Private Schools: Auryon Azar Found Confidence On The Stage

Azar spent his junior year looking like the comedy and tragedy masks of theater. While practicing for the lead role in the school’s production of Enter Laughing, Azar was also preparing for something a little more dramatic. The 16-year-old found success on his speech and debate team with Thunder Dog, a dramatic interpretation piece based on the autobiography of Michael Hingson, a blind man who escaped the North Tower on 9/11. In March, Azar was a semifinalist in his category at the Ohio Speech & Debate State Tournament and reached the final 16 in the National Speech & Debate Tournament in June.

Broadway Baby: Azar started acting at the Beachwood Community Theater in seventh grade. “My mother forced me to because I was too introverted,” he says. The next year, Azar landed the lead role in the school’s production of Aladdin.

Laughing Matters: In Enter Laughing, Azar’s best friend was cast as his character’s comedic foil, which amped up the humor. “Everything just worked really, really well in the scenes that we had together, which were supposed to be the funniest scenes in the show.”

Fast Talker: After doing public forum debate for two years, Azar made the decision to switch to dramatic interpretation less than a week before the next tournament. He memorized the 1,700 words of Thunder Dog in four days. “Somehow, I pulled it off,” says Azar. “I think I finished memorizing on Friday night and then Saturday morning was, obviously, the tournament and then I won the tournament.”

Eye to Eye: Portraying Michael Hingson created a unique issue for Azar. In dramatic interpretation, performers use eye contact to connect with the audience. “When you’re blind, it changes things and you have to do everything a little bit different and you need to make that connection without looking at anyone,” says Azar.

Supporting System: Azar does not claim all the credit for himself. “Every accomplishment that I’ve achieved definitely could not have happened without the help of several role models or figures who guide me in the right direction,” he says. Two of the people he admires most are his director Carol Pribble and his speech and debate coach, Ren Weeden.