By Dani Tietz
Aera Boateng is making her mark in the world of theater.
An employee at the Mahomet Public Library and graduate of Mahomet-Seymour, Boateng’s journey into the world of acting began when she joined the drama club during her freshman year.
Although she didn’t have a strong interest in acting initially, the experience ignited a spark within her, and over time, she developed a deep passion for the craft.
“I really enjoy a good story, and even more than that, I enjoy telling stories,” she said. “It’s sort of why I chose my major (Creative Writing) because stories have played an important part of my life. Acting allows me to embrace a different side of storytelling that’s immersive in a way I don’t usually get from writing.”
Being on stage is nothing new for Boateng. After her time at Mahomet-Seymour High School, she has gone on to participate in two musicals produced by University of Illinois Urbana Champaign’s RSO and Illini Student Musicals.
Finding opportunities to continue to learn was on the forefront of Boateng’s mind going into the summer of 2023. She found a spot with the Champaign-Urbana Theater as the understudy for the role of Constance Blackwood in The Station Theatre’s “Ride The Cyclone.”
The musical follows a group of six teenagers from a small town called Uranium City, who tragically meet their end in a roller coaster accident at a local amusement park called the Cyclone. However, they are given the chance to tell their stories and compete for a final shot at life in a surreal and mystical limbo.
Constance Blackwood is portrayed as the “nice girl” of the group, known for her kindness and sweet nature. She is compassionate and caring, always putting others before herself. Constance dreams of becoming a nun, and her aspirations are deeply rooted in her religious beliefs. Her character is marked by a sense of innocence and purity, which resonates with many audience members.
“I empathize with Constance, as a character, a lot,” she says. “As someone who quite literally grew up in a small town, a lot of her feelings about being stuck in Uranium City sort of resonated with my own worries about not being able to grow past living in Mahomet. It’s sort of a worry a lot of small town kids have—that they’ll never leave their town, and it’s really well captured in “Ride The Cyclone.” I also feel like Constance and I are similar in some ways—being the “nicest girl in town” and sort of feeling boxed into an archetype of a person that isn’t truly me. Constance has a lot of depth to her, and I hope to be able to show that during my performances.”
Boateng acknowledges the common fear shared by many small-town residents—the fear of being confined to a limited world. Through Constance’s character, Boateng hopes to portray the depth and complexity of human emotions, inviting the audience to introspect and relate.
For Boateng, being part of the Champaign-Urbana theater scene has been an exciting journey. Although this is her first experience in community theater, she feels grateful to have stumbled upon the opportunity.
“This cast is a really fun combination of people,” she said. “Everyone is really friendly, and it makes for a very warm and welcoming environment to practice in. Everyone has been really respectful of each other’s boundaries and very open-minded to each other and each other’s interpretations of their characters.
“It’s also just a really talented group of people. The majority of the cast has either graduated with a degree in Acting or Musical Theater or is currently majoring in it.”
As the opening night approaches, Boateng is excited about the messages “Ride The Cyclone” will convey to its spectators.
“The musical, more than anything, is a lesson on life,” she said “Life is what you make it. Whether you die at 80 or 18, the meaning of your life comes from you and no one else.”
Through her performance, Boateng hopes to inspire the audience to reflect on the choices they make and the impact they have on their own lives and the lives of others.
“Ride the Cyclone” will continue at Urbana’s The Station Theatre August 3 to 6 and 10 to 13. Tickets can be purchased here.
