Zihan (Connie) Xu
I am Connie, who is one of the club founders when I was a freshman. I love acting, debating, and dancing. The most important gift for me is imagination; it gives me inspiration in acting, playwriting, directing, and choreographing. Playing characters on stages give me a chance to release my emotions that are hidden in reality, making me feel alive.
My Story with the Broadway Theatre Arts Club
The first place winners for the duologue in 2021 are—Isabella and Barbie from BIPH!” I heard this from downstage while seated in the audience. I was one of the six finalists in the 2021 EdTA duologue competition, but I did not win first place; I won second place. I was just one step behind, and it was so close.
That night, I reflected on my failures and wondered why I lost. But I realized something important: I was not passionate about winning; I was simply enjoying the stage with all my emotions. It was incredible!​
I also recognized that I wanted to share my passion with others, building plays and performing in groups to pursue our love for theatre together. Therefore, I created this fantastic drama club with my best friend Rachel and two talented students, Tony and Hanson. We started by performing small plays and participating in competitions, but we gradually expanded the size of our club, creating our own plays and hosting exhibitions.
I thought about building a special series for the BTA club, so I proposed starting BlackNight shows in 2023. The shows themselves deliver the inner ideas that we, as students, have about society and the world. We believe that theatre can influence the world with its own energy—the energy of creativity and passion.
