“Theatre is the art form of the present: it exists only in the present, and then it’s gone.” – Simon McBurney

Jacob Hibbard has been under the spotlight since his sophomore year of high school. His main inspiration for getting involved with musical theatre was his old theater teacher and his friends. Jacob states, “ I was already in band and show choir, so why not add more music to my life?” During his time at his old school, he was rewarded with a lead role in his school’s production of Cinderella, but unfortunately, due to Covid, it was canceled. As he arrived at Marco Island Academy, his theater involvement progressed. 

Jacob has numerous memories from his time in the theater. One of the most cherished was the Zoom Call he experienced right before moving. His teacher allowed him to speak out to everyone and share his feelings. This led to Jacob crying, but his friends were there to cheer him up despite the sadness he felt. “I think that the bonds you make pursuing your passions are most important, and it was amazing to see the effect I could have on my friends,” says Jacob. 

His senior year has been filled with multiple highlights. One, in particular, is his involvement in the Academy of Rock and all the friends he has made in between. Graduation is a ‘terrifying’ feeling for Jacob, but he knows he must move on and start growing as a person. Jacob plans to attend Belmont University and improve his musical skills and grow as a musician.