Student Spotlight: Carlton Bell
As students settle into another new year at The Academy, they’re reminded of what drew them here in the first place. For one theatre student, his journey began with a shadow day – and a glimpse of the community and creative freedom that make The Academy unlike anywhere else. Meet Carlton Bell, a senior in our Theatre Department.
Carlton Bell, Senior in the Theatre Department
Tell us a little about yourself! What grade are you in, what do you study, and what first drew you to The Academy?
I am currently a senior in the Theatre Department of The Academy, where I was drawn to its comprehensive training in the arts. I transferred as a sophomore from a small town in Central Illinois, where, like many other high schools across the nation, the arts were not prioritized. My first introduction to The Academy was during my shadow day. Though I was a bit nervous, seeing the connections between the students, transcending their art departments, was a magical moment for me. The highlight of that day, however, was the Theatre Department, where I witnessed the joyous laughter of the students ringing through the classrooms during an improv exercise. There, I was able to see and feel the comfort students had within themselves and with others while doing something they loved.
What does being a student at The Academy mean to you?
As a student at The Academy, I am provided access to an amazing arts education paired with exceptional academics, where there are frequent cross-curricular moments that facilitate a thorough understanding of the subject matter. The Academy allows me to be challenged during my morning academic classes, while also providing opportunities to learn from industry professionals later in the day. An education at The Academy will give me both the academic and artistic foundation that will carry me throughout my lifetime.
Bell in rehearsal as Lady Bracknell in The Academy’s fall play, The Importance of Being Earnest, by Oscar Wilde.
What are you excited to create or accomplish this year?
As I am in my last year at The Academy, this year is about shoring up the skills I need to take with me to the next level in my artistic development. I am also focused on applying to programs throughout the country, with hopes of receiving admission and selecting a college that will continue my growth as a theatre student. Beyond that, I just want to enjoy every moment of my last year, as there will never be another place like this.
How has being at The Academy changed or challenged you as an artist and as a person?
It was sophomore year in our script analysis class, and we were reading Gloria by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins. It was precisely at that time that I recognized the extent to which theatre, or art in general, could be used as a tool for social change; that really inspired me. This prompted me to open my own theatre company, Scene of Impact, with a mission to provoke or comment on social issues. At first, I saw art as pure entertainment, but now I realize its deeper purpose and how I can use it to affect my community.
“There is nowhere else like The Academy! And not because of its excellent location . . . but because of the people, the culture, the experiences, and the connections.”
What’s something about the theatre department – or The Academy as a whole – that you don’t think you would find anywhere else?
The Theatre Department, and The Academy in general, is a really special place. I believe there are only a few places that exist that allow high school students who are so committed to their art and to their own work to perform their own gigs or share their art in the community. Students here recognize the difficulties in wanting to be an artist, but are devoted to it – something that I find really invigorating.
When you think about your future, what do you hope to take with you from your experience at The Academy?
Collaboration. The Academy has taught me the importance of collaboration. Whether it is within my own department or across the other arts disciplines, I have learned how much you can get done through working with others. I am really hoping to take that understanding and appreciation with me. In professional experiences, because of my exposure here, I will have the skills to cooperate with others to meet a shared goal.
Is there anything else you'd like to add?
There is nowhere else like The Academy! And not because of its excellent location – placed right in the heart of Chicago – but because of the people, the culture, the experiences, and the connections. The Academy is absolutely special.
Stories like Carlton's are made possible because of a community that believes in the power of an arts education.
As we head back to school, will you help make another year of art-making possible for Academy students? Your gift to The Academy supports the opportunities that allow students to find their voices, develop their craft, and imagine what comes next.
Thank you for believing in our students and in the kind of education that gives them the tools to grow in ways they could never have imagined.
