ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

That rejection was mortifying and for the first month as a CCS student, I was ashamed and terrified to even set foot in the fine arts department. I felt like a failure. But thanks to kind and insightful mentorship from my teachers and the encouragement of my new-found friends, I began to volunteer with the ACT 1 team as props master, or as the “Prop-Tart,” which is what the senior team members

I am so thrilled to be speaking to this because my journey with the CCS fine arts department still very much informs who I am as an artist. My journey was one of learning humility, taking steps of boldness in the face of failure and ultimately working tirelessly to achieve my goals. To be transparent, my journey started off on the wrong foot.

I came to CCS as an incoming freshman and had been performing my whole life, both professionally and educationally. I was drawn to Charlotte Christian due to the vibrant theatre program and more than anything, I wanted to be a part of the ACT 1 competition team. But when the day came for my audition, I walked into the room prideful, unprepared and entitled. I thought my resume and raw talent would guarantee me a spot on the team but of course, I totally blew the audition. I did not know my lines, I had a standoffish attitude and made a fool of myself. So rightfully, I did not make the team.

GOD’S HANDIWORK IN ACTION

Polly Hilton (‘11)

Charlotte Christian School alumna Polly Hilton (‘11) recently reconnected with the CCS fine arts program in an exciting way. Now an accomplished playwright and actor in New York City, Ms. Hilton wrote an original musical for the lower school’s spring mainstage production, Jubilee and the Elation Celebration. Ms. Hilton shared about her fine arts experience while at CCS and its impact on her life and career since graduation.

dubbed me. No, it was not the path I had planned for my freshman year, but it was the path I needed. It was the path God had planned for me.

That year I learned the ins and outs of technical theater - these are skills that have gone on to inform my professional work. I learned that hard work beats talent when talent does not work hard. Never again would I show up to an audition unprepared. I learned true humility. I learned that most of the time, showing up prepared, with a smile on my face and a kind heart is more important than being able to hit the high note.

By the end of my freshman year, after months of painting sets, ironing costumes and pulling props while waiting in the wings, I finally stepped on stage as an understudy at a theatre competition with the ACT 1 team (something that was rarely ever done or allowed at the time). The best part of that experience was the outpouring of support and joy from the other team members, parents and faculty as I took my finale bow. These were individuals who had witnessed my change of heart and knew how hard I had worked to earn my place on that stage.

In the years to come, I would go on to make ACT 1 and participated in countless competitions, which culminated in winning best actress awards at both the North Carolina Theatre Conference (NCTC) and Southeastern Theatre Conference (SETC) levels my senior year. I participated in all the mainstage musicals and was a student choreographer for the middle school shows. But in spite of all this, I carried what I learned my freshman year with me - both the technical skills and the work ethic. My senior year, I did a directed study in theatrical design for our competition show, Into The Woods Jr. I not only performed in the piece, but Polly the “Prop-Tart” got to design the look of the show as well. This is perhaps what I am most proud of from my time at CCS, for it exemplifies my journey from beginning to end and shows God’s handiwork in action.