Two years ago, Munira stepped onstage for the first time as a forgetful blue fish. Now she’s back with GREAT as a pirate, bringing with her new skills, greater confidence, and a growing love of theatre.
Munira’s theatre journey began in fifth grade at Oak Hill Community School in St. Cloud through GREAT Theatre’s Musical-in-a-Week Residency program with St. Cloud Area School District 742.
Each year, GREAT teaching artists spend one week at each elementary school, working with the fifth graders to rehearse and perform a musical in just five days. Because the residency takes place during the school day and is provided at no cost to families, every student has the opportunity to experience theatre.
For Munira, that experience was Finding Nemo Jr.
“I really liked playing Dory because she was really funny.”
It was her first experience with theatre, but it sparked something that stuck with her.
“When I first finished Finding Nemo, that really sparked my curiosity in theatre. I knew I wanted to keep doing it.”
She continued exploring theatre at South Junior High, performing in 15 Reasons Not to Be in a Play and Shrek Jr. Then, when summer arrived and she found herself missing theatre, she decided to look for another opportunity.
“I wanted to do more theatre. I was missing it over the summer, so I started looking online.”
That search brought her back to GREAT.
Munira auditioned for the Youth Artist Project production of How I Became a Pirate and was cast as Blunder Bess. Along the way, she has gained confidence and continued building her skills in acting, music and dance.
She has also learned that theatre takes work.
“Theatre is a lot of fun, but you also have to focus and put in the work. You have to work hard to get to the final product, but when you see what you made, it’s really rewarding.”
The choreography has been one of her favorite parts of the production. She enjoys learning dances that challenge her and introduce different movements and styles.
“They’re challenging, but they help me grow my skills. There are so many different moves and styles in each number, so it keeps it really fun.”
But her favorite part isn’t a song or a dance.
It’s the people.
“The best part is getting to meet so many new friends.”
Munira also mentioned castmate Kennedy, who plays Captain Braid Beard, as someone she looks up to during the process.
“Kennedy is doing such a nice job, and she’s a really good leader for the group. She is someone I can learn from.”
That openness to learning has become part of Munira’s approach to theatre. She knows that things won’t always go exactly as planned, and she has learned to appreciate the opportunity itself.
“Sometimes things go your way and sometimes they don’t, and that’s okay. Just having the opportunity to be here is something I’m really thankful for.”
For Munira, one opportunity has led naturally to another. A fifth grade residency introduced her to theatre. School productions gave her a chance to keep exploring it. Then, when she wanted to do more, she went looking for her next opportunity herself.
Now she is part of a GREAT production that will introduce nearly a thousand elementary school students to theatre through student matinees.
Some of those students may be sitting in a theatre for the very first time.
Maybe one of them will see Munira as Blunder Bess and become curious about theatre, just as her first exposure to theatre sparked her interest.
“I definitely want to continue doing theatre for a long time. I want to keep growing my skills and see if it’s something I could pursue in the future.”
From Dory to Blunder Bess, Munira is still at the beginning of her theatre journey. But the path is already taking shape.
See Munira in How I Became a Pirate
How I Became a Pirate runs Sep 18-27, 2026 at the Helgeson Learning Lab Theatre.
Come see Munira and the Youth Artist Project cast bring this fun, funny and adventure-filled story to life, with plenty of silly characters, jokes, music and dancing along the way.
Tickets and more information: https://www.greattheatre.org/events/pirate/
