Taz Stone is a senior at the Academy of the Holy Cross and has been involved with theatre throughout their life. Growing up in a family of theatre people, Taz developed a love of all things performing, whether it be acting, singing, dancing, or improvisation. They are experienced in many forms of dance, including Irish dance, tap, jazz, hip-hop, and musical theatre dance. Recently, they made their directorial debut at Holy Cross with Team StarKid’s The Trail to Oregon. Previous credits include Mrs. Wormwood in Matilda the Musical, John the Baptist/Judas in Godspell, Dewey Finn in School of Rock, and Squidward Tentacles in SpongeBob Squarepants the Musical. Taz is also a choreographer and dance captain for Holy Cross’ performing arts department. In their free time, they enjoy cosplaying, doing ceramics, and playing with their cat, Oliver, and their dog, Bibi.

Taz is thrilled to join the Art Stream team as part of their Senior Project, which includes an internship in a field of their choice. Taz is interested in studying psychology and communications in college, as well as cultivating their love of theatre. They believe that ArtStream is the perfect place to do just that, and they have already been blown away by the supportive and welcoming community here.

Taz is joining Gaithersburg Company A to learn more about the production process and help the ArtStreamers shine bright! You can meet Taz in-person at the upcoming Gaithersburg Theatre Company performances on May 12-14 and 19-21. Ticket information is available here.

ArtStream: How did you first get started in theatre?

Taz: My parents are both very involved in theatre, so it has always been a big part of my life. I started performing around second grade when I took a summer theatre class at Black Rock Center for the Arts. I was cast as the villain in a Scooby Doo-themed play and was absolutely terrified to play the bad guy. But seeing the pride on my parents’ faces when I put all my energy into my performance despite my stage fright made me realize that this was where I belonged. I have been performing ever since, whether it be with Black Rock, at school, or now with ArtStream.

ArtStream: What excites you most about interning at ArtStream?

Taz: I am most excited to share my love of theatre with a whole new community of people. I go to a relatively small school, so my social circle is limited. Branching out can be difficult, but everyone at ArtStream is so loving and supportive. I am ecstatic to be working alongside so many new people who also hold theatre near and dear to their hearts.

ArtStream: Do you prefer to act on stage or work behind-the-scenes?

Taz: While I have done some behind-the-scenes work like directing and choreographing, I am a performer at heart. It is where I started and where I feel I belong. Nothing comes close to the feeling I get when I walk out onstage and feel the eager energy from the audience. Performing brings me a kind of joy I can’t find anywhere else.

ArtStream: What is something the ArtStreamers might be surprised to learn about you?

Taz: Something I don’t think ArtStreamers would expect from me is that I know more 60s TV theme songs than current pop songs.

ArtStream: What is something you hope to learn or gain from this internship?

Taz: I hope to learn how to communicate effectively with people who are neurodivergent, especially in potentially high-stress situations. I have performed with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities at my school, but ArtStream is an opportunity to work closer with them than I ever have before. I think this internship will help me learn how to encourage and ease the anxieties of performers with IDDs. As someone who is interested in studying psychology and theatre in college, I think this internship is a wonderful way to cultivate my interest in these two fields.

ArtStream: What is your favorite play or musical?

Taz: My favorite musical is The Guy Who Didn’t Like Musicals. It’s a horror comedy written by Team StarKid, a theatre company based in Los Angeles. I could talk for hours about StarKid and this musical. Essentially, this man who hates musicals realizes that the world around him is starting to turn into one big musical, and he has to find a way to stop it. I love everything about it, from the script to the score to the set design and so much more. I definitely recommend giving it a watch (as well as all of StarKid’s other musicals) on StarKid’s YouTube page.