Aubin Jefferson
Aubin Jefferson came to theater through dance.
“I started off singing in choirs from a very early age, but most of my theater background actually comes from dance. I have been dancing since I was 7 and was fortunate enough to train in a pre-professional program from eighth grade to high schoolgraduation. This program allowed me to do all sorts of workshops including two musical theater workshops in New York City, and from there I was hooked. I started getting into more of the acting side of things in high school where I was in two of my school’s productions,” she says.
She is a senior at Emory & Henry University, Emory, Virginia, where she majors in musical theater, which is her favorite form of theater.
“I love a good musical. Musical theater has always been my favorite. Musicals have it all, from singing to dancing, while also having a range of types. However, I do also love a good dramatic straight play. Whenever I am starting on a project, no matter what type of production it is, I begin by reading the script at least twice. Once for a first impression and to read it as an audience member, and a second time to see what fun details I didn’t pick up on the first time. Whether I am performing in a show or working as a choreographer, dance captain, etc., I always want to make sure I understand the story and stay true to what the author intended.
“To me, performing is the best feeling in the world. That adrenaline rush as the curtain speech finishes, and you get ready to step on stage is so exhilarating. As scary as it can be, there is nothing like studying a play and a character and putting that work in front of an audience so that they might relate to it. There are few things as special as getting to tell someone’s story. A lot of my recent work has been at Emory & Henry University and Barter Theatre. Both places are very dear to me and have taught me so much,” she says.
Aubin just finished an E&H production of “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown,” directed by Ashley Campos. She played Lucy Van Pelt. Her other favorite roles are Queen Galiena in “Snow White” with the Barter Players and an ensemble dancer in “Footloose” at Barter Theatre.
Her biggest influences are her teacher and mentors. Her professors and colleagues and directors at Barter Theatre push her to do her best and lead by example. She also respects Ashleigh Davis Keefer, who runs the dance program Aubin was in, in high school, SOKY Dance Ensemble.
“I love dance. It is what I have explored and know the most about, but I have to say that actingcomes out on top. Over the past few years as I have begun to delve into the world of acting more, I have fallen head over heels for it. The idea of connecting to your scene partner or the circumstancesa character is in, to learning how a character reacts to something new each night on stage, is such a beautiful thing.
“Theater is one of the most beautiful things humanity came up with in my opinion. It has faced its fair share of challenges and yet has never died. I think that underlines its importance. Whether we use it to escape reality or confront it, theater shows us truth. It shows us ourselves. It helps us with empathy and understanding and challenges our thinking and beliefs simply through a shift in perspective. If I can get up in front of people and show them one more aspect or angle of the world than they knew coming in, then we can help people understand each other better, and hopefully take a step forward with each performance. Theater, to me, means hope and understanding,” Aubin says.
She will graduate with a BFA in musical theater and start the audition process. She is in Alpha Psi Omega, a theater-based honors fraternity. She is also the vice president of the Golden Stingers Dance Club at E&H.
Aubin is from Bowling Green, Kentucky and is the 21-year-old daughter of Chandler and Russell Jefferson.
