From Call Time to Curtain Call: A Theatre Student’s Creative Journey
It’s still dark when Ruby Foster’s alarm goes off.
Not long after, she’s in a chair, eyes half-open as hair and makeup begins. Soon, the cameras start rolling and the set will fill up. But for now, it’s quiet, structured and early.
It’s not the glamorous part of the job. It’s the work.
For Foster, those early call times and long days on commercial sets are a different kind of performance. That kind of work demands precision, energy and the ability to deliver the same moment over and over again.
The stage is something else entirely. It requires realism and connection. Something you only get one chance to convey successfully.
“Stage acting is less about hitting a mark and more about being fully present in the moment,” Foster said.
As a senior double major in film and theater production, she’s learned to move between both worlds. She found a way to balance the technical demands of on-camera work with the depth and immediacy of live performance.
A Catalyst for Creativity
Foster describes herself as a “catalyst,” a word that reflects both her energy and her impact. From her earliest days on campus, she looked beyond the classroom, asking a simple but powerful question: What more can I do?
That question led her to pursue acting alongside film, landing her first understudy role as a freshman. Watching graduate actors rehearse and perform became a turning point.
“I saw people who were really, really good at their craft, and it made me fall in love with acting,” she said.
From there, momentum built quickly. By her sophomore year, Foster was starring in productions and landing commercial work. She became one of the first student actors featured prominently in Purdue marketing campaigns.
“I wanted people to see that you can go to a show, watch a film made by students and be part of something creative at Purdue,” she said.
Choosing a Different Path
Foster’s journey into the arts wasn’t always the plan.
Before college, she intended to pursue forensic anthropology, inspired by a love of science and shows like “Bones.” It wasn’t until the stillness of the COVID-19 pandemic that something shifted. While experimenting with video editing with clips of her dogs, she discovered a sense of flow that changed everything.
“Four hours felt like 10 minutes,” she said. “I was like, ‘I think I love this.’”
The Power of Storytelling
For Foster, storytelling isn’t confined to a single medium. Whether she’s acting on stage, filming a commercial or simply connecting with someone in conversation, the goal is the same: authenticity.
“Theater requires you to do the work to be fully truthful,” she said. “That’s what moves people.”
It’s a distinction she’s come to appreciate through experience and learning how different mediums demand different kinds of presence, discipline and vulnerability.
Looking Ahead
After graduation, Foster plans to stay in Indiana for the short term, building experience and pursuing local creative opportunities while keeping an eye on future graduate programs.
Long term, her goals are expansive: acting, filmmaking, directing and creating work that matters.
“I want to make something that changes people,” she said. “Otherwise, what’s the point?”
But even with big dreams, her focus remains grounded in growth, connection and purpose.
At Purdue, she found more than a degree. She found a platform to explore, question and create. In doing so, she’s helping redefine what it means to study the arts at a university known for its STEM programs.
“I want people to know this is here,” she said. “And that it matters.”