Stepping into the spotlight

Tanvi Bhide and her journey in theater from freshman to senior year

Staff Writer

“If you believe your character acts the way they do due to their backstory, your character is more believable to the people that are watching you as well,” said Tanvi Bhide (12). Beginning in freshman year, Bhide has performed in 3 productions with AHS’s Performing Arts Department (AHSPA), playing Lydia and Lady Catherine De Bourgh in Pride and Prejudice, Hannah in Freaky Friday, and Titania in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. She also recently attended the Lenaea High School Theater Festival and Competition, further expanding her experience in theater.

Bhide’s journey into theater began in 2020 through her interest in classic literature. She said, “During quarantine, I had a period drama phase where I watched Little Women, Pride and Prejudice, and all romance period dramas.”

The following year, when she came to school as a freshman and learned that AHSPA would be producing the play Pride and Prejudice, she was excited to join the theater community as she had already read the book. “I knew the plot, and I knew all the characters, like, from the back of my hand.”

Bhide described the roles she has played to be quite similar in varying ways. Her role as Lydia in Pride and Prejudice correlates closely to Hannah in Freaky Friday, while her other role in Pride and Prejudice as Lady Catherine De Bourgh is similar to Titania in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. She said, “I feel like my acting has evolved with the characters that I’ve been given. Since freshman year, I’ve become more like Titania in that I’m more calm and collected. Whereas in freshman year, I was literally crazy, and I felt that, at the time, Lydia was the embodiment of me.”

This year, Bhide and her castmates went to the Lenaea High School’s Theater Festival and Competition, representing AHS for the first time. Alongside performing her monologue at the festival, Bhide also enjoyed taking part in sword fighting and backstory-creating classes.

Ms. Benedetti, the theater’s director and Bhide’s mentor, attested to Bhide’s growth as an actor and person following the festival. In terms of what makes Bhide stand out as a performer, Ms. Benedetti said, “She’s not afraid to do the weirder things on stage and to take those risks. She is also very responsible and respectful when it comes to being an actor. She’s willing to share her ideas but also take mine into consideration.”

Cast members of AHSPA also agree that Bhide’s diligence in theater stands out. Vanessa Hinh (12), who worked with Bhide in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, said, “Tanvi is super hardworking, and she knows what she’s doing. She is also always so fun to work with because she’s super bright and energetic so it’s really fun to just joke around with her.”

Nathan Kao (12), the choreographer for the current musical Urinetown also said, “I remember watching Tanvi playing Titania in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and she was really, really good at embodying her character.”

As a senior, Bhide also inspires younger students in theater to step out of their comfort zone and take responsibility. “She is definitely a model student and I know younger students look up to her, wanting to do what she can do,” said Ms. Benedetti.

Bhide’s favorite aspect of the productions she has participated in is being a part of the larger theater community and performing with people. She said, “I love the pre-show adrenaline because we have put in so much hard work, and it is so rewarding to be able to finally show that to the audience.”

As Bhide prepares to graduate, she reflected on the lasting impact theater has made on her high school experience and the strong sense of community she has found within it. When asked about pursuing theater in university, Bhide said, “I don’t know yet. We’ll see where the wind takes me.”