Broadway stars Desi Oakley and Noah Ricketts bring inspiration and industry know-how to Arts Academy musical theatre majors
Two students share highlights from masterclasses and one-on-one work with the actors.
Desi Oakley and Noah Ricketts
At Interlochen Arts Academy, it’s not just world-renowned faculty who show students what successful artistry looks like. Each year, numerous guest artists from the highest levels of the industry visit campus to perform, give master classes, and even offer one-on-one feedback. The Theatre Division is no exception. During fall 2025, Arts Academy theatre students worked with multitalented Broadway actors Desi Oakley and Noah Ricketts. Here, two students share what it was like to learn from these living legends—right at their arts high school.
“So inspiring”: Desi Oakley teaches dance and voice, plus industry know-how
Desi Oakley is a New York City-based actress, Broadway performer, and singer-songwriter who made her Broadway debut in Wicked, was in the original cast revival of Annie, and is currently an understudy for “Fantine” in Les Misérables. She is also known for her work in TV. Sophomore musical theatre major Emilia Ramos first met Oakley through her music studio in middle school, when she was working on an original musical, Heartless—based on Marissa Meyer’s book of the same name. The actress provided invaluable help with Ramos’ instrumentals.
“I knew it would be a great idea to connect with her,” Ramos reflects. “Her songs are beautiful and she has so much Broadway experience.”
Fast forward a few years: Ramos, now a sophomore at Interlochen, had all the actors and resources she needed and was finally ready to stage her play. She invited Oakley to see it—and it turned out that Oakley was open to teaching a masterclass as well. Ramos was thrilled to learn more from her beloved mentor.
Sophomore Emilia Ramos (left) poses with Broadway actress Desi Oakley (right) at the premiere of Heartless, the musical Ramos wrote.
“Our first class with her was a dance class that taught some choreography from Wicked,” says Ramos. “She talked about isolations and how to commit to every action. I loved seeing how what guest artists say plays off of what our faculty says. She talked about her experience in that ensemble and her experience in different Broadway shows, and we got to ask her questions.”
The second class, which Ramos found equally engaging, focused on vocal stylization and breath through a song taken from Waitress. Beyond the classes themselves, Ramos feels lucky to have spent time with someone who’s living the kind of life she wants to build.
“Learning from people like Desi is incredible,” says Ramos. ”You learn so much about the industry and it really makes me feel that a career in the arts is possible for me. Seeing people who have made a lifetime of creating beautiful art and have supported themselves in that way is so inspiring to me.”
“My musical theatre idol”: Noah Ricketts centers the joy of self-expression
Long before Noah Ricketts (IAA 09-10) came to Interlochen Arts Academy, senior musical theatre major Stacy Davis was following the actor’s progress—watching him shine as “Nick Carraway” in Broadway’s The Great Gatsby. Ricketts is also known for portraying “Kristoff” in Broadway’s Frozen and “Frankie” in the TV series Fellow Travelers. One day, Davis was eagerly watching interview videos of Ricketts online; the next, he was sitting directly across from his hero, working through audition materials.
“ His visit absolutely meant the world to me because he's someone that I've looked up to for so long,” says Davis. “When they told us last year that he was coming to campus, I was almost in shock because I was so excited. And when I got the email telling me that I would get to work with him one-on-one, I found some reassurance in that. It’s so easy to be stressed about college and everything. But here I am, having a session with one of my musical theatre idols, so I guess I'm doing all right.”
Noah Ricketts' visit absolutely meant the world to me because he's someone that I've looked up to for so long.
Davis is planning for a future beyond Interlochen—which means lots of audition prep. Ricketts helped him polish several songs and a monologue, giving suggestions on presentation and more. Beyond the technical feedback he was given, Davis appreciated the reminder to keep finding joy in his work.
“I was singing ‘Magic To Do’ and I found the groove of it,” he remembers. “I was able to move and play with different tactics that keep the audience engaged. It was so much fun that it gave me a fresh perspective on auditioning as a whole.”
It was easy for Davis to find that sense of enjoyment around Ricketts, because the actor himself sees excellence and playfulness as allies.
“His approach is so smooth, effortless, and fun,” Davis reflects. “I think he has so much love for the art that he finds a way to make it fun. If it's hard, you’ll have to work, but there can be so much fun in that work.”
Out of everything he learned from Ricketts, Davis felt most inspired by the actor’s clarity of self-expression.
“ I really like the seamless way that he melds himself into everything that he performs. It served as a good reminder to keep doing that with myself,” says Davis. “I had this big goal of finding a way to make everything seem so natural, but the most natural thing you can be is yourself.”
Whether they’re learning new techniques, tapping into industry secrets, or rediscovering the joy of their art forms, Arts Academy students are enjoying unmatched access to guest artists at the top of their disciplines. In the world of musical theatre at Interlochen, inspiration and delight go hand-in-hand.
Students at Interlochen Arts Academy receive world-class artistic training alongside college-preparatory academics. Learn more about theatre at Arts Academy.