Taking Center Stage

More than twenty years ago, ERIN SULLIVAN left Wilmington to pursue her Broadway dreams in the Big Apple. She’d also perform at regional theaters, cruise ships, and theme parks overseas. To help other performers, she later turned all of her experiences into a book, Theatrical Baggage: A Manual, Workbook and Bible on How to Survive a National Tour and Other Gigs.

In 2021, Sullivan moved back to Wilmington with the hope of contributing to the city’s cultural art scene. In January, that dream will come to fruition when she launches Center Stage Studios. Sullivan is renting space at Evolution Dance Complex near the University of North Carolina Wilmington’s campus, and her studio will offer a variety of acting and musical classes, including group classes, one-on-one lessons, and virtual coaching.

“I grew up in Wilmington,” Sullivan says. “I did my first Broadway audition when I was about nine years old, and my dad’s job relocated us down to Wilmington, which was really hard. I was kind of starting my budding career as a child actor, but then was so blessed to come to Wilmington that’s got this amazing, rich cultural scene.”

Sullivan’s decision to start Center Stage Studios was largely inspired by her desire to contribute to the education and growth of young performers in Wilmington. She also wanted to fill a need for theater classes catered to specific ages and skillsets.

“It’s a little terrifying because you’re exposing yourself and you’re putting yourself out there,” Sullivan says of building a new business. “I just looked at how huge the art talent here is.”

Sullivan designed her classes to help participants, especially teens, with confidence and public speaking. The idea, she said, is to be comfortable on center stage without necessarily being the star of the show.

“It’s so important to give back to the youth, and honestly, it’s the driving force of our output and how important art education is,” Sullivan says. “In my focus with Center Stage, it’s focusing on making the next stars out of Wilmington, but also then for those who just want to excel in a portion of their life in which they want to be more prominent and present and making them the center focus of whatever they want to develop.”