By Jackson Colo 

Staff Writer 

    Chloe Howard has consistently found passion in all things theatre. Whether she is performing in the R.J. Reynolds auditorium or directing behind a production table, theatre has become an integral part of her life, which she plans to embrace throughout her next chapter. 

    “I was in my first show when I was three years old,” Howard said. “I started theatre because my sister did it. I’d say when middle school started, I sort of started to do it because I loved it. It wasn’t just because of her anymore. Theatre just became such an integral part of my life. I hadn’t known a world where I wasn’t in a show every day after school.” 

    Howard quickly found her place at RJR. Being able to pursue her passions in dance, a cappella, and theatre was only a start as she found a new passion in directing. Howard’s talent quickly grew as she went from directing in-class scenes to a full main-stage production in her short time at RJR. The one-act play Badger became a fan favorite, depicting the story of five women working at a major munitions factory during World War II. 

    “I love Badger,” Howard said. “I miss it every day. Directing my own show was frightening. No student had directed a whole show on their own before, so I didn’t have anything to go off of. Even just directing [in-class] scenes taught me more and more each year about directing.” 

     As Howard looks towards her next steps, she reflects on the time she spent at RJR and the impact that RJR had on her. 

    “I think that you get to shape your own experience at Reynolds,” Howard said. “When I got to Reynolds, I was surrounded by a lot of negative people. But now, a lot of us have decided to make it a positive environment. The last shows that I’ve done at Reynolds have made me feel more connected to everybody. You have control over making a positive environment, and I will take that with me through college and in the theatre.”