Jack Cellucci ’24 | Danity Pike ’27
“Quirky, caring, and creative” are a few adjectives that seniors Cate Curatolo ’24 and William Esterhai ’24 would use to best describe Lindsay Knight ’24. Since arriving at EA as a freshman during the pandemic, Knight has made it her mission to pursue all that EA offers. She began learning Latin, even though she had never taken the language before. She joined the dance team for the first time this year after diving for three years. She participated in the spring musical Godspell her freshman year, and has continued to grace the EA stage since.
Growing up, Knight always loved theater, and her entry into EA initiated her enthusiasm for acting. She explains, “I wasn’t really able to pursue it until I’ve done my freshman year here.” Knight was inspired by the bright lights and large stage when seeing past shows at EA, such as Grease and Les Miserables. She comments, “I knew as soon as I stepped onto this campus, I was gonna be on that stage!”
Knight has certainly made an impact on this stage. Last year, she played “Morticia” in The Addams Family musical, and she will be seen this spring performing as “Fastrada” in Pippin. Knight’s characterization has always been impressive, diving into roles with confidence and humor. Mr. Dan Clay, the chair of the theater department, describes his favorite aspects of her performances. He comments, “I think she’s not afraid to go for it. She doesn’t hold back in her performances, which speaks to a real sense of confidence. She states, ‘I’m going to be myself, I’m going to express that, and I’m not going to apologize for it.’” Knight commits her full self to a character when on stage, which is a skill every actor aspires to have. According to Mr. Erwin, you might even forget it’s her—with her animated expressions and acted-out lyrics, she can convince any audience of her role.
Photo courtesy of Ellen Erikson
Exploring her passion for theater, she made her way into the Domino Club and the Domino Board. Clay emphasizes her ability to be a leader for the community, stating, “I think her sense of humor inspires other students. She takes the work seriously, but she also balances a sense of joy and fun with it, which is really important in what we do.” Knight makes fellow cast members feel at ease and lighthearted at rehearsals, while still putting full effort into her craft.
Knight not only holds mastery for acting, but also for vocals. She often performs at Open Mic Nights, Dora Khayatt, and Chapel with unique song choices and soulful technique. At Head of School Dr. T.J. Locke’s most recent Conference Room Concert, Knight sang “Orange Colored Sky”—a jazz piece that even Mr. Jim Erwin, the choir director, did not know. He notes, “Everything that she brings for me to accompany is unique. I play a lot of jazz piano, but I had never heard “Orange Colored Sky” before… She always picks these kinds of unusual songs; she’s attracted to the unusual things about art and life, which I love about her. She’s truly a unique person.”
Knight puts her spin and personality into her music, venturing into unknown territory and conquering it nonetheless. Clay highlights her incredible courage when entering new disciplines that seem scary, and her dedication to success in each one. She paves her own path in the arts and will continue to past her high school career.
Knight has also had a unique college process. Over the summer, she realized acting was her passion; one she’d be willing to turn into a career. With this discovery came a lot of college applications but also a lot of college auditions. The college audition process for prospective theater majors is a uniquely demanding procedure. Actors must first submit “pre-screens” – audition videos submitted to each program. From there, applicants will go through a series of in-person auditions supplemented by audition portfolios. Knight says, “It’s been a really stressful process, but in a way I already feel like a professional, kind of like a starving artist… I’m really excited to expand my toolbox of acting techniques and grow as a person in college.”
Erwin describes, “Every year when seniors graduate, it’s so hard because you see these kids and you watch them grow, and then they go off to college. So I’m really, really happy for her, but I also will really, really miss her.” Lindsay will be graduating in less than two months from Episcopal Academy, along with the rest of the class of 2024. There is no doubt her artistry, determination, and mentorship have left an indelible mark on this community.