Tyler Baxter strives to shine in more places than just the stage.
As a senior working toward a bachelor of fine arts degree in musical theater, Baxter commits most of his time practicing for various performances.
"Being any sort of BFA student, especially theater in my case, is not only mentally demanding, as obtaining a degree should be, but it is also extremely physically and emotionally demanding," Baxter said.
Appearing as the emcee in "Cabaret," Bellomy in "The Fantastics," and Octave in "Scapin," Baxter is currently working on an original musical called "Guarding Gold Street."
"It's an insane commitment, but it's the exact reason why I have stayed in this major since I entered Auburn," he said. "I wouldn't do it if I didn't love it."
Baxter begins his day "with some sort of physical labor, whether it's ballet or lifting boxes at work doing shipments," he said. "I have, have, have to have coffee every morning."
"Referencing my planner, reviewing the number of things I have to have memorized in my head like monologues, scenes, songs, speeches, poems, warm up exercises, the international phonetic alphabet and trying to focus on what I have to do for that day," is how Baxter said he deals with mounting stress.
Baxter said since he spends the majority of his time with fellow theater majors, the group is like family.
"Being part of such a tight-knit group that you see every day and have the majority of your classes with is very comforting in the college setting," Baxter said.
"We may yell, argue and hurt each other's feelings, but in the end, we all want to see each other succeed in a career field filled with such rich creativity and passion."
The ambitious and self-motivated student takes on a hefty course load while working as well.
"I feel that in my major, our class load is heavier than most students in other departments at Auburn," Baxter said.
"We spend more hours in class and rehearsals than most, and we have homework on top of that, too," Baxter said.
He also takes extra dance and voice lessons each semester that are encouraged, not required.
"When I finally get home to rest at the end of the day, I only have enough time to make dinner and rush back to the theater for rehearsal," Baxter said.
"Once I have calmed down from having to be high energy at rehearsal, usually at least past 9 p.m., I come home and start homework."
Baxter said this is his first semester in college working a part-time job along with taking a full load of classes and being cast in a production.
"I struggled with the decision on whether to keep working throughout the semester or to take leave until Christmas shopping season," Baxter said.
"I decided that working throughout my senior year here could be beneficial in having money stored up upon graduation in May," he said.
"I think that in the end, I will definitely be glad that I made that decision when I am graduated and out in the 'real world' as they say."
In the future, Baxter said he hopes to star as Harold Hill in "The Music Man" or become a dancer and singer on the Disney cruise line.
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