Sydney May: Loving Her Creative Life in Tulsa

Oklahoma’s commitment to the entertainment industry in recent years has brought about significant growth. From theater to music and film, there are more opportunities than ever before with continued expansion on the horizon. One person who has taken notice of this growth is Sydney May. Once a Tulsa Kid, Sydney is now a Green Country Grown-up with a heart for the city and state she calls home. She has many fond memories, including attending shows at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center with her family. Her passion for performing, like her Tulsa roots, runs deep.

Sydney May. Photo by Mindy Davidson

TK: What did you enjoy about growing up as a Tulsa kid?

Sydney: I loved growing up in Tulsa! I remember loving things like the zoo, the park and seeing shows at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center.

TK: When did you first know that you enjoyed performing?

Sydney: I grew up in a house full of music. My mom taught elementary school music before I was born. We were always singing, and I took piano lessons as a kid. In middle school, I got involved in theater, performing in the ensemble of Bye, Bye, Birdie – my first musical. That’s where my love really started.

TK: What do you enjoy about performing?

Sydney: Numerous things. I get a lot of joy out of it. As I was growing up, it was a chance for me to express myself and be creative. I’ve learned that I struggle with social anxiety, and it’s easy for me to be the best version of myself when I have a creative outlet.

TK: Tell us about your education/training.

Sydney: I took piano lessons as a kid. I started voice lessons in sixth grade. I participated in drama class in school, and it quickly became one of my favorites. In high school, I switched to choir and went on to receive a vocal music scholarship in college. I studied classical voice and participated in over a dozen musical productions while I was a student.

TK: Did you ever think about moving to a larger city, like New York City, to pursue your musical theater career?

Sydney: When I was in college, I thought I wanted to move to New York, and then I visited. I quickly realized that it wasn’t a place I wanted to live. And everything I wanted there, I have access to in Tulsa. From our wonderful parks to cool restaurants and theaters. There’s a thriving social scene and so many fun and exciting places to go and experience that didn’t exist when I was a kid.

Cabaret Road To Broadway, 2020. Photography By Oklahoma Christian University Marketing

TK: When was your first break in the business?

Sydney: After college I moved back to Tulsa and really missed performing. Theatre Tulsa announced that they were producing The Sound of Music, one of my all-time favorites. I went to audition, alongside dozens of other hopefuls, and was lucky enough to be cast in the nuns’ chorus, thus starting my time with community theater in Tulsa.

TK: Have you faced a pivotal crossroads when you have considered giving up/changing direction? If so, what did you do to overcome that doubt?

Sydney: In December of 2020 I had a tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy. This surgery for an adult is no easy feat, and I almost completely lost my ability to sing. I thought that maybe my time performing was at an end. Luckily, I was able to find an amazing vocal coach who helped me work through all my issues and taught me how to use my voice in a healthy way. It was only with her support and my personal drive to get on stage again that I was able to recover.

TK: What is the most difficult part of being a performer?

Sydney: The hardest thing for me is less about performing and more about the process. You get to spend weeks with wonderful people, all working towards the same goal, when, all of a sudden, it ends! It can be an exhausting process, often rehearsing four to five days a week. However, the people I get to work with are so talented and encouraging. I was worried I wouldn’t find such good friends as an adult. I joke that theater is my “adult extra-curricular” – not something required of me, but something that has only enriched my life.

TK: What words of advice do you have for other performers?

Sydney: As silly as it may sound, go for it! It can feel unachievable, but almost every person I’ve worked with also has a full-time job and family. We do it because we love it.

TK: Have you had a mentor? If so, how has the person helped you?

Sydney: My college director, Terry Attebury, was the first person to show me that my own perceptions of my capabilities were far too limited. He pushed me past my comfort zone and showed me how much I was capable of. We sadly lost him in 2020, and now I perform knowing he’s looking down on me with pride.

TK: What is your current project?

Sydney: You can see me in A Christmas Carol with the American Theater Company at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center. The show is scheduled to run from December 6 through December 22. This is a Tulsa tradition everyone needs to experience!

You can listen to the full interview and also learn her trick for overcoming stage fright on the Sharing Passion and Purpose Podcast. Check it out on your favorite podcasting platform or directly at: SharingPassionandPurpose.com.

Nancy A. Moore is a Public Relations Coordinator at Montreau, Adjunct Professor at Tulsa Community College, and has been writing for TulsaKids for almost 20 years.