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John Broda, a Michigan native, is a BFA Musical Theatre graduate of Taylor University (2020). Over the past seven years, he has had experience in both performance and directing youth theatre. Most recently, John was a cast member of Hoosier Shakes 2019 Season, a nonprofit repertory theatre in Marion, IN. His roles included Orlando in As You Like It and Michael Cassio in Othello.
Some of his favorite credits include: Steven Kodaly in She Loves Me; Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing; Curly McLain in Oklahoma!; Ed Carmichael in You Can't Take It With You; Giles Ralston in The Mousetrap; Christian de Neuvillette in Cyrano de Bergerac; Robertson Ay in Mary Poppins.
To see what I have been up to since Taylor check out my website: https://www.johnnortonbroda.com/
My most valuable experiences at Taylor include anytime I had the opportunity to be in the room for a show. You can learn as much from being on stage as you can from watching the process unfold offstage. Talkbacks with panel discussions after a show were some of my favorite experiences and memories. These conversations were a reminder that the show is meant to move beyond the walls of the theatre and start a dialogue. My most valuable experience with Taylor Theatre is the overwhelming sense of collaboration that resembles the Body of Christ. Theatre is much like the church: you are not enough on your own and you never will be. The greatest parts of this life come out of communion and collaboration. Every obstacle I faced during my time at Taylor, whether in performance, my faith, or classwork, there was never an obstacle I overcame of my own volition. Looking back I overcame these obstacles by the power of God in my life and His kindness in surrounding me with some amazing Godly friends, professors, and mentors that pointed me back to Him and the person He created me to be.
Being a Taylor Theatre student meant that I was surrounded by professors that were constantly pushing me to look holistically at my craft, my humanity, and my spirituality. I learned very quickly that these three things are all one and the same.
Professionally, Taylor gave me the know-how to market myself. I had three separate classes in which I had to work extensively on my website and various semesters in which I had to talk through my repertoire book and audition materials with professors. It was because of these facets of the program that I was able to book my first paid gig with Hoosier Shakes before graduating.
Before transferring to Taylor I looked at around 180 Christian liberal arts colleges and universities online. Out of these I looked at the top 12 schools with BFA programs. When I visited Taylor I was shocked by the level of professionalism and maturity in the rehearsal room, and the way the students were treating the process with such reverence. I am deeply grateful I got to experience this first hand. It was one of the many reasons I chose Taylor, because I knew students were working at a level I was not accustomed to at the time. I am thankful for the way each of my professors worked to cultivate a reverence for rehearsal and the production process within me, because learning how to work in and outside of rehearsal and production is the first step in getting work.
Before coming to Taylor, I struggled to see how I could pursue jobs with challenging or controversial content and still be a person of faith. I realize now that these two things, my faith and my art, are not mutually exclusive. After four years at Taylor it is clear to me that there are so many stories that need to be told that are not always easy or comfortable to tell. However, I know God is calling me and others to tell these difficult stories with honesty and integrity, because they give us all perspective, provide space for dialogue, and shine light into the darkness. They bring up conversations that need to be had and might otherwise not happen. I believe God uses theatre and all art to help us start difficult conversations in order for us to better understand ourselves and each other.
To be an artist is to be alive and present in every given moment. The liberal arts offers that exact opportunity. You are learning to become a fully alive, holistic person. If you take these lessons and apply them to the stage, you will be a force to be reckoned with.
The greatest advice I ever received at Taylor was, "You are not the performer you are going to be." Now, that was not the most comforting advice at the time, but it is something I have to tell myself now every time I feel that I fail or do not give the performance I thought I was capable of offering. I also have to tell myself, "You have come so far." As performers, there is a balance that we need to find. Progress should never be confused with perfection and success does not equal perfection. Humans are imperfect and so is art. Embracing this truth for myself has been by far the hardest life lesson. Be willing to grow, but realize how far you have come and acknowledge how hard you have worked to get to where you are presently. Never forget that you are a light because God is within you. You may do the work to cultivate your skills, but it is He who enables you. (1 Corinthians 1:21-22)
