Education Spotlight: THE CHER SHOW'S Emily Skinner

Education takes center stage in BroadwayWorld's new Education Spotlight education series. We ask Broadway stars a survey of questions about their college experience and how its made them the performer they are today.

Next up is Broadway favorite Emily Skinner bringing multiple characters to life as part of the iconic diva Cher's path to greatness in The Cher Show. Find out how her education played its part in bringing her to Broadway!

Name: Emily Skinner

Show you're in: The Cher Show

Role(s) you play: Georgia Holt, Lucille Ball

College/University you attended: Carnegie Mellon University

Favorite professor and/or class: Lis Orion, who was the dean of the Department of Drama when I went there

What did you learn in school that has helped you most in your career?

A confidence in my own instincts and a multitude of techniques that have made me a really good self-director.

What's the best piece of advice you ever got from a professor or other instructor?

Lis Orion told me when I was 19 that I would "never play girls, always women". And that has proved to be completely accurate. She prophesized that early in my development as an actor because she knew it was going to be important for me to cultivate and accept my solid womanhood as something that would set me apart from other young actresses. She gave me roles/scenes in her class that demanded I get very comfortable with that and to this day I am massively grateful for her keen insight.

What do you wish you could say to your college-age self knowing what you know now?

Chill. It's all gonna be fine. Don't sweat the small stuff and most of it is small stuff.

What advice would you give to aspiring theatre students?

Be kind to everyone. It's a very small world and you'll get jobs based on your reputation for consistently smart work and because you're good to work with.

Superstars come and go. Cher is forever.

For six straight decades, only one unstoppable force has flat-out dominated popular culture - breaking down barriers, pushing boundaries, and letting nothing and no one stand in her way.

The Cher Show is her story, and it's packed with so much Cher that it takes three women to play her: The kid starting out, the glam pop star and the icon. The Cher Show is 35 smash hits, six decades of stardom, two rock-star husbands, a Grammy, an Oscar, an Emmy, and enough Bob Mackie gowns to cause a sequins shortage in New York City, all in one unabashedly fabulous new musical.

For tickets, visit thechershowbroadway.com.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride / WM Photos; Production Photo Credit: Joan Marcu