with my life.
Looking back on childhood home videos, it was obvious from the beginning that I was going to be some type of performer. My parents affectionately referred to me as a ham. They enrolled me in dance classes at age three and dance quickly became my life. I trained in tap, jazz, ballet, hip-hop, and contemporary, and along with learning valuable technique that I still use to this day, I learned the importance of friendship, determination, and passion. I owe so much of who I am today to those 11 years I spent in dance studios and can’t thank my teachers enough for encouraging my silly, expressive personality. More thanks go to my parents for the countless hours (and $$$) spent at dance competitions during those formative years of my life. I joke all the time that I’m getting paid to dance now, so it was all worth it, right?
I discovered my passion for musical theatre specifically in middle school, playing such coveted roles as Cowpoke #2 in a musical about the Gold Rush (it’s all about paying your dues, am I right, ladies?). I once even went on as Alice in a version of Alice in Wonderland after learning the lines the night before. I was new to theatre but immediately loved the rush of being on stage and telling stories. As the years went on, I became even more interested in theatre in high school; I was actively involved in my school’s drama club, worked as a dresser at a local theatre, and took up any opportunity to perform. One production in particular (Seussical the Musical), provided the a-ha moment where I realized this wasn’t just a hobby; our school did a talk-back with elementary school kids and seeing how excited and inspired our show made them, in turn, inspired me to be a storyteller for a living.
Next in my journey was college. I attended California State University, Fullerton and arrived on my first day of freshman year as a bright-eyed Musical Theatre hopeful. CSUF’s Musical Theatre BFA only takes 10-12 people into the junior year class, and although I was learning more than I ever had about my craft, I ended up being cut from the program and instead received a BA in Theatre Arts – Applied Studies. Although I was bummed about the sudden change in my college plans, I instead threw myself into auditioning for professional theatre. Little did I know that performing professionally would teach me just as much as getting that BFA that I had so desperately wanted.
My first full professional production was Mary Poppins with Moonlight Stage Productions in 2014, and to this day I look back on that experience as one that changed my life. It was a bit overwhelming at first being thrown into the world of professional theatre (I remember having a breakdown about not knowing how to wig prep my hair, for instance), but that cast was truly a family and I am thankful to have met quite a few mentors and friends that I still work with today. They lifted me up and motivated me to continue pursuing theatre despite my college setbacks, and that I did.
Since my first professional production five years ago, I have performed in regional theaters all across San Diego, Orange, Riverside, and LA counties. I have gotten to play multiple dream roles, all of which taught me something extremely valuable about myself and this art form that I love so much. I graduated with my BA in Theatre, the first person in my immediate family to earn a college degree. I received my Equity Membership Candidate card, meaning I earn points with each production to one day join the union. For my day jobs (yes, jobs plural), I work as a performer at Legoland, a dance teacher, and an office assistant for Moonlight Cultural Foundation, which supports the very theatre where I started my professional career; it’s funny how things come full circle.
The term “starving artist” is definitely relatable and I have to hustle really hard almost constantly to make ends meet and juggle multiple schedules on top of performing in the evenings, but I truly wouldn’t have it any other way. There is something magical about live theatre; getting to connect with people you’ve never met before, sharing an experience, finding a little piece of yourself in every character you step into. I think theatre is beautiful because it can provide whatever you need it to at any given moment: a laugh, a release of tension, a safe space. Overall, it is a community that promotes creativity, tolerance, and love. I am lucky to be a storyteller for a living and be a small part of something that has the ability to connect us all.
Has it been a smooth road?
As I mentioned before, college was not the smoothest of roads for me. Entering CSUF’s theatre department, I thought the Musical Theatre BFA was the end all be all. Making it through each jury (the singing, dancing, and acting auditions they would have at the end of each semester) was like checking the boxes on my way to becoming a real musical theatre actress. Not to mention, I was just plain hungry for the training. So when I was cut from the Musical Theatre track after my first semester of sophomore year, switched to the Acting track for a semester, and then cut from that too, you could say my confidence in my abilities was a little swayed. At that moment, I thought that meant that I wasn’t cut out for this, that my talents were just not good enough, plain and simple. It took a lot of good friends and mentors to pull me out of that slump and motivate me to make my own path. Looking back, I think I will always wonder why I didn’t make it in the program and harbor a little sadness there, but overall I’m so grateful things worked out the way they did because that situation taught me so much. I learned that passion and determination are what will get you somewhere in this field, regardless of if there are two or three letters on your diploma (or if you even get a degree at all!). It also paradoxically reaffirmed for myself that I was cut out for theatre as a career path, that despite such a big no at such a pivotal time in my training, I still wanted to perform for a living and was determined to make it happen for myself.
As far as advice, the main thought that I keep coming back to is that you have to really want it. To pursue musical theatre as a full-time career, you have to absolutely be in love with every part of the art form. Because sometimes it’s just plain hard: the rejection, juggling multiple jobs to make ends meet, supporting relationships. It is hard to fully commit yourself to every aspect of your life and create a work-life balance where as an artist, your work essentially just IS your life. But speaking for myself, I know that despite all the challenges that come along with following this career path, it is worth it just to experience that connection between actor and audience. The energy that you feel onstage is truly exhilarating, and my life wouldn’t be complete without it. So, believe in yourself, and whatever your passion is, if you feel that palpable excitement in your stomach when you think about it, trust that and follow it.
Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I am super lucky to be able to say that every job I do indulges my passion for the arts in one way or another. I work at Legoland California Resort in Carlsbad as a performer in the LEGO Friends show as well as an improv actor in the resort hotels. I teach ballet and tap at Shadowridge Dance Center in Vista which allows me to revisit my dance studio roots. These jobs are, of course, my “day jobs” on top of my regional theatre gigs.
I have been incredibly blessed to perform at regional theaters all over San Diego in the past few years. I’ve worked at Moonlight Stage Productions in Vista, performing in such shows as All Shook Up, The Music Man, and The Little Mermaid. I more recently spent all of 2018 and the beginning of 2019 performing at the Horton Grand Theater downtown with San Diego Musical Theatre, playing fun character roles like Penny Pingleton in Hairspray, Olivia Glatt in Miracle on 34th Street, and Patsy in Crazy For You. Next up, I’ll be playing Regina in Rock of Ages at Cygnet Theatre in Old Town, something that I am definitely looking forward to!
Overall, I think as an actress, I am most proud of my work ethic and my ability to connect with others. I consider myself highly motivated and I love making connections, both of which are vital parts of the theatre community. I am always striving to reach the next goal and better myself in whatever ways possible. I have learned so much already from those that I have been fortunate enough to work with, and I am ready to continue the work and see where this journey takes me!
Do you have any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general? What has worked well for you?
I am lucky in my field that every cast and creative team working on every show has such a multitude of age ranges and past experiences. I find that making friends or at least learning a little about everyone involved with the production provides a huge wealth of knowledge. Hearing stories from other actors about past shows is always fascinating to me. Not being afraid to ask questions is also important. As far as networking goes, theatre is such a funny community in the sense that, especially in San Diego, everyone knows everyone and once you work with someone, you’re connected from then on. It’s important to always put your best foot forward and present yourself as someone who people will want to work with because it’s such a small world.
Contact Info:
- Website: emmanossal.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emmanossal/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/emma_knows_all
Image Credit:
Rachel Esther Tate Photography, Ken Jacques Photography, Adriana Zuniga Photography
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