When I arrived at Notre Dame, I was immediately overwhelmed by all of the opportunities that I suddenly had to join new clubs, music groups, and activities. I promptly joined the marching band, and committed most of my free time in the fall semester to our daily rehearsals. While I absolutely love the band, I began to miss being a part of musicals like I had been in high school – so on a whim, I decided to apply to do costumes for PEMCo’s spring musical, The Wild Party. I had never heard of the show and was initially too scared to audition. At the very last minute, though, I decided to try my luck and audition for the cast instead, and I’m so glad I did! I found out I got a role at 1:00 a.m. on my birthday, and the rest is history!
Like many students, my first show with PEMCo got me hooked. The supportive energy and positive environment was not like any other theatre experience I had had before, and I genuinely had SO much fun working on this show. I was amazed by how well my director, producers, and fellow cast members stepped into their roles, and how professional everyone treated their work. PEMCo is the only student-run musical theatre group on campus – meaning that students have the opportunity to fill every cast and production team role, no matter what their experience level!
Even during COVID last year, PEMCo was able to put on a spring mainstage production of Something Rotten, which I was fortunate enough to direct. As a Film, Television, and Theatre major, this was one of the most fruitful out-of-the-classroom experiences I have ever had. Directing for PEMCo allowed me to have hands-on involvement in every aspect of the production process – from the costumes, to the set, to the lighting design. Working with other students made a seemingly daunting task feel very comfortable and supportive, and I truly learned so much from the process of putting the show together.
Whether you are involved in the cast, crew, production team, or pit orchestra, I can say with absolute confidence that you will have a blast and learn so much by being involved in PEMCo! I have met some of my closest friends through this group, been a part of some truly rewarding shows, and shared my passion for musical theatre with other Notre Dame, Saint Mary’s College, and Holy Cross College students.
Email pemusic@nd.edu to join our listserv and receive updates about current and upcoming productions, and make sure to check out our Instagram page, @pemusicalco. If you love musical theatre and want to meet some awesome new people, PEMCo is the place for you!