To Thine Own Self Be True — How A UVU Student’s Love for Theatre Has Shaped His Life and Future

Small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, the Tony Award medallion is recognizable to any theatre lover and represents the most prestigious global recognition for live Broadway theatre. During the summer Tyler McCabe, one of Utah Valley University’s School of the Arts theatre majors spent his break working at the Tony Award-winning nonprofit, The Muny, in St. Louis, Missouri. His experience is a shining example of the many opportunities that the School of the Arts prepares students through their education.  
 
“This is my second year here,” explained McCabe, a senior in the Bachelor of Fines Art in Acting program. “The Muny is as fast paced as it gets. I would not be able to get opportunities like this, let alone return for a second summer, if I didn’t lean in and engage with the incredible curriculum offered through the School of the Arts at UVU.”

Every summer, The Muny produces seven high caliber shows across just 13 weeks. Each show rehearses for a mere 11 days and demands the utmost commitment from the actors, crew, and staff. McCabe worked in the education department, guiding and teaching some of the best of St. Louis’ youth theatre talent. His work with young actors directly reflects his own roots in community theatre and the love of the art that is a core part of his identity. 

McCabe started his theatrical journey with the local children’s theatre in his hometown of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.  Being active in the arts from an early age helped McCabe build essential skills needed to navigate the world as he grew. “I felt it so empowering to jump into that world,” said McCabe. “As a young person, the skills of communication, adaptability, compassion, and collaboration that theatre taught me were so important to my personal development.”  

As a college student, McCabe has deepened his love of theatre through his enrollment in the School of the Arts. He has acting and assistant directing credits in various School of the Arts productions, including The Divine, Machinal, Gin Mummy, Metamorphoses, The Whole Story, and In the Garden of the Selfish Giant.  

Beyond the academic stage, McCabe dedicates his free time to creating opportunities for other students to enjoy the theatrical arts. “I am the president of the UVU Theatre Arts Guild (TAG) and have served on its council since 2022,” explained McCabe. “Our mission is to create theatre that is for the students, and by the students.” The guild produces two to three shows a year that are student directed, cast, designed, and occasionally written. McCabe co-curated the school’s first 24-Hour Theater Festival in the fall of 2024, which featured 25 UVU students and three works by UVU student playwrights. 

And when he’s not in rehearsal for School of the Arts productions or heading up guild meetings, McCabe spends his time building up the local children’s theatre in Utah County. He runs an after-school theatre club with his close friend, Jenna Bagley, at Spring Creek Elementary in Provo, Utah. McCabe has co-directed and produced Beauty and the Beast Jr. and Wizard of Oz Jr. through the club.  

“We work throughout the academic year with students in grades 1-6 to teach the foundations of theatre,” explained McCabe. “I love teaching, especially children’s theatre!” 

This coming academic year, McCabe will take on a new role as a department representative in the UVU Student Association (UVUSA), promoting the theatre program by sharing content online that highlights the quality of education to be gained, relationships to be built, and the memories to be created as a student at the School of the Arts.  

Going into this academic year, McCabe is more than ready for his final year at the UVU School of the Arts and is preparing for life after graduation. “I hope to use my education and experience to pursue professional regional work as an actor and devote my time to educating the next generation of actors,” said McCabe. For him, all the world’s a stage moving forward.