Bethany Blackman

Years in the industry: 18 years

What is your current role?

Usher and Events Coordinator.

What sparked your interest in the arts?

I grew up fascinated by the magic and glitz of musicals and live theater. Old Hollywood musicals were a staple on my childhood TV. I loved the idea of breaking into song and dance at random. I also remember watching the film Cats on Broadway on PBS when I was a kid and just being totally hooked. I wanted to know how they did everything. In high school I was drawn to acting and theater. It was the one place I felt welcome, and where I could lose myself and become another character for a short period of time. As I participated in more theater, I grew to enjoy being backstage more than acting onstage. All of that led me to majoring in Theater in college and pursuing it as a career. 

Who are the women in the arts that have influenced you the most?

There are many and various women who have influenced me over the years, most prominently teachers. These are not famous people, these are working women in the community. In high school Anne Farmer was my sophomore English teacher and Forensics Coach. Mrs. Farmer was young, starting a family, and working hard to complete her PhD, all while teaching and coaching. With all of this going on in her life, she always found moments to spend meaningful one on one time with her students. She encouraged me to set high goals and reach for them, she listened and gently advised, she demonstrated in her own life how you could have everything you set your mind to with a little determination. I continue to seek her out to share special moments in my life. While I was in college, Julie Hagemeier was General Manager at the Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film and the Nebraska Repertory Theater. Julie was also my mentor. She was my sounding board during my hectic and stressful years at UNL. I spent many hours in her office learning from her. She was a calming and reassuring force in my life; always there, always available, and always confident in my skills even when I wasn’t. If you’re looking for famous artists, I can tell you about my love for Star Trek and how it influenced my life. I could give you a dissertation about how the strong female characters and the women who brought those characters to life impacted me growing up. However, it might take a while.

What is one of your favorite behind-the-scenes moments or photos?

My favorite star interaction happened many years ago. I studied abroad in London and went to a show staring Patrick Stewart. I’m a huge fan and stuck around outside the theater for a bit in the hopes that I could get an autograph or photo. I never got that autograph or photo, but as I was leaving, he came out of the front doors, strode up to the street and yelled, “Taxi!” A taxi came screeching to a halt in front of him. He was about 5 feet away from me and I raised my hand to wave, totally unprepared to say anything. He looked over at me, smiled, said, “That was brilliant, that only happens in the movies!”, jumped in the taxi, and was off before I even raised my hand all the way. It’s a great little story that I now get to tell which is better than any autograph.

Is there a costume or object that holds special meaning for you?

I have a copy of Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats by T.S. Eliot that always makes me smile when I see it. The collection of poems is the inspiration for Cats the musical. Cats really was a defining moment in my life.