For Isa Rodriguez, stepping onto the stage at the Baruch Performing Arts Center in New York City to perform in “We Foxes” was more than just another role. It was the realization of a dream sparked years earlier by watching a rehearsal of that same play at Michigan State University where it was presented as part of the imáGen collaboration, now known as the New Musical Laboratory, that unites Broadway professionals and Michigan State University students in the development of a new musical production.
A Lansing, Michigan, native and 2021 MSU graduate with a BFA in Acting, Rodriguez was among the musical cast of “We Foxes – in Concert,” which was part of Prospect Theatre Company’s 2025 IGNITE Concert Festival this past April. The musical thriller by Ryan Scott Oliver, presented in collaboration with Actor Therapy New Works and Very Intense Productions, marked a professional milestone for Rodriguez, one rooted deeply in her undergraduate experience.
“As I prepared to perform in ‘We Foxes,’ I was reminded of where I was in my first month of my freshman year at MSU,” Rodriguez said. “As the new incoming acting students, we had the honor of watching a rehearsal of ‘We Foxes’ by Ryan Scott Oliver. Through the imáGen, New Musical Laboratory program, I was witnessing professionals in action. I remember thinking to myself, ‘I will do whatever it takes to get to a place like THAT.’”
Now, more than seven years later, Rodriguez found herself performing in the very show that once inspired her. Sharing the stage with Broadway names like Katie Thompson and Kerstin Anderson, she credits MSU’s Department of Theatre with giving her the technical training as well as a sense of belonging and purpose.
“While the Department of Theatre may not have the same recognition as MSU’s sports teams, to me, it is as vital to the university as any of its most celebrated programs,” she said. “It is within this small, vibrant community that I found my true calling and a sense of home.”
Rodriguez’s journey to “We Foxes” was shaped by the program’s focus on craft, character, and community. Under the guidance of MSU’s Department of Theatre faculty, she learned to embrace the uncertainty of the artistic process and to pursue authenticity over perfection.
“From Rob Roznowski, I learned that forgetting lines often means I haven’t fully analyzed my character’s thought process. From Brad Willcuts, I learned the power of persistence — that sometimes the magic comes with one more attempt, one more take. And from Karen Kangas-Preston, I learned to question what makes theatre so powerful and how we, as artists, can tell stories that resonate with others,” Rodriguez said. “MSU taught me to trust the process, and most importantly, to trust myself.”
Rodriguez also shared an invaluable lesson instilled by her professors: the worth of an artist isn’t defined by a resume or a job title.
“Your worth isn’t about the number of jobs you’ve booked; it’s about the dedication to your craft and the stories you work to tell,” she said. “If the opportunities you want aren’t there, create them.”
Now based in New York City and working alongside her mentors Ryan Scott Oliver and Lindsay Mendez, Rodriguez carries the MSU spirit with her as she continues to stay curious, determined, and grateful for the foundation she laid in East Lansing.
“The magic of the Department of Theatre came to life through its people,” she said. “Some of the most talented, hardworking artists I’ve had the privilege of working with were my classmates. The students of Michigan State University are driven, passionate, and determined to succeed. Once you’re a Spartan, you’re always a Spartan. And Spartans WILL.”
This story originally appeared on the College of Arts and Letters website.