Class of 2029: Livia Bolster, a rising star

The curtain rises

Bolster has been on stage since she was about seven years old.

“I was a super emotional kid,” Bolster recalls. “A song that I’d love would come on and I would burst into tears. My parents wondered how I could filter that emotion for something creative or for an activity.”

They found Horizons Theatre Company in Atlanta, and Bolster began acting in various productions through that group. She found her calling.

As she got older, she dove into every production at her school, Midtown High School in Georgia. 

“I did every single show opportunity,” says Bolster, who successfully balanced theatre with academics. Case in point: She was recognized as an AP Scholar for her scores on exams and received Honor Roll at her school. Dedicated to service, Bolster also spent every summer for the past four years teaching English to children across Latin America, particularly in Guatemala. She says these service trips have been a huge part of her life — and one that she loves. 

She did it all while following her passion and earning 2,000 hours in theatre-related extracurricular activities, for which she received status as an International Honor Thespian (the highest level of membership in the International Thespian Society).

“Theatre was the thing I wanted to do,” Bolster says. “We did five shows a year and everybody could audition. I also did three more shows my senior year through a separate class.”

But acting isn’t the only superpower Bolster has.

She competed in the ballroom dancing circuit for years. Her favorite dances? Bachata, salsa, merengue and foxtrot. And, with her singing skills — which she’s developed through musical theater performances — Bolster is something of a triple threat.

“Doing musical theatre is perfect,” Bolster explains about her choice of major. “It involves every single aspect of performance. Acting, singing and dancing. Each aspect lets you connect to the art in a different way, from a different perspective.”

The show goes on — at FIU

When it was time to search for college, Bolster knew she’d continue pursuing theatrical studies.

She was interested in attending college in Miami, thanks in part to a visit with her mom in which she saw a salsa burlesque performance that made her want to move to the ‘305’.

Bolster found her way to FIU, and the university became her top choice. The decisive factor: the campus tour.

“I expected a normal tour,” Bolster recalls. “But when we mentioned that I was into theatre, the tour guide literally pulled us into the Theatre Department and asked folks there if they could give us a tour. They did. They spent genuine time with us. I toured the theatre areas, and I saw the stage [in the Nicole and Herbert Wertheim Performing Arts Center]. I liked getting that one-on-one tour.”

The next stage

As Bolster reflects on her goals for her FIU journey ahead, she says she’s ready to continue growing and to embrace all the opportunities that come her way. She’s hoping to perform in FIU productions — and to hone her skills.

“One of the things I’m hoping to do is expand my knowledge and abilities in dance,” she says. She’s particularly looking forward to taking dance classes at FIU.

Off-stage, Bolster is also planning to get involved. “I’m super excited to meet new people at FIU,” Bolster says, “and I’m planning to do sorority recruitment. I’m really excited to make a new start in a new city.”

Bolster’s dream? “Film acting,” she says. “That’s my goal. I like the idea of doing work with films, whether acting or behind the scenes. This degree is going to help me keep all my career options open. Whether I lean toward one area like theatre or dance or acting, I’ll be ready to do all three.”

Keep your eyes peeled. You might just see Bolster on the screen — or on the stage — doing what she loves the most: bringing characters to life.