By ROWENA PLETT

Staff writer

Performing on stage in front of an audience was nothing new to Victoria “Tori” Boyd of Marion, but being part of a Broadway musical at Tabor College last week took her performance to a new level.

The 2017 Marion High School graduate participated in theater all four high school years and played two leading roles her senior year — Rosie in “Bye, Bye, Birdie” and Etta Greenleaf in “The Werewolf’s Curse.”

“Performing at the college level was really different,” Tori said, “but my high school experience definitely laid a solid foundation for me to build on.”

The college sophomore played the role of Eliza Doolittle in four performances of “My Fair Lady” during Tabor’s homecoming festivities.

Tori said she auditioned for a general part last spring and was pleasantly surprised to be assigned the leading role.

“I was ecstatic but nervous,” she said.

During summer, she started memorizing her part and getting familiar with the music.

Rehearsals began as soon as the school year started. The first performance was Thursday.

“After we got through the first night, we knew we could do it,” she said. “The next two performances were perfect.”

Tori said her interest in theater was sparked in elementary school by attending high school shows.

“When I saw ‘Beauty and the Beast,’ I knew I wanted to be in a musical,” she said.

She is majoring in theater with a minor in music.

“It was an honor to be a part of such a big step for Tabor,” she said. “I am thankful for the opportunity to play such a wonderful role.”

The performance was the first theatrical production in the new state-of-the-art Richert Auditorium in Shari Flaming Center for the Arts.