DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) — Marissa Garcia is a character.
"When I was very, very young...I would never stop talking and never stop singing," Garcia said.
The sophomore music theatre major spends her days and nights honing her craft — trying to follow in the footsteps of the numerous Millikin alumni who have graced Broadway stages and movie sets.
"We want to see our students thrive and grow while they're here at school and then take what we teach them and grow on their own," said Sean Morrissey, Millikin school of theatre and dance recruitment coordinator.
The accolades for the music theatre program consistently pour in year after year. In 2015, OnStage named Millikin as one of the most underrated musical theatre schools in the Midwest. In 2016, College Magazine named the program one of the best in the country. In 2017, it was the Community for Accredited Online Schools singing Millikin's praises.
And the program is still growing. The school recently broke ground on its new Center for Theatre and Dance and should complete the project by fall of 2020.
But regardless of venue, Garcia just wants to perfect her craft and chase a dream.
"I'm hoping for Broadway," she said. "But I'm just here to share stories and entertain."
