Humans of Fossil: Abby Meyer

From a young age, Abby Meyer has been immersed in the performing arts. One of her most memorable early productions was a traveling production of the Wizard of Oz in which she, along with her twin sister Emma, played supporting roles. Since then, she’s been gathering valuable knowledge from dance lessons, voice lessons, choir, and being a part of the drama program. “I’m more of an arts kid myself,” Meyer states, “and theater, as well as all of my friends who are in it with me, motivates and inspires me to work hard and do what I love”.

And there is no doubt that her hard work has paid off. Just recently, Meyer was selected from a competitive audition process to play the lead in the upcoming fall play Radium girls, her first lead role. Her character Grace, is a historic, American figure who made a living as female factory worker in the 1920’s until all the workers in the factory contracted a lethal disease caused by radiation poisoning.

Although the play doesn’t show for another month and a half, Meyer has already started preparing for the role. “Actually, when I heard I got the part, I went out and bought a notebook I thought Grace would have owned and started getting into the mindset by writing journal entries in character,”, she explained. Besides journal entries, Meyer has been doing a lot of research to ensure that when performance day rolls around, she’ll be in top shape. So far, she has found herself fascinated not only by the predicament that Grace was in, but also her attitude and fighting spirit. “Grace is such an interesting character to me. She was the voice for a group of girls who were essentially diagnosed with death and she continued to fight for justice and what she believed in, as well as search for who she really was in a time of conflict,” Meyer says.

On the day the cast list was posted online, Meyer says she was sitting with her mom anticipating the list until she decided to shift her focus on other things and check back later. It wasn’t until a congratulatory text from her boyfriend did Meyer finally check the cast list and find out she had been chosen for the lead role. She remembers feeling heightened excitement and gratitude.

As this isn’t her first show, it seems this rising star has quite a few strategies for re-creating a character onstage. Meyer says one of her tricks for preparing herself for a performance is spending a few moments alone to get into the right character. With her participation in past theater productions as well as one acts for the past three years, there is no doubt that Meyer’s valuable experience and vast amount of passion will make this fall show one to remember.

Despite her excitement and now-found responsibilities, Meyer stays humble and credits most of her success to her theater family. “My favorite thing about our department is that everyone is so talented, even in a tiny role or in tech, and everyone is pushing you. You grow so much and even if you think you’re the best you’ve ever been, you continue to grow.”

Rehearsals for Radium Girls are currently underway, but the play is planned to from November 16 to the 18. Be sure to be prepared for early ticket sales later this fall season.