Editor's note: This story originally appeared in the summer 2023 issue of ASU Thrive magazine.
Before she completed her undergraduate studies, Caelan Creaser, ’19 BMus in performance (musical theater), performed professionally in several acting roles, including “Thoroughly Modern Millie,” at the Hale Centre Theatre, for which she won 2017 AriZoni Best Actress.
After graduation, she began performing with the Disney Broadway “Frozen” North American tour as an understudy for Elsa and member of the ensemble. The production brought her to ASU Gammage for a two-week run this past February.
“It feels surreal. When I went to ASU, I remember walking across the parking lot to go see a show,” Creaser says. “Now I was performing for my alma mater, the students that I love and care about. And I felt like I had someone in the audience every night, and that made it even more special.”
From August 2019 to March 2023, Creaser performed as Elsa about 60 out of 400 shows. As part of the ensemble, she sang and acted eight to 10 times a week. The demanding schedule requires resilience and strength, she says, and she credits the ASU music theater program, including the mentorship of several professors, for helping set her up for success. Another key, Creaser says, were opportunities at the ASU Music Theater New York City Showcase, where students audition for NYC agents.
“I don’t believe in good luck in this industry, but I do believe in opportunity meets preparedness, and I think that ASU prepared me to be the best version of myself that I could be at that time,” Creaser says.
Creaser says performing on stage for an audience is magical. “I was a little girl when I saw my first Broadway musical, which was the ‘Lion King.’ And I just remember being in awe of these performers and getting to see all the costumes and the lights. I was overwhelmed in the best way possible.”
Keep up with her career at caelancreaser.com.
Top photo: Caelan Creaser, ’19 BMus in performance, in her role in the ensemble for “Frozen.” She was also an understudy for the Elsa role.
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