Senior Spotlight: Cydney Krone
On Cydney Krone’s wall in her off-campus apartment hangs a poster with a man in a suit and tie and a woman in a white dress, with colorful letters that pop against the bright blue sky in the background.
The poster reads, “Vermont is for Lovers.”
The poster is for a 1992 docudrama with the same name, but that’s not why Krone has it on display. For her, it’s more of a reminder of her experience at Castleton and the people she’s met along the way.
Krone came to Castleton from Los Angeles, California, to study musical theater. She’s also a dance minor.
“I’ve always done performing, ever since I can remember. It all started at Debbie Allen Dance Academy in Los Angeles,” she said. “It’s always been my passion. Being on a stage, dancing, any sort of thing with the arts. It’s always been a choice that I’ve made. I went to a performing arts middle school and then I did performing arts in high school, so it’s always just been such a part of my life. Our whole family is full of artists.”
When Krone was looking at colleges, she knew she wanted to get out of her comfort zone and the city. Castleton checked off all the boxes.
“I wanted to go to a place where the weather, I wasn’t used to. Because in California, where I live it’s like 63 degrees every day, pretty consistent. So I knew I wanted to go to a place with snow. I really wanted to go somewhere I don’t know a single soul,” she said. “Honestly, the first thing that attracted me to Castleton was the name. I was like, ‘Castleton, that sounds so prestigious. That sounds so cute. Castleton University.’”
She immediately immersed herself in life at Castleton, finding a home and her people in the Fine Arts Center, including Theater Professor Harry McEnerny and Dance faculty Maya Kraus.
“Before Castleton, I always dreamed of being the girl who got all the leads in the shows and was popular and people liked me. Honestly, before then, I had to really fight to get roles. I was not the leading lady most of the time. When I came into those doors, the feeling of belief that Harry had in me, and made me feel enough, and that I was worth it, and worth a chance,” she said. “They continuously gave me opportunities, but they didn’t box me in. They really left the gates open to explore. You can’t grow as an artist if your mom, your dad, your professor, whoever the leader is in your life, if they don’t let you fly. They let me fly. They let me fail, and they let me succeed, and they let me do all the things you need to do to grow up.”
And opportunities she’s had.
She’s been president of Alpha Psi Omega, senior class Vice President, and artistic director of Vocal Unrest. She’s taught dance classes and choreograph faculty performances. She’s performed the roles of Sarah Brown, Brenda Strong, Sandra Bloom, Claire, and Caroline on stage. Each hold a special place in Krone’s heart, but Sarah Brown – and “Guys and Dolls,” in particular – sticks out to her.
“Every time that I look at a cast list at Castleton, it’s posted in our theater hallway. We never know when it’s going to happen. Before, I’m always panicking because I prepare so much for the audition. I remember the moment. I was walking to the theater and was going to practice, and I see a white piece of paper. I’m like, ‘Should I go back and look at it, ‘cause it’s gonna reflect how the rest of my day goes. Or shall I just keep walking?’ I was like, ‘You know what, nobody’s in here so they can’t see my reaction, so I’ll just do it, and whatever it is, it will be,’” she said. “I remember looking at that cast list and seeing my name as a freshman at the top of the list – Cydney Krone as Sarah Brown. I just remember doing a double-take. Like, was there a typo? This, that, and I just screamed because no one’s in there and I call every person who I know on my contact list. That was my first, real, real big role. That feeling will never be replicated.”
Krone’s experience at Castleton was impacted the most by the experiences she had and the people she met along the way – professors, friends, and a boy named David Roy.
“I fell in love in Vermont. He has been a huge part of my Castleton experience,” she said. “I do believe that Vermont is for lovers. Because I found David, and he has been my constant and supported me all along the way.”
Now that Krone’s had a taste of Vermont’s winters and the feeling of performing to a sold-out Casella Theater, she’s looking forward to what’s next.
“I definitely will be going back to the city. I love California, but I know I should keep my opportunities open. I am going to audition, even if that’s virtual, but I’ve also been into activism and social justice. It would be cool to find an opportunity that combines all of those things.”