Honestly, I wasn’t exactly sure what Broadway was or what it entailed until I was 16 years old. I was a sophomore in high school when I auditioned for my first play. I thought it would be something better to do than sitting injured on the bench at my basketball games. When I wasn’t cast the teacher/director asked me to be the assistant stage manager instead. I managed the basketball team, so I figured I could do this too. Managing came natural to me. I was organized and anticipated the needs of the director and cast. Next thing I know I was asked to stage manage the musical, and then the UIL one act, and then the fall show. It turns out I had a knack for it, and I liked it. I had a lot to learn about the theatre world, but I learned quickly. I took tech theatre classes and learned how to build platforms and make foam look like real objects. I acted in one acts and children shows, and helped make costumes for student directing scenes.

When it came time to graduate high school my teacher asked me if I ever thought about doing theatre after I graduated; to study it at college. Then I realized what else would I do? I haven’t done any other activity except theatre, I didn’t want to keep taking English classes and writing research papers. I liked history but there was no career in it for me. So I thought about this idea of getting a degree in theatre. What would I do with it? Stage manage forever? What would my dad say; would he be okay with that? Well, four years later, I am three months away from my degree in theatre design, my dad is cool with it, and I plan to do theatre for the rest of my life. And I don’t care in what capacity - whether it is through summer stocks, Shakespeare festivals, repertory theatres, or national tours, I want to work around the country taking in new kinds of theatre as much as possible.

In 2005 I joined the theatre department at Abilene Christian University. In four years I have been taught from each professor in areas of acting, directing, stage management, scene and prop design and construction, costume design and construction, and light design. All I wanted was a well rounded education of theatre so I could grow and become a better artist. I was blessed with a department that offered me that, but it also helped be me a better person through my art and the appreciation of other artists. Throughout my education I have worked inside the classroom and out. During my summers I worked for the Abilene Shakespeare Festival and at the Central Piedmont Summer Theatre in Charlotte, North Carolina. In May I will graduate from ACU with a B.F.A in Theatre emphasizing directing, design, and technical theatre.

When I am not at rehearsal or calling a show I like to read and watch movies. I like to paint, take pictures, and try food from other countries. I’ve only seen two Broadway shows, but that’s okay because I have a feeling I will see plenty in my lifetime. I would like to go to graduate school some day, but I thought I would give myself a break from school and work somewhere I have never been before, like Massachusetts or Washington. I hope to always be traveling and always doing what I love.

My hope for my future in theatre is to serve any work and its message, whether heartwarming or painful, through management or design. I want to create new ideas and work to better the theatre world everyday. I want to recruit young people to enjoy its many pleasures and one day be a force recognized for my own work within it.

Thank you for visiting my site! Don't hesitate to contact me at shae@shaecandelaria.com, or call me at 972.415.5403