From “The Whack-a-doo Zoo,” to “Sweeney Todd,” to “Les Miserables,” Ethan Underhill has been in every musical during his time at Enloe, and pretty much every play under the sun. Known for his passion, energetic performances, and goofy antics, Ethan is a well-loved personality in the Enloe theater community.
While most of Ethan’s theatre career has been in high school, he’s always been talented. “All the second graders did a 30-minute show where I played the lead. So I guess technically, that was my first show. It was called ‘The Wack-a-doo Zoo.’ I was a speech professor from a local university trying to teach animals how to say the right words because they weren’t doing it correctly,” says Ethan.
Ethan is always on the cast list, but frequently takes on the burden of playing the understudy. He learns the lines, music, and blocking of a major character, but never gets to actually perform as that character on stage. Ethan describes the taxing nature of the responsibility by saying, “It is very frustrating at times, definitely very thankless. I put in all this work and there’s no payoff … last year during the [Actors Ensemble] show we did ‘Putnam County Spelling Bee,’ and I understudied two major roles in that show, while also playing three of my own. That was quite a rough couple of months.” This is where Ethan’s passion and commitment to his craft really shines. While he doesn’t receive the same glory under the spotlight, he works just as hard to contribute to something he cares about.
The “understudy curse,” as Ethan describes it, can be very challenging, but might also be a blessing in disguise. “I’ve told myself for years, if I went literally anywhere else … I would be a powerhouse, but Enloe is surrounded by such talent that it pushes me to be better … That is something very special about the Enloe theater community,” says Ethan. He gets the opportunity to consistently learn from the talent around him and develop his skills, even if he doesn’t spend as long on stage.
One such showcase of his growth was his work in the 2024 Spring Musical. Last year he starred as the Bishop in Enloe’s production of “Les Miserables” (or “Les Mis”), captivating audiences and performers with his vocal talent and character mastery. “Ethan in ‘Les Mis’ was absolutely wild to be around. He was so talented and also incredibly charismatic. On stage he commanded attention, especially in his scene with Emma and myself. I’ll never forget the immediate switch between the characters he played,” says Noah Medlin, a fellow actor who played Javert in the same production.
“It was my first role that really left an impact that was designed to make the audience feel something … It was really exciting to finally get to affect the audience as a person, and not just as a member of a collective, but making the choices, and whatever I decide is how the audience is going to feel,” says Ethan. His empowering performance was a reminder of why he does theatre and a sign of the talent Enloe Theatre has cultivated in him. Nate recaps his growth: “Ethan’s biggest strength that he has continued to grow is his ability to craft a character. I think what separates him from his past self, however, is that he doesn’t just create a character anymore, but he puts himself into it. There is more genuine emotion in the character he plays, whether or not he can relate to who he is playing, that makes it that much more captivating to watch.”
While his theatre career may seem all-consuming, Ethan’s passion stretches broadly beyond the spotlight. He has been a dedicated Boy Scout for much of his life. He recently earned the rank of Eagle Scout by working with Five Hearts Therapeutic Horsemanship, an organization that helps neurodivergent and special needs children grow and develop through horseback riding. For his project, Ethan built benches for kids in the program. “Scouts has definitely been a cornerstone of my life,” says Ethan. Only 4% of people in the scouting program achieve the rank of Eagle Scout, doing so is a testament to his dedication to making his community a better place. “It’s really exciting to finally be able to look back and say, I did what very few people do. I achieved the rank of Eagle Scout, and that is something that I’ll carry with me for the rest of my life.”
Finally, Ethan’s impact on Enloe is undeniable. His passion and enthusiasm is a constant in arts classrooms, and he helps guide others around him. “Ethan was the first upperclassman to really take me in. During honors chorus last year we both managed to make it in … and he helped me all the way through,” says Noah. Ethan left us with one last piece of advice for those looking to enter theatre. He explained aspiring actors should “Audition for everything … and also just [be] your own cheerleader … This whole industry is no after no after no, and it is [about] having the perseverance and the self confidence to let those nos run off your back and keep going.”
Looking to the future, Ethan plans to pursue a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre at Southeast Missouri State University. You can bet he will bring his booming voice and outgoing personality to whatever production he does next. From The Eagle’s Eye, we encourage you to relentlessly pursue your dreams and wish you the best of luck.
