Breaking Stereotypes, Expanding Identity
When a varsity athlete plays a lead role in the musical, joins the ensemble, plays in the orchestra, or is part of the stage crew, something important happens culturally. Peers begin to see that strength and sensitivity, power and expression, can coexist. These students model permission for others to explore interests without fear of labels.
The cast, crew, and orchestra of Big Fish include 26 student-athletes who play in 11 different sports at Saint Viator. Sports represented by this talented Big Fish team include swimming, cross country, track and field, volleyball, flag football, bowling, wrestling, softball, golf, tennis, and cheerleading.
By supporting athletes in the arts—and artists in athletics—schools send a clear message: you are allowed to be complex. You are allowed to be more than one thing.
At its core, education is not just about producing high test scores or winning records. It’s about developing capable, confident, empathetic human beings. Students who balance athletics and musical theater engage their minds, bodies, and emotions in meaningful ways. They learn time management, resilience, self-expression, and empathy—skills that extend far beyond graduation.
Colleges and employers increasingly value this kind of multidimensional experience. But more importantly, students themselves benefit from discovering that growth doesn’t happen in silos. The confidence gained from a standing ovation can fuel performance on the field; the grit learned in practice can carry a performer through opening night nerves.
