Marshall Noelken-Anderson is a tried and true member of the Limelight family. He first took the stage with us in 2014 with G36, G36: The Legend of Jack Gaines, and he’s been a dedicated Limelight participant ever since. With an extensive acting, writing and student directing resume, he’s made his mark on the Limelight community in spades.
Here’s how Marshall described his experiences with Limelight so far.
What has been your favorite role with Limelight?
I performed a few different monologues in Spoon River, but my favorite was Judge Selah Lively. In Comancheria, I played a transgender character named Monty who talked to his professor about transphobia he was facing from his peers. I absolutely love that there was an openly transgender character on Limelight stage and that I got to play that character. Representation matters so much, even (maybe even especially) in our small town arts.
Do any family members participate in Limelight?
My mom got involved volunteering as costume help when I was in Shrek: The Musical. Since then, we’ve acted in a lot of shows together. She’s always been very mindful about asking me if I’m okay with her being in the cast with me. I don’t think I’ve ever told her that I would be opposed to her being there. She has the right to creative expression, too! I’ve always been close with my mom, but through Limelight, we’ve really bonded. We run lines with each other, help each other find our characters, and being in the same cast helps a lot with family scheduling. I’d be lying if I said it hasn’t come with a few frustrations here and there, but I really do love that I share these experiences with my mom.
What’s something you’ve learned through Limelight?
One of the things I love about Limelight is all of the writing opportunities. I feel like I’ve grown so much as a writer over the years, and I think Limelight classes and peer critique has a lot to do with that.
What does Limelight mean to you?
Fuel. There have been times where I’ll have long, stressful days, and I know I have a rehearsal that night, and sometimes I don’t want to go because I’m so exhausted. Almost inevitably, about halfway through rehearsal, I realize that I’m not as tired as I was a few hours ago. Being around so many wonderful people and knowing that I can express myself safely never fails to perk me up.
Anything you’d like to add?
Limelight staff and the friends I’ve made in Limelight have turned out to be some of my biggest allies. I’ve met a lot of amazing, open people and formed some really meaningful relationships. I know that I’m always safe and supported in Limelight. I honestly think life would be a lot different for me if I hadn’t joined.
