Emily Perkins - Life In The Spotlight
Emily Perkins - 2026 - Photography by Lorynn Hunt
hose quite moments that are not yet signaled to conclude by the sound of the curtain cord and the flare of the lights, where the breaths are deeper and the heartbeat is more bold. It holds the excitement of unveiling humor, captured minds, and lightening weights of the bustling hum of audience that are arriving. Its the knowledge that whatever happens tonight will never be again. This is show. It is live. The house lights dim, the curtain is pulled, then there in the middle of the stage, a spotlight. Its one more breath, the orchestra begins, shoulders back, chin up, it is show
You may have had the experience of escapism when Emily Perkins stepped into the spotlight, but the same feeling does not fade when the spotlight does. The genesis of Perkins natural prowess was nurtured by her mother and her boisterous personality.
“I grew up in a musical family. So my mom taught all three of us kids to sing. She would have us like stick our fingers in our ears and sing rounds until we figured out how to stay on our parts. So that's how I learned how to sing harmony from a very early age…..But my mom has a gorgeous voice and actually, honestly, my whole family can, they can all sing. Some of them have not used it as much as I have. But that doesn't mean that they don't have the ability to do so. But, I grew up in a musical family so I always was interested in the arts. They joked that I could sing before I could talk. And so that was always something that I loved. I think being the youngest child you always kind of like are looking for a way to stand out a little bit, you know, make your mark. So I was always ready for a little bit of attention. I think that that has had a big impact on sort of how I ended up pursuing the arts and sort of wanting to get on the stage. And for sure, like my musical ability, my mom, the bass line that I got with her was better than having music lessons as a kid. So that was a really good start for me.”
When the time came to make a name of herself, Perkins made a shift from Journalism and early elementary education, and decided to move from everything she knew to New York City. There she began to experience friendships and hardships but it was there she began to understand her love for performing far more clearly.
“ I moved to New York having never visited. So packed up all of my stuff and my parents rode out with me. We drove out and the first time I saw New York city was the day that I was moving my stuff into a frankly sketchy apartment on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. I mean that was what I wanted to do from the beginning. I ended up going to performing arts school in New York and the “American Musical and Dramatic Academy" on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. And I loved it. I mean, it was really amazing to be surrounded by people who shared the things that I loved. Like every single person at school was a musical theater nerd. And that was insane for me to just be like surrounded by people who loved the things that I loved and that made such a difference that was so, so amazing. We shared connection, we were all pursuing our passion, we were young and excited, and we were full of energy and tackling New York City together.
Emily Perkins - 2026 - Photography by Lorynn Hunt
It was tiring. I was frustrated. No one likes to be judged, right? And that's the job of that. I actually got a callback on my very first edition for a national tour of Grease. I was like, oh, this is going to be easy. Yeah, no problem. I still think about this actually, cause I know I kind of squandered that callback, but it was my very first audition. I was like, well, this is easy. Everybody said this is hard. And that was it, then the rest of them were rejections after that. I got to where I wasn't even actively pursuing it anymore, I was just working customer service nights and then sleeping during the day and not getting to really experience the city either. I was thinking, I can work customer service at home and not live in a closet. That was the point when I decided to move home.
Sure it was a tucking of tails in some sense, but I truly rather perform just to perform and I’m perfectly satisfied and happy to do it through local productions.”
Her name is known throughout many local counties, in this there is richness. When she stands on stage, she is able to unfold a story through her vibrato and bring not only tears of empathy for the words she brings forth but also of laughter when she brings to life characters. It is more than her talents that makes her name bright like that of Broadway, for when she is bestowed the spotlights she brings others into it making her a true star in every other performers eyes and a genuine friend when the certain is drawn.
This episode is full of amazing stories, but also some down to earth talk about just life. Grab a cup of coffee and enjoy this utterly hilarious, down to earth, star of a woman. Thank you so much Emily for sharing your story and encouraging others to step on stage as well. I have had the honor of standing in the wings and the truth of the matter is, you shine. Your gift brings far more to our lives than you can imagine!
Episode:
https://open.spotify.com/episode/5ZB8hwXn165vpnsqIMUXze...
https://podcasts.apple.com/.../here-in-my-time/id1858774701
Have someone you would like to nominate for the podcast?
Contact me at:
Hereinmytime@gmail.com
