As the lead singer of Laredo-based rock band The Jolly Ranchers, Emma Guerrero can confidently step up to a microphone. However, it wasn’t until the philosophy senior landed the lead in two on-campus theater productions that she discovered her acting abilities. 

Guerrero will star as Noah in the student-written play “A Cult Classic Vacation,” premiering as part of the University Unions’ Creative Arts + Theatre program March 2-4. This April, Guerrero will also play Mortimer Brewster in Foot in the Door’s production of “Arsenic and Old Lace.”

Guerreo said she attended the cold read for “Arsenic and Old Lace” on a whim. While waiting for her bus to arrive, she ran into a friend who invited her to join her at the audition that night.

“I didn’t even know what a cold read was,” Guerrero said. “Right off the bat, I was out of my element. I ended up staying there an hour, just trying to have fun with it. I threw props around and tried different accents. It was crazy to open the cast list email later and see my name.”

Less than a week later, Guerrero auditioned for “A Cult Classic.” Without her experience singing, Guerrero said that she would have never found the courage to audition. 

Despite her lack of acting experience, Guerrero said she pulls inspiration from her own experiences performing with the Jolly Ranchers as well as advice from her father, a local musician of thirty years. 

“It’s exactly what my dad used to say about his own concerts — he’s able to turn on his character by putting on a fedora,” Guerrero said. “So now, I have at least five hats that I put on with The Jolly Ranchers. (Singing) is just another kind of performance.”

Stephanie Pickrell, executive producer of student theater program Foot in the Door, said the program strives to cultivate a community between cast and crew.

“I joined (Foot in the Door) freshman year, and I was welcomed into a new community that I hadn’t had a chance to explore yet,” Pickrell said. “Every semester, we try to cater to people who have an interest in theater but haven’t gotten the chance to do it. We want to support them throughout the semester with a small bit of production.”

Guerrero balances her weekend concerts in Laredo with rehearsals on campus. In her attempt to maintain her hectic schedule, she said she finds similarities between her characters and real life.

“Both (Noah and Mortimer) are trying to prevent all hell from breaking loose,” Guerrero said. “They’re opposites in the way they express themselves, but they both get frustrated when the crazy people around them don’t listen. As a performer, the character both is and isn’t you — it’s an extension of yourself. Within my own life, I’m just like them, trying to keep the boat afloat.”

Rose Monroe, chair of University Unions Creative Arts + Theatre, said she feels excited about Guerrero’s upcoming performance in “A Cult Classic.”

“One of the huge selling points of a show like ‘Cult Classic’ is community,” Monroe said. “We’re a really strong community of people that have a shared interest in creative arts. Getting on a stage and performing in front of people is a skill that a lot of people don’t have naturally. Shows like ours help.” 

Guerrero said she plans to continue performing in theater productions around Austin.

“Sometimes I think I’m a little crazy for trying to do all of this,” Guerrero said. “The plays make me feel secure in myself. If I can perform in two plays as a graduating senior, there’s nothing I can’t do.”