Joseph Campbell
Class of 2020 | Musical Theatre | McKinney, Texas
When I thought “musical theatre school," the University of Oklahoma was not at the top of my list. Many students opt for conservatory training in the Northeast, a region that houses many predominate theatre companies and the obvious, Broadway.
Although I am from McKinney, Texas, I still consider myself Sooner born and Sooner bred. I was born in Tulsa and my older sister, four years my senior, went to OU for her undergraduate degree in industrial engineering…possibly the furthest thing from musical theatre. After coming to OU for many football games, “family weekends,” and other special events, I came to love the campus. Still, an impeccable College of Fine Arts was never on my radar.
During my senior year of high school, when college auditions were starting to ramp up, I decided to add OU on a whim to my list of over 13 programs I would be applying to. I didn’t have the strongest urge to stay in the South for an arts degree, but something told me to apply anyway. After a long and stressful college audition season during my senior year (shoutout to my mom for being my personal manager and keeping me sane in the process), I started to get a few offers to programs I dreamed of going to. Many of those schools were in the Northeast, just like I thought I always had wanted.
After I received a few acceptances, OU being one of them, I visited the schools I had been accepted to in order to sit in on classes, meet with professors, and get a feel for the students. At that point, I started to see OU Musical Theatre popping up in industry news more than ever – I saw OU alums that booked Broadway shows, I learned of the impeccable facilities and shows OU offered, and slowly started to realize the gem of a program that was hiding in a Big 12 university.
I distinctly remember the first moment I realized how strong OU’s Musical Theatre program was. I was sitting in the audience, watching a rehearsal of "Thoroughly Modern Millie." Director and choreographer, Lyn Cramer, watched the opening number and then said. “That sucked. We’re doing it again.” What?! From the audience, my mom and I thought it was the most extraordinary thing we’d ever seen students do! That tough love came out because Lyn saw the potential the students had and knew how amazing they could be. That moment shaped how I saw OU – it was a place that would continuously push me throughout my four years. I needed that tough love.
Even then, I had been accepted into my dream school that wasn’t OU. I should have wanted to go there and just accept on the spot, right?
While visiting both campuses, I found similarities with the programs. They both had outstanding professors, facilities, and programs in place to ensure employment after graduation. On paper, they looked strikingly similar, one just had a longer track record of success and prestige. But something felt different at OU. I felt a tugging in my chest that told me this was my place. I felt like the professors wanted me as much as I wanted to be there with them. I felt the entire university’s family atmosphere, and I felt like everyone cared about my growth holistically, not just as a performer. Honestly, I had to grieve some things in that moment. I worked so hard to get into my dream school, yet here I was choosing a school that initially hadn’t been on my radar. But I committed. I said yes to OU, and afterwards I felt an immense sense of peace over my life. I knew I made the right decision.
Here I am, four years later and about to graduate, and I know I made the right choice. Of course, my senior year has looked different than I expected. Due to COVID-19, many of the exciting events of senior year have been canceled. I’ve mourned those sweet losses…the loss of graduation, ceremonies, banquets, and showcases. But more than anything, I find myself mourning the connection of my class and the relationships I’ve built over the past four years. I don’t know if I’ll ever be in the same place physically with all of my friends, and that’s difficult to process. But what a sweet reminder that I have met so many people that make this transition so hard. While the shows, the classes, and the games were important, the people I met will forever hold a special place in my heart. I can now officially say I was Sooner born, Sooner bred, and when I die, I’ll be Sooner dead.
BOOMER SOONER!
