When Pierce Romey arrived at Shippensburg University in 2020, he was unsure of what career he wanted to pursue. Now as he prepares to graduate, he expresses himself as an editor, an actor and a fashion icon of our campus. As one of the last Theatre minors at Shippensburg, Romey discussed how his theatre and English courses helped to develop his identity during his career. 

“That’s where I really felt I could express myself most, because I was a very reserved and quiet person for the longest time,” Romey said. “Stepping into theatre is where I really started to branch out and develop who I was, because I was able to express myself I hadn’t before.” 

Romey shared that after his first semester as a Biotech major, he immediately realized that his passions did not lie within that major. Once he began to take courses for the theatre minor, he not only knew he was where he wanted to be, but he also discovered endless possibilities for self-expression. Romey shared that growing up, he wore neutral tones and button-ups. After feeling more comfortable in his major, Romey decided to take more risks with his style. 

“People who don’t wear color are weird to me,” Romey said. “There are days here I want to wear all black, but there are also days where I want to wear as many colors as possible, so I figure, ‘why not stay stuck in people’s minds?’” Romey shared that during his transition between middle and high school, he swore to himself never to wear sweatpants again. “It’s something that I stand by. For some reason in my head I always think, 'sweatpants equals lazy,’” Romey said. “I don’t dress for other people, I dress for myself, and if I feel good with what I’m wearing, that means I’m going to have a good day.”

Romey said that one of the theatrical roles that helped to develop his identity was putting a feminine spin on the role of Audrey II in the musical Little Shop of Horrors. Romey said he drew inspiration from entertainers such as Bob the Drag Queen in his interpretation of the character, later motivating him to pursue drag when he first tried out for Shippensburg’s performance of Rocky Horror Picture Show. Romey scored his dream role of Dr. Frankenfurter as a sophomore and went on to direct the production alongside senior and fellow English major Piper Kull in the fall of 2023. 

Romey has found opportunities to express himself through drag at Shippensburg events, experimenting with different looks for productions of Rocky and at APB’s Met Gala event his sophomore year. Romey also enjoys practicing with makeup in the comfort of his own room.

Romey described himself as more of a “quiet kid” when immersing himself in new environments, such as his freshman year, when he joined choir and band. He shared that once he became a sophomore, he grew to be more social and outspoken. 

Romey said he enjoyed being a member of the English department because he enjoys discussing books and reflecting upon their interpretations of the text. “It causes me to slow down and really think of life as a whole and the experiences of others, trying to understand what the characters and the author are going through.”

Romey shared that Professor Irwin recommended that he become a Writing Fellow for Shippensburg in the spring of his freshman year. Romey has since enjoyed helping students improve their writing in Dauphin Humanities Center. “It even helps me brush up on my skills, because I’m not the greatest writer in the world, but teaching them what I know and sharing my mistakes and writing strategies is so rewarding.” 

Romey said that his passion for improving the writing techniques of others motivated him to become co-managing editor for Shippensburg’s undergraduate academic journal, Write the Ship. “Even academic writing is a form of self-expression, because you’re writing about what interests you,” Romey said. “It’s so beautiful to put together a publication made up of the work of your peers and celebrate their passions at work.” 

Romey has said he has always wanted to take the Children’s Theatre course that used to be offered before the theatre minor stopped being offered. “I think there needs to be a combined effort to bring back theatre, because it is such an important art form,” Romey said. “Theatre isn’t just about memorizing lines or putting on plays. It’s about learning how people act in different cultures throughout the world, self-expression, and finding yourself. It’s about being able to identify traits you may not have found within yourself.” 

Throughout his career, Romey has learned that while his experiences and beliefs may differ from others, he has learned to always remain mindful of others. “You can be authentically true to yourself, but you never want to step on anyone else’s authenticity,” Romey said. “As long as you are being mindful that someone else is living their authentic truth while you’re living yours, I think that’s what life is about.” 

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