Finding his roar on stage
Senior Wilson Seltzer has taken the stage by storm through Towson University’s acting program
When figuring out what you want to do with your life, it sometimes takes years—even decades—to find your passion.
Towson University senior Wilson Seltzer has known what he wanted to do with his life since he was five years old: He wanted to be an actor.
Seltzer, a native of Frederick, Maryland, grew up in a theater family. His parents are involved in theater—this past spring, they participated in a production of “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.” Even his little sister has gotten into performing in musical theater productions. But it was a trip to a production of “Strega Nona” at the Maryland Ensemble Theatre in Frederick that sparked his passion. There, he watched Matt Baughman take the stage by storm as the character Big Anthony and captivate the audience. That’s when he told his mom he wanted to do what the actor on stage was doing.
Towson University has the best acting program in Maryland. There’s a lot of really great professors here that I've worked with before...
Wilson Seltzer '25, TU College of Fine Arts and Communications
“Ever since that point, I’ve dedicated every possible moment to make sure that acting is what I’m doing and I can be part of the theater for the rest of my life,” Seltzer said.
Seltzer later took part in productions at the Maryland Ensemble Theatre, including participating in some of their youth programming.
When it came time to choose a college, Seltzer wanted to find the best acting program close to home.
“Towson University has the best acting program in Maryland,” Seltzer said. “There’s a lot of really great professors here that I've worked with before—like, for example, Peter Wray. I performed in a show that he directed back in 2019, and he was just wonderful to work with. I figured that if he was like the other professors at TU, it was going to be a great, great program to be a part of.”
Finding his role on campus and stage
Since coming to TU Seltzer has thrown himself into the acting program in the College of Fine Arts and Communication.
He has landed roles through the , Towson University’s Mainstage Productions and in student films directed by students in the Electronic Media and Film program.
Examples of where you might have seen Seltzer include:
- Playing Old Man Strong / Hot Blades Harry in the Actors Anonymous production of “Urinetown”
- Student Studio production of “14”
- Actors Anonymous production of "The Prom"
- Amiens in Towson University’s Mainstage production of “As You Like It” (he also composed music for the play)
- Towson University’s production of “Ordinary Days”
His most recent role was playing Johnny in TU’s Mainstage Production’s version of “Green Day’s American Idiot.”
While gaining experience on stage has been valuable, for Seltzer, the best part of his time at TU has been working with those in the Department of Theatre Arts.
“There are really great people that I’ve met here, and the professors in the theater department have been just fantastic,” Seltzer said. “I feel like a very different person from the guy who first came here. I wasn’t who I wanted to be, and TU has provided me a space for growth and enrichment.”
Wilson Seltzer has performed in several Towson University Main Stage Productions including "American Idiot," (left) and "As You Like It," right. Images courtesy of Katie Simmons-Barth and Towson University's Theatre Department.
Kennedy Center Honors
One of the biggest roles Seltzer has had was playing Toad in Towson University’s Mainstage Production’s version
of “A Year with Frog and Toad.”
“To this day, that is my favorite production that I’ve ever done,” Seltzer said. “It’s going to be hard to top. Every day going into that rehearsal room was just pure joy. Initially, we were all talking about how this was a kid’s musical based on a book I hadn’t read since I was five. But then, listening to the music and understanding the message—it was just really beautiful.”
Seltzer’s performance garnered praise. He was nominated for the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship through the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival. In January, he traveled to Pittsburgh, where he participated in workshops, scholarship interviews, competitions and more.
There are really great people that I’ve met [at TU], and the professors in the theater department have been just fantastic... TU has provided me a space for growth and enrichment.
Wilson Seltzer '25, TU College of Fine Arts and Communications
Unfortunately, due to illness, Seltzer had to withdraw from the festival and missed the chance to audition for the award. But the nomination gave him validation for the hard work he has put into his passion.
“It was super cool, because we hear a lot about the Kennedy Center nominations when you’re a freshman,” Seltzer said. “When you first start in the acting program, you really hope that when you’re older, you get invited to the Kennedy Center festival. It was a wish come true, because it was so much fun and such an incredible experience to be a part of.”
A Smackdown Honors Thesis
One can understand how being an actor can keep a student busy. Between rehearsals, performances, running lines and learning choreography, it takes a lot to be part of the acting program.
But along with taking his acting classes, Seltzer is also a member of Towson University’s Honors College. One of his favorite Honors College classes was a sport and society course, which started at 8 a.m. twice a week.
“It was really awesome to wake up every day and go to that class,” Seltzer said. “It was so enriching and fulfilling. I was interested in sports but never thought about discussing it in a lecture setting. It gave me the opportunity to go deeper into topics you never thought you could have these discussions about.”
I never thought that this would be where I’d be four years ago. I’m just really honored and happy to have had my experience here, and I’m so glad that I’m a Tiger.
Wilson Seltzer '25, TU College of Fine Arts and Communications
In fact, Seltzer’s Honors College thesis is about sports entertainment. It explores the theatrical side of professional wrestling. The idea came during a vacation to Cancun with friends. While sitting in a sports bar on a quiet Monday night, he watched a Mexican wrestling match featuring a wrestler dressed as an iguana facing off against a masked opponent.
Encouraged by friends, Seltzer became fascinated with how the “squared circle” could also serves as a stage.
“I think the ultimate goal of mine would be to see a production of some Shakespearean show inside of a professional wrestling ring,” Seltzer said, laughing.
[Wilson] takes nothing for granted and puts all of himself into every role, every class and every part of his thesis.
Alison McCartney, Honors College Dean
When he presents his thesis at various Honors College events, he’s often surprised by how supportive his fellow students are. He likes to joke that there are more professional-looking presentations, but those same students frequently approach him to talk about his poster board covered in photos from World Wrestling Entertainment.
The Honors College staff has seen Seltzer become an integral part of the program—and an exceptional student.
“Wilson has really grown as both an actor and a student,” says Alison McCartney, dean of the Honors College and Seltzer's Honors College advisor. “He takes the knowledge and experiences of working with Honors students who are in a variety of majors and uses that breadth to enhance and deepen his acting.
“He takes nothing for granted and puts all of himself into every role, every class and every part of his thesis. He knows that the best actors are driven by a quest to understand others and their experiences—a goal that is only achieved through a constant openness to learning.”
The Full Circle Theater
Along with participating in the acting program and the Honors College at Towson University, Seltzer works a full-time job at a local grocery store. One day while at work, a woman approached him and asked if he had been in TU’s production of “A Year with Frog and Toad.” When he said yes, the woman told him she had taken her son to see the play, and now her son wants to become an actor. The moment took Seltzer back to when he was five years old and first been bitten by the acting bug.
“When I was a kid, that was really all I wanted to do—make an impact so someone else would want to do this as well,” Seltzer said. “Towson University allowed me to do that.”
As he prepares to go up on one last stage at TU — the graduation stage — Seltzer reflects on arriving at TU with several years of acting experience already under his belt.
He thought he would come in, earn his degree and move on. Little did he know that he would find two communities that would not only accept him but also help him grow—not just as an actor, but as a student.
“I never thought that this would be where I’d be four years ago,” Seltzer said. “I’m just really honored and happy to have had my experience here, and I’m so glad that I’m a Tiger.”