Walnut Hill: From Blank Walls to Bold Performances
When you step into Studio 36 at Walnut Hill School for the Arts, you’re immediately struck by its simplicity. The small, white-walled space carries a quiet charm, reached by a creaky wooden ramp and a plain metal door.
Inside, bright fluorescent lights flick on, sometimes jarring at first, but for Judy Nadel, a theater student at Walnut Hill, this unassuming room is something more. It’s a space of transformation.
“Something about it… I go into that space and I know I’m going to work.”
In Studio 36, Judy has spent countless hours rehearsing, experimenting, and growing, developing not only her craft, but her confidence as a performer.
Learning to Take Bold Creative Risks
Studio 36 is intentionally simple, and that’s exactly what makes it powerful.
With its blank, white walls and open layout, the room becomes a canvas. For Judy, that simplicity makes it easier to fully immerse herself in a scene, imagining any setting and stepping completely into character.
“It’s like a blank canvas that you can paint whatever setting you want onto.”
But the space itself is only part of the story. What truly brings Studio 36 to life are the people inside it.
Teachers like Nicole Soriano infuse the room with warmth, encouragement, and energy, creating an environment where students feel safe to take risks.
“She walks into that room and that’s the energy that she puts out. She is such a welcoming, lovely, and talented teacher.”
In this environment, Judy has learned to push beyond surface-level performance. Through techniques like focusing on active, external verbs, or playing actions rather than emotions, she’s expanded her range and deepened her connection to her work.
That growth has empowered her to take on bold, unexpected roles, like Maria Josefa in The House of Bernarda Alba, a character that challenged her to go bigger, louder, and further than she thought possible.
“I want to make the bravest and boldest choices in my art, because being surrounded by the most caring team of teachers and an incredibly talented, supportive group of peers, has made me feel safe and empowered to do so.”
Meet James, a Walnut Hill cellist and critical thinker who’s discovered how the arts and academics can come together to shape both his musicianship and his understanding of the world.
Finding Home in the Spaces Between
While Studio 36 is central to Judy’s artistic growth, it’s not the only place that has shaped her experience at Walnut Hill.
Tucked inside a dorm, Judy and her friends have created their own space, affectionately called “Narnia.” Filled with fairy lights, laughter, and late-night conversations, it’s where friendships deepen and memories are made.
“A lot of what I associate Walnut Hill with is that place… we’ve had so many laughs there… conversations that changed the trajectory of my life.”
At Walnut Hill, spaces matter, but it’s the people who define them.
Judy describes a community where students feel seen, supported, and encouraged to be fully themselves. That sense of belonging gives her the confidence to take creative risks.
“Being surrounded by the most caring team of teachers and an incredibly talented, supportive group of peers has made me feel safe and empowered to make the bravest and boldest choices in my art.”
Meet Roma, a Walnut Hill visual art student who discovered that stepping beyond her comfort zone, from ceramics to sculpture and beyond, could transform not only her art, but her confidence and sense of possibility.
Shaped as an Artist and as a Person
As Judy looks toward the future, she’s considering pursuing acting, possibly in film, or even abroad in England.
But wherever she goes next, one thing is certain: Walnut Hill has already left a lasting mark.
Beyond technique and performance, it has given her the tools to express herself fully, and the confidence to trust her voice.
“At the end of the day, being here is shaping me not only into a passionate actress, but a person I’m proud to be.”
Enjoyed Judy’s story? Walnut Hill is more than a school - it’s a place to belong. To learn more about our theater community and the application process, click here.