Musical Theatre Major Finds Her Second Home on Stage at UCM

Musical Theatre major Rosalyn Schuster will graduate with her bachelor’s degree during Fall 2025 Commencement.

 

Countdown to Commencement

The University of Central Missouri offers a community of support, allowing students to redefine what’s possible as they forge a path to their future. With help from faculty and staff, UCM students are empowered to be the heroes of their own stories and as we prepare for Fall 2025 Commencement, the News Bureau is shining a spotlight on some of those stories.

 

When Musical Theatre major Rosalyn Schuster steps onto the stage at the University of Central Missouri’s (UCM) Fall 2025 Commencement, she won’t just be receiving her degree. She will serve as the undergraduate commencement speaker for the ceremony at 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025, addressing graduates from the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences (CAHSS) and the Harmon College of Business and Professional Studies (HCBPS).

It’s a fitting role for a student who has spent her UCM career finding her voice both on and off stage.

 

The Nixa, Missouri, native began her college journey at Missouri University of Science and Technology. She liked her coursework at first, but felt repeatedly drawn back to the arts. After exploring other options, her college search came down to UCM and Southeast Missouri State University. Campus visits and auditions helped her make the final decision.

 

“UCM ended up being the right place for me,” Schuster said. “The people here were so nice and welcoming, and I felt like I would get the most opportunities to be involved. I also wanted a Digital Media Production minor, and the program here is at a caliber you do not find many other places.”

Schuster has spent her time at UCM on stage, in rehearsal rooms and in digital media classrooms. She sang in the university choir for three years, including a performance tour through the Baltics, appeared in multiple radio plays produced by UCM's campus radio station and served as a community advisor for University Housing for more than two years.

“It amounts to a very busy schedule,” she said, “but I have always been able to balance it and still get as much out of this experience as I can.”

One of her most memorable experiences was the Theatre and Dance program’s production of “Cabaret,” where the department transformed the Highlander Theatre into an immersive performance space and cast Schuster as Sally Bowles.

“It was a difficult production with heavy material, but the cast, the work we all put in, and the care we had for that story made it unlike anything I have ever done,” she said. “I do not know if I will ever find another show that felt that important to all of us at the same time.”

Her choir tour abroad offered another defining moment. She still remembers singing in centuries-old cathedrals where the acoustics seemed to rise and bloom around the ensemble.

“Music has always been a big part of my life,” she said. “There is nothing quite as moving as singing with a group that is all working together to create something beautiful. Those moments felt transcendent.”

"I absolutely loved working with Rosalyn during her time at UCM. I could always count on her to be focused, driven and hilarious. I also loved that Rosalyn never seemed to have the same ‘favorite piece’ that we were singing as her peers, which speaks to her sophisticated taste and curiosity,” said Jackson  C. Thomas, D.M.A., director of Choral Activities. “Rosalyn will be so missed, and I cannot wait to see what path she carves for herself as someone born for the stage." 

Closer to home, the President’s Gala at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts stands out as another milestone.

“I never thought I would be standing on that stage,” she said. “It was a long day of singing, acting and moving between performances, but the space is gorgeous and the experience is something I would never want to miss.”

Schuster said UCM offers far more opportunities than many people expect, especially for students from small towns like her own.

 

“When I came here, I thought I would get my degree and do my shows,” she said. “I did not expect to go to three foreign countries or take a theatre trip to New York. I did not expect professional auditions every semester or performances at venues in Kansas City. The opportunities here are more than I ever imagined.”

Faculty support has been central to her experience. In addition to Thomas, Schuster credits Division of Theatre and Dance Chair Ashley Miller-Scully, Department of Communication and Digital Media Production Chair Joe Moore, and others across both departments for helping her grow.

“Without a doubt, Rosalyn is one of the best theatre students to ever come through our program,” Miller-Scully said. “She has positioned herself to be a multi-faceted artist. She has taken it upon herself to learn every aspect of theatre, from working in the scene shop and managing productions to assistant directing, stage managing and performing lead roles. She truly can do it all.”

Moore said Schuster’s work ethic and attitude set her apart.

“The thing I love about Rosalyn is she is fearless,” he said. “She is willing to try new things and challenge herself, and she always seems to do it with a smile. Yes, she is supremely talented, but it is her attitude that makes her such a joy to teach.”

Life on campus also shaped her experience beyond the stage. Living in the residence halls and working as a community advisor gave her a strong sense of belonging.

“Some of my favorite memories are the small moments,” she said. “After an eight-hour rehearsal on a Saturday, all of us piling into a car to grab dinner together. We were exhausted, but we loved what we were doing and looked forward to the next thing.”

Schuster believes UCM has prepared her well for the professional world. She describes her coursework as practical and portfolio-driven, with assignments that translate directly into materials she can use in auditions and applications.

“I feel much more prepared than I would have been anywhere else,” she said. “Here, nobody gets lost. You receive individualized attention, and people are always pushing you toward growth.”

After graduation, Schuster plans to return to southwest Missouri for a year to work and save before pursuing theatre in Kansas City or exploring film opportunities in Los Angeles.

Looking back, she knows her younger self would be surprised at how far she has come.

 

“I would tell myself it is okay to change your mind,” she said. “It is okay to find the place that fits you. UCM has been a second home for me. This was absolutely the right choice.”

As she prepares to take the podium as UCM’s undergraduate commencement speaker, Schuster hopes to share that message with the Class of 2025 — and encourage future students to trust the paths that lead them where they are meant to be.

 

 

     

 

Check the News Bureau daily from Dec. 8-12, as we share stories of UCM graduates who are redefining what’s possible and shaping the future, one step across the stage at a time.