Student Blogger: Leilani Wizner

Theatre traditions shift at different stages of life. At times, mine meant being backstage before performing, warming up, or applying stage makeup on myself and friends. As I got older, it meant watching the kids I directed from the wings with pride and hugging them after their bows. Now, I stay involved by seeing as much theatre as possible. While I love going to shows with friends, there’s something special about being alone—about having an experience that is both singular and shared. And while I cherish the traditions I grew up with, I’ve come to value this new one just as much.

Rent is one of my favorite musicals. It resonates even more deeply with me as a queer native New Yorker born and raised on the Lower East Side, just blocks away from where the story unfolds.

Transferring to NYU Gallatin helped me realize there’s no single path to pursuing theatre. Here’s how designing my own major let me stay connected to the arts!