Sarah Von Egypt (she/her/hers)
BFA Musical Theatre
Class of 2022

Email: sarah.vonegypt@gmail.com
IG: @sarahvonegypt
FB: Sarah Von Egypt

What is your FAVORITE thing about your program?

I think my favorite thing about the program is the support from everyone. Everyone is supportive of each other, and I find that to be powerful. 

What would you change about your program? Why?

I think I would add in dance classes on Fridays. My Fridays are pretty free compared to most school days, and I feel we should be dancing as much as we can in this major. 

How would you describe the overall vibe of your program? Competitive? Supportive? A bit of both? Something else?!

I would say it’s a good mix of both competitive and supportive. The student body is supportive of each other overall, but it can be hard sometimes when competing with each other in the school productions. We all have to remind ourselves that no matter what happens, we have each others’ back.

What was the biggest surprise about your program that you didn’t anticipate as an incoming freshman?

I didn’t anticipate how important practicing outside of your classes is in order to succeed as a student. Especially when you take Acting classes where you ought to meet with your scene partner outside of class as much as possible. 

What makes your program unique?

There is no Acting program, only a Musical Theatre program, which is something I totally find unique.

Real talk: How do the audition & casting processes function at your program?

We usually do two shows per semester. In most cases, a play and a musical per semester. Auditions for the fall semester happen within the first week of classes, and then we have auditions during the last week of classes of the fall semester for the spring semester shows. Not everyone is guaranteed a role in the shows. Realistically, there is going to be competition in the real world. So it is good to understand how competitive it can be whilst in an educational setting. If you are not cast in a show, you can always work on crew for the shows. They always need people for it, and it’s good experience to learn how a show works behind the scenes.

What’s it like outside of performance classes? Is it possible to participate in extracurriculars? Greek life? Double majors? Minors?

Yes, it is possible to participate in extracurriculars! Funny enough, I am heavily involved in my Newman Club, which is our Catholic ministry at SUNY Cortland. As someone who went to Catholic school for 12 years, I felt I was able to squeeze right in. Double majoring can be touch to finish on time, especially in the BFA program. However, you certainly can squeeze in a minor. Funny enough, I am a Computer Applications minor. My dad worked at IBM for a very long time, so it has been a curiosity of mine to learn more about computers. Especially when technology turned into our best friend in the beginning of the pandemic. 

Does your school help you pursue professional working opportunities during the year, over the summer, and/or post-graduation? How so?

This program helps the students in many ways. What’s great about the Cortland area is that we have Cortland Repertory Theatre and other local regional theaters (Hangar Theatre & The Rev). Also, every year the seniors are provided with a senior showcase to present to casting directors and agents. The faculty is strong about wanting you to book after graduation.

Are there any opportunities and/or resources that you feel are lacking in your program?

More tap classes. But that’s because I enjoy tap immensely. You take two semesters of tap in your four years. Funny enough, I am retaking Tap 1 for my last semester because I had not tapped since my Sophomore year, and I missed it dearly.

What’s the dynamic like between students and faculty?

I think what’s great about the faculty is that they want you to succeed in this business. They really do care about wanting you to be the best version of yourself as an actor.

What types of structures are in place for students to receive feedback inside and outside of the classroom? How about for students to give feedback?

The faculty provides office hours if the students need any help or guidance. The faculty in this program are always there for the students.

What steps has your school taken/is your school currently taking to promote greater representation for minority communities and to ensure greater equity, diversity, and inclusion in all aspects of the educational environment? 

Recently, we did a play called “Possessing Harriet” which tells a fictional story of an African woman named Harriet escaping from the South and running all the way up to Syracuse, NY (which is less than an hour from Cortland). Also, the director for that show was BIPOC, which was great because we always try to make sure that our program is inclusive. 

What types of resources does your school encourage/make available for students in regards to mental, physical, and emotional health? 

The school does provide a guidance and health center to anyone in need! 

What were you most worried about as an incoming freshman that you TOTALLY didn’t need to be worried about?

I was so worried about making a mistake because I cared so much about being perfect, especially in my classes and playing Marry in my school production of “The Children’s Hour.” It was such an honor to take on such a role as a freshman, but the pressure was definitely on. Realistically, you are not going to learn as a student unless you make mistakes. I would tell my freshman self that it is not the end of the world to be imperfect. We all make mistakes. If you make a mistake, learn from it, and move on.

How did you know that this was the right place for you?

I know this was the right place for me after I toured the facility for the first time. I poked my head into the green room (it’s our little hangout room in between classes or during a show), and I remember the students being friendly. And that’s exactly what I wanted - a program where everyone cares about each other.