By Katie Hudson-Martinez/feature editor

Holding her breath, she waits for the curtain to rise, but it is not fear that has left her breathless but sheer joy and excitement.

Courtney Morris, a theater major on SE Campus, is performing in her ninth stage play now through May 4 at the Pantagleize Theatre Co. in east Fort Worth.

“The play is called Little Eyolf,” Morris said. “It is a fantastic story about a family with a lot of problems coming to terms with the mistakes they’ve made.”

The play, written in 1894 by Henrik Ibsen, features a married couple with relationship issues, struggling to parent a disabled child when tragedy strikes.

Taking patrons on an up-and-down journey of human imperfections and realities, the plot is at times dark but ultimately fulfilling.

Morris, who most recently performed in Proof on SE Campus, lives a busy life. She is a full-time student and spends most of her free time studying or rehearsing.

“It is rare for there to be a time when I am not involved in one play or another,” she said. “It’s basically my whole life.”

Morris admits it is a big commitment, but said there is nothing else she would rather do.

“I love to be on stage—telling a story and escaping into character for a while,” she said. “It’s like a little kid playing dress-up in Mom’s closet.”

And Morris has done a lot of dressing up.

Playing everything from High School Musical to her all-time-favorite role as Frenchie in Grease, she has done both comedy and drama and is happy doing either (or even something in between).

“People have told me that my strength is in drama, but I can do whatever they need from me,” she said. “Every once in a while you find something that is both serious and fun, and that’s always great.”

She said she has been pleased with TCC’s theater program. The whole gang she has worked with and the instructors in particular have motivated her to work hard and have kept her excited about acting.

“They are all great people, and very dedicated,” she said. “I could not have asked for better instructors—seriously.”

Morris plans to transfer to a four-year university and earn a bachelor’s degree in theater. She said ideally she would like to move to New York or Chicago and try her hand at a larger audience. And although she is not averse to trying film or television, she said her first love is the stage.

Morris has drawn a great inspiration from Audrey Hepburn and has all her movies at home.

She also prides herself on being somewhat of a movie buff, and loves to see the latest movies whenever they come out in the theaters.

With such a busy schedule, she doesn’t have a lot of spare time—but when she does, like most young women her age, she just loves to hang out with her family and friends.

“My parents have always been really supportive of me,” she said. “For many years they drove me to rehearsals and performances and have practiced lines with me; they are the absolute best.”

Morris said she doesn’t exactly know yet what the future holds for her, but she does know she is going to continue performing on her home away from home—the stage.

For more information or to purchase tickets to Little Eyolf visit the Pantagleize Theater Co. Web site at www.PantaTheatre.org or call 817-472-0032.