For this Arkansas State University senior, theater is not just his major; it’s been a part of him for the past decade, now he’s ready to face the acting world with everything he has learned at A-State. 

At 13 years old, Zane Brewer was in his first-ever production. Held in a small church basement, Brewer played Aladdin in “Aladdin.” Since then, he has been hooked on all things theater. Now, he’s a senior theatre major and has been a part of more than 20 productions, including seven leading roles in productions at A-State. From actor to director to costumes to stage manager to producer, he’s been able to learn and gain experience at both A-State and within the community to help prepare him for whatever role he might be in after graduation.

“The way we do shows is very similar to the way the professional world is, because some of these professors, most of them, actually, all of them have worked professionally. So they have, they know, you know how things roll and they just try to prepare you for what is going to be expected of you when you graduate,” Brewer, from Conway, Arkansas, said. 

Brewer first met DayDay Robinson, professor of theatre at Arkansas State University and one of his mentors in the department, over Zoom while auditioning for a scholarship before his freshman year. Robinson said Brewer immediately stood out.

“My immediate reaction was, wow, this dude has a lot of energy. When I finally met him in person in fall 2022, I realized that energy came from genuine excitement. He was a student who truly wanted to be here, and it showed in every class and every time he stepped on stage,” Robinson said. 

While musical theater is his favorite genre, he’s had the opportunity to be in many different types of shows during his time at A-State. 

Since coming to A-State in 2022, Brewer has not slowed down. During his time at A-State, he has been in five shows and will be in two more before the semester is up. While in these seven shows, Brewer played one of the main characters, he’s also helped with several others, always looking for a way to stay involved. 

“Zane has so much ambition that he sometimes wants to do everything,” Robinson said. “Learning how to choose what truly serves his growth has been a huge step forward for him.”

In Summer 2025, Brewer worked for the Texas Outdoor Musical theater company, where he and others would put on a production in Palo Duro Canyon State Park. Brewer was able to put things he learned in classes to practical use and realized how similar the skills were. 

“I knew how to do certain things. I knew how to paint boxes to look like wood. I learned how to clean a shop. I learned how to build things. I learned how to sweep the stage, you know, get everybody where they need to be. I’ve learned how to be helpful. I’ve learned how to be where people need me to be, and also have multiple tasks at once, and be able to handle those without having a panic attack,” Brewer said. 

Robinson said his experience over the summer marked a turning point in Brewer’s growth, not just as a student but also as a professional actor.

“When he returned in the fall, he was the same yet vastly different. His drive became more focused, his work more professional and his goals clearer. Watching him lock in and rise to the professionalism needed to make it in this field has been incredibly rewarding,” Robinson said. 

​​In addition to performing and working professionally, Brewer found a way to help others gain experience. While at A-State, he founded Spotlight Theater, a student-run project that provided students and community members with opportunities to work onstage and behind the scenes. Through the company, Brewer helped put on shows like “Steel Magnolias,” “Misery” and “Who’s Holiday.”

The group produced “A Charlie Brown Christmas” in partnership with the Fowler Center for their last show. 

“So we paired with them, they let us use their space. We got to let the kids step in and get the experience of what it’s like having to sign a call sheet, having to work with a professional choreographer, having to perform in a professional space and getting to be in professional makeup rooms. It was just fun getting to see the kids get excited about the things that I get excited about and that other performers get excited about,” Brewer said.

Although he keeps very busy with classes, rehearsals and professional work, Brewer still makes time to make and maintain close relationships with those he cares about. Libby Wills, a junior musical theatre major from Russellville, Arkansas is just one of those people.

“We met in our Stage Makeup class my freshman year, and he decided to sit by me. After talking for a bit, he said something along the lines of ‘We’re going to be great friends,’ and all I could think was ‘Who is this guy?’ It turns out he was spot on,” Wills said. 

As his time at A-State begins to come to a close, Brewer is looking ahead to auditions, getting more professional acting credits and whatever else it takes to “be seen by everybody and be everywhere all at once.”

Categories: Arts & Entertainment, Life