Success Feed
Student Experience
Homepage
Imagine Mary Poppins with a bold, beautiful edge of style, swagger and personality. The whimsy is still there. The compassion for others undeniably strong and ceaseless.
And with a wink and a nod to her signature song of "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious," the face of Mary Poppins is transformed into Savannah Cooper '23, who embodies all those traits. It is the type of imaginative splendor that makes musical theatre a wondrous endeavor for performer and spectator alike.
For
Cooper,
the
lead
role
of
Mary
Poppins
(albeit
in
its
traditional
portrayal)
in
her
high
school
musical
was
a
pinnacle
moment
that
combined
her
love
of
all
things
Disney
with
a
career
path
that
led
her
from
Lexington,
Kentucky,
to
BW.
"My love for performing began at the age of two when I began taking classes. As a little girl, I found comfort in pink tights, sparkly black leotards and ballet shoes," she fondly recalled.
"Those classes soon grew into tap, jazz, lyrical, hip-hop and more. Dance was my first love and eventually led me to vocal and acting lessons.
"There were two main reasons I felt drawn to BWMT. The first was the supportive and encouraging environment that felt like family. The second reason was the incredible amount of diversity within the program," she noted.
"I am biracial and really wanted to attend a school that prioritized diversity and inclusivity. The MT program is made up of many incredible BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) students. It's a tight-knit, amazing community of artists and students," stated Cooper.
Grit is a cornerstone of Cooper's childhood that helped her endure unrelenting pain and rare medical diagnoses of tethered cord syndrome and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. At age seven, she underwent major spine surgery to release her spinal tether and had to relearn how to walk.
Though the surgery was a success, Cooper continues to face chronic medical challenges related to Ehlers-Danlos. But rather than allow them to be limitations, she confidently triumphs over them as stepping stones to her dream of becoming a Broadway performer as well as being the spokesperson for her non-profit organization - SavSTRONG.
"Through
my
non-profit
organization,
I
have
been
able
to
speak
to
students,
physicians,
patients
and
families,
as
well
as
the
general
community
about
chronic
illness.
Being
able
to
share
my
story
with
the
world
helps
me
to
stay
motivated
and
push
through
the
daily
obstacles
I
face,"
she
said
in
an
article
she
wrote
for
Lovewhatmatters.
Currently performing as Florinda in BW's production of "Into the Woods," Cooper recently appeared in a Netflix movie shooting in Cleveland as a featured dancer. In the spring, she will be choreographing BW's music theatre production of "The Lightning Thief" at Playhouse Square.
"My goal is to work professionally in the world of theatre, which includes regional theatre across the country and Broadway. I also would like to pursue television and film acting, as well as dancing on screen for those mediums," she noted.
"The BWMT and Conservatory of Music faculty have given me endless opportunities," emphasized Cooper. "Victoria Bussert provides us with amazing connections that set us up for incredible success. I am SO lucky to be a BWMT!"
