COLLEGIATE THEATRICS: Middle Tennessee State University's COLLIN PETERSON

Not all actors come from academic theater backgrounds - in fact, looking over the resumes of any number of aspiring young actors will indicate their desire to be onstage can survive and thrive despite their chosen professional field or their level of experience.

Take Collin Peterson, for example: a junior vocal performance and music education major at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, has been acting in theatrical productions for a number of years, most recently starring as Tarzan in Arts Center of Cannon County's Tarzan, the Musical, directed by 2015 First Night Honoree Darryl Deason. A 2015 First Night Most Promising Actor, Collin starred opposite 2013 MPA Jenna Pryor, who played Jane.

While performing will likely always be a part of his life, the Murfreesboro native finds himself drawn to teaching - and that may be the focus of Collin's professional career when he leaves MTSU after graduation.

What has your college career been like thus far? I have only been able to be in one show with the Musical Theater department, and that show was the wonderful Les Miserables. I had a few solos, but I was considered a member of the ensemble. The experience was amazing and supplied me with an immediate community of friends as a freshman. The process was probably the most professionally managed show I've ever been in. In addition to that, the music department has an opera program. We performed The Merry Widow this past spring, and I got to play Camille Rosillion. That process, although it turned out fine in end, was a bit disappointing as far as planning was concerned.

What's been your favorite part of studying at MTSU? My favorite part about MTSU is studying Vocal Performance under Dr. Isley-Farmer. She is hilariously fantastic and has an enormously impressive understanding of the human voice.

Has MTSU lived up to its advance hype? I came into MTSU with the intention of eventually becoming a college choir director. I had minimal interest in performing for a living, despite my double major in vocal performance and music education. Now, I wish to teach elementary school general music, but performing on the side has actually become a feasible goal.

What's been highlight of your performance experience at MTSU? The ABC Café scene in Les Miserables was my favorite college theater moment. The actors in that cast created a real sort of brotherhood that brought that scene to life.

What kind of advice would you give a younger student considering making his or her way to MTSU like you did? My advice to an upcoming freshman thinking about performing professionally would be this: Look for honesty in your prospective teachers. If you are going to try, don't waste your time and money on the training unless you truly think you can make it. A good teacher will speak the truth, and they will either help you on your way to greatness or save you a lot of time. Good luck.