Bethel Creatives, no. 20: Kate Nofziger

Interview conducted by Savannah Mirabal in The Crossings’ series on creativity and diversity within Bethel University’s student body.  The heart behind this series is to explore creativity in a broader sense and to be encouraged and inspired by the creatives on our campus and the things that they are doing.   

Kate Nofziger is a fifth-year senior double majoring in Studio Arts and Theatre Arts. You can almost always find Kate in the Everest-Rohrer Fine Arts Building, especially sitting in the swivel chairs in the Grand Hall. It’s become her creative home base on campus—a space where art, performance, and community all come together. Kate enjoys cooking and scrapbooking. Both hobbies allow her to create something tangible and personal, whether it’s experimenting with flavors in the kitchen or preserving memories through artful design.

You can find Kate's work on her website or her art account:

Website: nofzigerkate.myportfolio.com

Instagram: @bubbleblueart

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Creativity

How would you define creativity?

Kate defines creativity as “an observation of the world through a personal lens—taking in how you experience something and then getting to personalize that.” For her, creativity is not just making something new; it’s filtering the world through your own lived experiences and perspective.

How do you express your creativity?

Kate expresses her creativity both as a performer and a visual artist. She is currently playing Amy in Little Women, a role she connects with deeply as the youngest sister. Through this character, she is able to blend her personal experiences with the script, bringing authenticity to the performance.

Beyond acting, Kate also works behind the scenes. She helps build and paint sets, including a custom-built fireplace for the production. Her ability to combine performance and visual artistry allows her to approach theatre holistically, contributing both on stage and off.

At what age did you discover your creative outlet?

Kate began acting at just six years old through community theatre and has since participated in 34 productions. Visual art has been part of her life for as long as she can remember. With encouragement from her brother, she began building three-dimensional pieces and sculpting at a young age. Both acting and visual art have grown together, allowing her to “put two and two together” creatively.

Do you have a routine? If so, what is it?

During production season, Kate rehearses from 6:30–10:00 p.m., five days a week, with occasional Saturday rehearsals. Interestingly, her character Amy is also an artist, which allows Kate to incorporate her own artistic passions directly into her performance.

Creative Preferences & Inspiration

Do you gravitate toward a specific genre?

In visual art, Kate enjoys realism and abstract styles. In theatre, she gravitates toward comedy, especially finding comedic moments within more serious works. She appreciates the nuance of discovering humor where it might not be immediately obvious.

Where do you find inspiration?

Kate describes herself as highly observant. She finds inspiration in her environment, often watching people’s mannerisms and behaviors. She also looks to contemporary artists who display their work publicly. When preparing for a role, she studies the script through her own lens while considering her director’s vision. She often pulls from outside sources beyond the script to deepen her understanding of a character.

Balancing Academics and Creativity

How do you balance your workload with being creative?

Kate prioritizes her academics first, often setting aside creative work until her school responsibilities are complete. She describes herself as an “academic weapon” who genuinely loves learning. She listens to audio recordings and reads whenever possible, even while doing other activities.

For Kate, art and acting require lived experience. She believes you cannot be an effective artist without engaging fully in the world. Life experiences become the material she draws from in her creative work. Sometimes stepping away from creativity to focus on academics allows her brain to refresh and return stronger.

How do you explore creativity on campus?

Kate primarily explores her creativity through Bethel productions. However, she also finds creative renewal outdoors. Sitting outside, listening to the birds, and noticing seasonal changes, especially the transition from winter to spring, helps her reset and refocus artistically.

Words of Wisdom

Kate encourages others to experience the world beyond screens.

“If you want to be creative, you must experience the world—in order to do that it can’t be through a screen, if you can help it.”

She also advises students considering a double-major in a creative field to pair it with a lecture-style degree. For her, balancing structured academic study with artistic expression creates both stability and growth.