Impact Report

Olivia Nash

Under the spotlight of two very different stages, Olivia Nash balances a life of theatrical performance and competitive grit. She’s a dedicated college student majoring in theatre, captivated by the power of storytelling and the energy of live performance. But when the curtain falls, Nash is also a competitor, spinning and tossing her way through arenas as a member of a nationally ranked baton twirling team. 

Nash began twirling when she was just three years old, largely due to her father who is an 8-time Men’s World Baton Twirling Champion and the first baton twirler to carry the Olympic Torch! “I’m so inspired by my dad who is such a big inspiration to me,” she said. Her younger sister is also part of team Revolution as the 10-person ensemble heads to Turin, Italy to compete in a week-long competition for the world championships this August. 

Her love for theatre and singing also surfaced at a young age. Nash distinctly remembers always wanting to be a performer and repeatedly singing around the house as she grew up. She became involved in community theatre programs in elementary school and started voice lessons in seventh grade later participating in her high school theatre productions.

All of her training paid off last spring when, as a freshman, she earned the female lead role in Jessup Theatre’s production of Footloose. Nash delivered a strong performance portraying Ariel Moore as she told the story of a rebellious teenager who is challenging her father, challenging her town and challenging her own physicality. 

“One of the things that inspires me about theatre is the way a performance can impact people in the audience,” Nash said. “It’s a gift to tell a story that connects with people. My character in Footloose encounters relational challenges with her father throughout the show. It was interesting to have people come up to me after the show and share how much they could relate to my character. That’s exactly why we tell stories.”

As a theatre major, Nash continues to learn countless nuances to perfect her craft, but something that has made her Jessup Theatre experience unique is the camaraderie. “When I came to Jessup, I was worried about the competitive aspect of theatre. Sometimes it can be hard making friends, especially when you are up for the same role. In the past, it has interfered with friendships to the point where friendships were compromised just for a role,” she said. “At Jessup, I’ve experienced the complete opposite. We are friends first, and everyone is so supportive and wants to share in each other’s accomplishments.”

It was a memorable year for Nash as she traveled to George Lucas’ Skywalker Ranch in the fall and later attended Jessup Music’s first European tour including the opportunity to record at the iconic Abbey Road Studios. “Having these opportunities has been amazing for me. Especially at Abbey Road. Here we were recording where some of my most favorite films and artists created incredible work. We got to record in the same studio where the Wicked soundtrack was recorded. That was meaningful for me because I was able to sing “Defying Gravity” at our Night of Classics show last spring. I’m also a huge Beatles and Harry Potter fan, so being able to see the piano John Lennon played and one that John Williams performed the Harry Potter theme music was mind blowing. I’ll never forget it,” she said.  

Another surreal moment for Nash was Jessup Music’s performance at the La Madeleine Cathedral in Paris. “It was such a spiritual experience performing there, I was actually in tears on the risers because I could sense God’s presence.” The trip allowed students and alumni to bond and strengthen relationships. “It was really impactful to see how protective everyone was of each other,” Nash said. “That made me feel confident and ultimately, a lot of people gained my trust during the trip.”

In the fall Nash is most looking forward to reconnecting with her friends and to continue her theatre studies. She’s taking a Shakespeare class and looks forward to Jessup Theatre’s Fall production of Mary Poppins.