This summer, our Alumni Relations intern Matthew Bloss-Baum interviewed a fellow Encore alum! For those who were with us for the summers of 2012-2014, you may remember him! Meet Will Westray!
Since it’s been almost 10 years since you were an Encore kid, introduce yourself to the readers!
My name is Will Westray and yes I can’t believe it’s been 10 years since my last year at Encore! I was in Wakefield High School during most of my time at Encore then I went on to Shenandoah Conservatory to get my degree and training in musical theatre. Currently, I’m down in Florida pursuing a master’s degree in acting from FSU, where I’ve been training for the past two years. My first year I got to understudy a few shows at the Asolo Repertory Theatre, where I ended up going on stage for a number of performances. This summer I got to play Toad in A Year With Frog and Toad, at Asolo Rep. Besides a musical I understudied my first year, that was the first musical I had done since undergrad in 2019. Getting to rehearse a show where we were singing and doing a little tap dancing everyday was a rejuvenating feeling. I felt like I was back home. Theater excites me, especially when I’m in a musical. I absolutely love connecting with a live audience and getting my adrenaline pumping on stage is always an invigorating feeling.
In regards to your career in acting, your work at Alvin Ailey, we want all the details! Can you share what it entails, how you got it, what you’re working on, and what excites you most about your field?
I’m not currently working at Alvin Ailey, but I loved my time there! It felt like a gift to have a job in NYC where I was in the presence of so many artists while trying to pursue acting and theater. The position I had was as a Studio Manager, which mainly involved my showing up early to open up that gorgeous Manhattan building and then I’d have a list of tasks to get done throughout the day that helped the practical operations of classes, auditions, and events go smoothly. It gave me a chance to work with people in all departments as well as meet some pretty cool people in the dance world. Something I’m grateful for is that they knew I was an actor and would be flexible with me at times when I wanted to audition or do a gig. I got the position through another theater artist/friend who knew they were looking for part time positions to fill. Luckily, they brought me on and then a year into Covid they brought me on full time. I remember there were days when I had downtime and I would look up auditions, memorize lines or even try to do an audition. My boss would let me use his office to audition for a show. It was a crazy time! Trying to balance a full time job while pursuing theater is hard but if there was any place I’d do it, it would definitely be Alvin Ailey.
Now, looking back on your days on the stage when you used to perform at Encore! At what age did you get involved with theatre, and what sparked your love for the stage? What motivates you to continue with it?
I got into theater when I was about 14 or 15, my sophomore year of high school. I was playing basketball for Wakefield at the time and decided to audition for the fall play for extra credit. At the time I knew nothing about theater. I wouldn’t show up for rehearsal because I had basketball practice and when I was in rehearsal I had no idea how to take a note. Thankfully, our incredible mentor and theater teacher, Mr. Gillespie, gave me some grace. Throughout that rehearsal process I slowly began to get to know the theater community at Wakefield and saw how much fun everyone was having. That’s what really got me and sparked my joy. It was so much fun and the people were so unapologetically themselves at that time, that I simply did not want to leave the theater. The theater felt like such a safe space during high school and that’s what I think of today as I continue. Not only is being an artist something that I love and feel immensely proud of, but it is a safe place for me to find myself and express that through art and community. There’s no way I could give that up.
Tell us about your time at Encore! What shows did you perform in, and what were the roles and jobs you took on, and any favorite memories that still stick with you?
By the end of my sophomore year, my high school teacher Mr. G showed me an audition notice for The Pirates of Penzance. I remember being so scared to audition for a theater that was not my high school and felt grateful that a couple friends came with me. I got cast in the ensemble, playing a pirate in Act 1 and a policeman in Act 2. I remember a couple of Equity actors were brought in to play the leads in that show and how I felt a sense of gratitude that I could watch these two actors work and learn from them during a time when I was still getting my feet wet and figuring out what this theater thing was all about. The next summer I was in Legally Blonde where I played Grandmaster Chad and Carlos. Then I was in Once Upon a Mattress the next summer. Some memories I still think about are things like helping the crew put the set together on days off which gave me a chance to learn more about the other side of theater making. I mainly think about the friends I made. I made a lot of friends while at Encore and what I remember most about that is that we just laughed a lot which is how I think it should be.
For me personally, Encore has shaped so much of who I am. How did your experience at Encore help shape your college journey, career path, or who you are today?
I think each summer I spent at Encore was significant for me. During The Pirates of Penzance I started to learn about professionalism and the importance of focus in the rehearsal room. Besides learning from the two Equity actors that were leading our cast, I learned a lot from our director. He didn’t let the fact that I was new to theater shift his expectations or standards of how to work in rehearsal, which I think was really good for me. That summer I made a really good friend that I was close with for a while. Him and I would goof off and have the best time, but it wasn’t always productive and could often be distracting, I imagine. We had a few talks, the director and I, that were needed to keep me on track. Once Legally Blonde came around I had one summer and another year of high school theater under my belt. I had a stronger sense of where I was but I still needed to learn the importance of preparation.
Having some speaking roles with solos, I was feeling a different sense of responsibility. I felt a bit of pressure and I was nervous to let myself or anyone else down. I found myself choking up a few times, mostly during rehearsal, and once during a performance with a full audience. I was so embarrassed. Looking back, I simply didn’t spend enough time with my lines and music so when I got nervous, I got stuck. During the rehearsal period, you’re spending all day working so you may think that that’s all you have to do. What I didn’t realize was that when you work in rehearsal, you want to come back next time more prepared. I think I expected everything to fall into place as it usually does but I learned quickly that discipline was necessary. By my third summer, working on Once Upon A Mattress, I think I found a healthy balance of work and play. I was still that goofy kid like when I was fifteen years old, but I learned to take things more seriously…but not too seriously. I had so much fun that summer because I knew everyone at Encore, brought some friends from high school with me and made new ones. We had a blast. It was the summer before I started college and I felt ready for the next step. The summer after my freshman year at Shenandoah, I was cast in Shrek the Musical. I remember leaving for a couple of weeks to participate in a college musical theatre intensive, Overtures at Signature Theatre. When the program ended, I decided to leave the cast of Shrek, in order to find a summer job and save money for my second year of school. I was sad to leave and I never ended up making my way back, but I think that moment was the start of a new chapter for me. I was focused on my college training and would go on to have theater experiences elsewhere. I think my time at Encore prepared me for that next step and it feels a bit cathartic looking back, as if the universe, by way of Encore, sent me off to the next chapter.
What advice would you give to current students who are interested in working in many different sectors of the theatre world, like yourself?
I’d say if it sounds fun, try it! If when you think about it, you get butterflies in your stomach, or you wake up excited to show up, or if you go to bed thinking about it – just go for it. There’s so many parts of theater making that are so important and fun. Acting and performing is an absolute thrill. Writing is so exciting and scary and rewarding. Directing is a marathon full of challenges, imagination and possibility. Costumes are beautiful and creative. Set making takes skill and strong attention to detail. Even being an usher…you get to meet so many people who love theater and you get to see so many shows! Being a student is great when you want to try something new or pursue your passion because you have time and opportunity to try things and make mistakes. I’d say if you’re not having fun, think about why then do something differently. In short, follow the joy and have fun.
How can people keep up with what you’re doing? Drop your socials!
I can be found on instagram – @west_rayiv
Thank you Will for taking the time to share your Encore story!
