Emmy Daniels finishes lead as Belle, ready to continue acting at OCU
BY DANI TIETZ
dani@sjodaily.com
Emmy Daniels is taking her passion for acting to the next level.
Daniels, a 2019 St. Joseph-Ogden graduate who starred in the Champaign-Urbana Theatre Company’s production of Beauty and the Beast in June, will move on to Oklahoma City University’s Music Theatre program this fall.
Her love for acting began in third grade when she played the Pied Piper in “Rats! The Story of the Pied Piper.”
“I was amazed by the power of storytelling and its ability to transform and immerse both me and audience members,” Daniels said.
That role led to Daniels growing as an actress, taking on characters such as Sharpay in “High School Musical,” Hope in “Urinetown,” Audrey in “Little Shop of Horrors,” Ariel in “Footloose,” and Natalie/Ed in “All Shook Up.”
“Every role teaches me something new about myself,” Daniels said. “Each character has something special and unique to offer me, and that’s one of the reasons why I love acting so much.
“To live as another person for a while allows me to carry a piece of that person with me for the rest of my life.”
Playing Belle in Beauty and the Beast taught Daniels to “be unfraid in (the) pursuit of my dreams,” she said.
As a child, Belle became Daniels’ favorite Disney Princess because she shared her kind heart and showed those around her great empathy.
“She has the ability to see the humanity in the Beast, and she treats everyone with kindness no matter how different or strange they may seem,” Daniels said.
Daniels also likes that Belle has a strong spirit that doesn’t cower when strong men, like Gaston, try to stronghold her.
“She refuses to give into expectations of who she should be,” Daniels said. “The town thinks she’s strange for reading, but she doesn’t allow that to determine her self worth.
“I think that’s really important for kids to see, that they can forge their own path even when the world is telling them not to.”
After growing up in the CUTC program, Daniels is happy to see that the opportunities for performers continue to grow. She knows that those students who will come through after her will experience something special.
“It feels like a big family, and I love them like family,” she said. “The supportive nature of the program and the passion that every student brings to the table makes my experience at CUTC amazing!”
