Camp Alum, Jillian Butler first came to the Young Actor’ Theatre Camp solely as a dancer, and since then YATC has had the immense privilege of watching Jillian push herself into a triple threat and beyond. Jillian defines dedication to the craft by setting goals and using her creativity and work ethic to achieve them. It may surprise those who do not personally know Jillian, but she is never one to turn down a request for help. No matter how dedicated she is to being the strongest performer she can be, Jillian never turns down the opportunity to help a friend run lines for an audition or give notes on a song. The importance of supporting one another in an artistic community makes it easier for art to heal the world.
Unsurprisingly, Jillian has been a part of 3 very successful musical national tours since graduating from college in 2015. From a step sister in Cinderella, to the understudy of both Nessa Rose and Glinda in Wicked, Jillian is now shining as Cosette in Les Miserables in the national tour. Two of the three YATC directors were lucky enough to seen Jillian in action as she made her way home to, San Francisco.
“It’s a truly beautiful thing to watch someone you’ve grown up with, live their dream. It makes me so proud to know the phenomenal person behind the phenomenal performer,” says Associate Director, Valerie Dohrer.
More importantly than her success in show business is that Jillian has the kindest heart of anyone we know. As a counselor, her campers described her as a Disney Princess because of her gentle patience and heart-warming smile. We are proud to have Jillian as part of all of our lives. We know that in the blink of an eye, Jillian is going to be taking home her first, of many, Tony Awards!