The bold, confident and beautiful character known as Queenie in the recent Wichita State University production of “The Wild Party” is not much unlike the actress who portrays her in real life. 

Behind all the glitz and glamour, WSU graduate student Emily Therrien is poised, well-spoken and down to earth. She and Queenie do, however, differ in one aspect: When it comes to clothing, Queenie typically dons far less.

 

Therrien began performing as a junior in high school in Burnsville, Minn. Since studying vocal performance at WSU, she has blossomed into a starlet with a memorable presence both on and off the stage.  

 

For inspiration in her role as Queenie in “The Wild Party,” Therrien admits she searched the Internet for all she could find on “the roaring '20s” and, for what she believes Queenie embodies, the “femme fatale.”

 

She said she felt good about the cast’s initial performance of the play, and since building on it for the regional competition, she thinks the cast is 10 times better.

 

Therrien, who is in her first year of graduate school, knew of WSU because her undergraduate voice teacher at Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wis., was a student at WSU.

 

Because she spends so much time on stage, Therrien said she, too, feels the pressure from society to look a certain way, like most young women today. As a result of these expectations, self-doubt and insecurity can often hinder a woman’s confidence. Therrien addressed the issue from a performer’s perspective.

 

“I think we [women] struggle with it all the time. I’ve been most successful when I pretend like I’m confident,” Therrien said. “My friend once told me, ‘If you believe you are a certain way, they [the audience] will believe it.’ I try to focus on the role and my performance.”

 

In addition to achieving many personal goals at WSU, Therrien feels she has developed into a well-rounded performer, student and future professional.

 

“In undergraduate school, I was very conscious of everything around me,” she said. “Graduate school has made me feel so much more focused. I can worry about why I’m here, and the faculty here is great.”

 

She also commented on the strong sense of community she has encountered at WSU.

 

“The connections in Wichita are an untapped source. There are so many art patrons here that are supportive of what we do,” Therrien said.

 

Among the encouraging people she has met at WSU are “Wild Party” co-stars Alex Stoll and Taurean Everett, whom she said working beside has made her a better performer.

 

“They are so easy to work with, professional and amazingly talented,” Therrien said.

 

She has also enjoyed the personal attention she has received from students and faculty alike. Therrien said her experience with students has been most memorable because they are all very welcoming. 

“Whenever I asked anyone about auditions, people were so helpful. Wichita has a local, personal feel,” she said.

 

After Therrien completes graduate school, she wants to pursue performing for at least five more years and hopes to explore another one of her passions, liturgical music.