MANSFIELD, PA— To most people the thought of 
spending the summer on Cape Cod sounds wonderful, and for Mansfield University senior Sarah Polinski it was, but not for the same reasons most people would think of.
Instead of spending time on the beach, the Voice Performance/Music Education major from Sayre, PA spent the summer as a performer in the College Light Opera Company (CLOC) based in Falmouth, MA.
CLOC produced nine musicals and operettas this summer and Polinski was selected for principal roles in four of the productions. She was cast as Sarah Brown in Guys and Dolls, Valencienne in The Merry Widow, Belle in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast and Anne in A Little Night Music.
“I can honestly say that CLOC was one of the best experiences of my life,” Polinski said. “I was able to perform musical theatre and operetta, two genres that required different forms of vocal technique, staging, and acting. Performing nine shows exposed me to hundreds of pages of dialogue and music, choreography from ballet to 1920s jazz, and the experience of performing both as a lead and in the vocal company. I’ve made genuine, lifelong friendships with some of the most talented people I’ve ever met, who now I’m lucky enough to call my friends. I am so thankful for the outstanding educators who encouraged me to apply for this life-changing program, my parents and friends who traveled so far to see me, and my CLOC family who saw my potential and let it shine.”
Polinski has been part of musical and opera productions at Mansfield University and in the area, including being featured as Fiona in SHREK the Musical, as the Secretary in Menotti’s The Consul, and as Fantine in Les Miserables at MU, and as Cinderella in Into the Woods at the Arcadia Theatre in Wellsboro.
The CLOC company is selected annually from applicants studying theatre across the country and around the world. This summer was Polinski’s first time as a member of the company.
“Because of this summer, I now know that it is possible to learn, choreograph, stage and memorize a show in a week successfully,” Polinski said. “I was encouraged, challenged, and inspired to put every ounce of my time, energy and passion into my work. To do this, my colleagues and I had to rehearse for one show during the day and perform another show in the evening. For example, when I opened as Sarah Brown in Guys and Dolls, I was also rehearsing my role as Valencienne in The Merry Widow during the day. The cast, crew, music staff and directors created such a supportive, encouraging environment that made this challenging process totally worthwhile.”
And her efforts did not go unnoticed. Steve Ross, in his review of Guys and Dolls in the Cape Cod Times stated, “There are some standout performances, including Sarah Polinski’s as straight woman Sarah Brown. Wow! Polinski is spectacular in every way, from her outstanding vocals to her appearance and characterization. She is reason enough to see the musical.”
“One of my favorite memories from my summer at CLOC 
was the ‘Belle Meet and Greet’ after every show of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast,” Polinski said. “I had the opportunity to meet, take pictures, and share my ‘Disney Princess Powers’ with children who attended the show and wow, what amazing audience members they were. From onstage, I could hear their reactions to the humor, mystery, and excitement of the show, and it made the atmosphere in the theatre truly magical. Getting to see the children’s faces light up when ‘Belle’ came from backstage was so heartwarming, and it put into perspective how musicals can form beautiful connections between people, no matter what their age.”
Polinski is spending more time connecting with children this fall as she completes her student teaching assignments.
To learn more about studying music at MU, go to music.mansfield.edu