Teens of Bay Area

From performing on a coffee table to entering her first theater production at 10, Levana Geshuri was always destined for the stage. Musical theater has helped her find a sense of community and belonging while nurturing her lifelong passion. As a senior at Archbishop Mitty High School, Levana continues challenging herself with complex characters, especially with her most recent role as the protagonist of Archbishop Mitty High School’s spring musical, “Alice by Heart.”

In playing Alice, Levana recounts her experience preparing for the show with her go-to chicken soup, which is set during World War II. The character Alice uses a book called “Alice in Wonderland” to escape from the horrors of war. Just like Alice does, Levana needs to memorize the original story and her lines in British English to fit the character. While preparing for the show, Levana initially struggled to connect with her character at first, but finally allowed herself to let go of her fears and fully embrace her character during their first dress rehearsal.

“I just ascended to the platform and released my inhibitions because that aligns with Alice’s character. She represents a young girl experiencing growth and liberation. I felt secure enough to express such vulnerability due to the supportive community surrounding me. The community environment provided me with the necessary safety to fully embrace vulnerability,” Levana stated.

Photo courtesy of Gillian Ortega

Levana shows appreciation for her castmates and teachers for the support she has received as she immerses herself into the character. She further explains that this allowed her to bring the story to life and become an even better actor. That is just what theater is all about. Levana explains that through this experience, she had not only learned about the importance of trust but also vulnerability within the theater. 

Looking back on her high school experience, Levana recalls two of her favorite shows, “Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812” and “Alice by Heart.” She shows great appreciation for having the honor of playing Natasha and Alice, as she was able to explore and push the boundaries of what she can do as an actress. Levana describes both characters as complex and guarded in the beginning, slowly unfolding and becoming vulnerable as the story continues. She illustrates that her love for portraying characters that are both unique and complex comes from the challenges it brings as she learns to express various emotions on the stage. As Levana reflects on the characters’ experiences, she strives to continuously apply the lessons that she learns from each of them to herself.

“As you observe the characters experiencing emotional breakdown after the performance, it demonstrates the fluidity of life and illustrates that progression is always possible, suggesting that hope invariably exists despite difficult circumstances,” Levana stated.

Photo courtesy of Gillian Ortega

When she goes to the University of Southern California in the fall to complete her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theater, Levana is excited to continue advancing her knowledge and refining her skills as an actress at her dream school. As she continues to learn about herself, she advises individuals to just do it.

“If you have even the slightest inkling that you want to be on stage, go for it, and you will not regret it.”

-Levana Geshuri, 2025

Curious about Levana’s adventures? Follow her vibrant journey on Instagram @levanageshuri!