Junior Natalie Mosakowski is a performer; from her short-lived childhood career as a playwright to her dedication to competitive dance, she’s always been intrigued by the arts. Over the past nine years, her love for performing arts has developed into an infatuation with theater.
Mosakowski’s initial interest in theater developed after she watched her first-ever play, “Aladdin.” “I absolutely fell in love,” she said. “I told my mom, one day, I’m gonna be up there.” The show was a production by Stages Theatre Company, a youth performing arts theater that Mosakowski later joined.
Mosakowski began performing arts with Stages Theatre Company when she was ten; now, Mosakowski is working on her twelfth production with the company.
During her time with Stages Theatre Company, Mosakowski has been typecast as “comedic relief.” Her background in dance helps her achieve the over-the-top delivery that humorous roles often require. Although she’s accustomed to using physicality to portray a character, Mosakowski considers comedic characters tricky to play. “I truly think comedic characters are the hardest, because they’re witty and funny, but the entire purpose of your character is dependent on if the audience laughs at you,” Mosakowski said.
To Mosakowski, making a character resonate with the audience is extremely rewarding. One of her favorite aspects of theater is the relationship she has with an audience when performing. “You can just relate with people [through performing] in a way that transcends reality; you can bring a person in and have fun in your own little world,” she said.
Both on and off stage, Mosakowski has built a positive reputation at Stages Theatre Company. Hayley Guevara, an English teacher at Edina High School, has kids who perform at Stages Theater Company with Mosokowski, and she praised how lively and positive Mosokowski is to work with. “She’s one of the bubbliest, most earnest people I know… She works hard to make connections with people and the connections she makes are so sincere,” Guevara said.
Mosakowski will continue working with Stages Theatre Company for the rest of high school. After she graduates, she hopes to be involved with theater in college. “It’s such a huge part of my life, and I don’t want it to go away,” she said.

This piece was originally published in Zephyrus’ print edition on November 30, 2023.