We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Sky Betz a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Sky, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear about the things you feel your parents did right and how those things have impacted your career and life.

I wouldn’t be where I am in my life, who I am in my life, if not for my Dad. From Day 1 I’ve been a Daddy’s Girl; unabashedly, unapologetically, wholeheartedly. My father was my first teacher, my earliest protector, and my hero many times over. I live and breathe with the heart of an artist beating in my chest because my dad raised me to follow it, leading by example all the way.

My father is many things. An artist, a dreamer, a do-er, a survivor, a man of his word, a loving and loyal husband, a devoted parent, a truly talented photographer near-most of all, but in his heart, at his core, he is a storyteller. For as long as I can remember, he’s captured the world through a lens. He’s been at his craft so long his eyelashes have developed a permanent downward curl from being pressed against the camera’s viewfinder. When I see his lashes curling over his eye, I am reminded of the physical tolls one’s artistry can take; the pains and gains we undergo in pursuit of that art and our transformations therein.

In addition to photography, my father’s talents extend well into other mediums, including digital media and the written word. He renders impressive and complex models in 3D, has written and published his own novels, and, despite his reluctance to, he sings incredibly well. I can’t do justice to how multitalented my dad is, I just know I personally grew up looking up to his artistry and I still appreciate his dedication to his craft to this day.

As a child of divorce, it would be expected that there are plenty of areas where I was impacted in my life. My parents separated permanently when I was 14, and in choosing to pursue that separation my dad did right by himself, by me, and by our family. He impacted our lives for the better in choosing the harder path and in fighting the fight to get us out of the hell we were living in. The greatest thing my birth mother did for me was bring me into the world, and the best thing my dad did for my quality of life was to help get her out of mine. He never made that choice for me, though; never in all of their divorce proceedings did he try to draw a line or push me to choose one parent over the other, or to influence my relationship with anyone but himself. He recognized my right to have a good relationship with both of my parents if I was safe and willing to, and when I wasn’t either with one he ensured I was safe with the other- with him.

I was a troubled teenager when my stepmother came into my life, but she took on the challenge of myself like I was her own kid and loved me all the same- fiercely and well. She stepped up and showed up. I find it hard even referring to her as my stepmother, I’m so used to just thinking of her as my mom in my head. When I think of the ones who raised me, it’s her and my dad who come to mind. They’re my parents, I love them, and they’ve been through so much with me and taught me so much through it all.

My stepmother was there during the most crucial moments: She is the one who comforted me when I cried, she did my hair before my shows for theatre performances and cheered for me in the audience afterwards, she helped me prepare for my Speech and Debate competitions, taught me to drive with both automatic and manual gear shifts, called and held me to my highest academic and personal standards, and consistently rooted for my success. A cheerleader, a coach, and a Queen Bee, she leads and protects her hive, and I’m forever finding myself lucky she took me under her wing.

When I was in my senior year of high school, I suffered a Traumatic Brain Injury that kept me down for several months in recovery and still impacts me to this day. Having herself previously experienced a TBI that changed her life, my stepmother understood better than most the feelings I went through and the healing process involved, and in sharing her own experience gave me a newfound sense of gratitude and resolve to overcome my own circumstances, knowing it could always be worse but my pains were valid, too. I was seen, I was loved, and I was safe to heal.

She is also a talented photographer in her own right, and her and my dad’s shared love of the lens translates into the most beautiful combination: They work as a husband-wife Wedding Photographer duo. What’s more romantic than love capturing love?

My parents’ craft has taught me the power of a singular moment. There’s a running joke that a photographer’s superpower is the ability to stop time, but it’s true: They can capture a powerful moment and immortalize it in a way time and memory cannot. My parents have a shared superpower, and they use it to help stop time on what’s hopefully one of the happiest days in people’s lives: their wedding days. From Sunrise to sometimes Sunrise again they are there, working passionately with dedication and care to capture memories that will last a lifetime.

When I consider my own craft and the art of live performance, singing and acting in particular, they both also draw upon the power of a singular moment. A singular performance. Every live performance comes with power and responsibility. If photographers have powers to bend time, performers bend reality. We as performers can take the space we are in and make it anything, become anyone, to tell a story and enrapture our audiences.

All we have is the moment we create, the performance that is happening live, and the bubble we are able to suspend ourselves and our audiences in for the duration of said performance. Just like a Wedding Photographer, there are no do-overs with Live Performances, not in the big moments. It’s do or don’t, but everything rides on those moments: A Big Group Number, The Ceremony, A Solo, The Kiss, Dance Numbers, First Dances, rehearsed, cued, and all built up to be captured in feeling or film by those surrounding it in a singular, suspended moment. If you haven’t properly prepared for that moment, it’ll shatter like glass and be lost; sand in the wind.

My parents taught me the importance of the moments we create and are entrusted with by others, to never take them for granted or lose sight of what’s important, and to remain true to my heart and my artistic passions throughout my entire life and find partners and friends who will share those passions and want to build on them with me, for it is in and through art and music and theatre that I truly live and love. Our powers as storytellers and memory makers allow us to tap into the core of the human experience and, depending on how we choose to use said power, we are able to evoke, inspire, unite, antagonize, and transform.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My name is Sky Betz, and I am an actress and classically trained singer as well as the current Secretary and Co-Founder for Sol on Stage Studios, a performing arts nonprofit.

When it comes to singing and me- performing in general- it all starts with my older sister. She’s always been musically gifted in voice as well as ear. I remember her piano playing was my first real introduction to music, and in idolizing her of course I wanted to be musically inclined as well. I didn’t take to the piano like she did, though- my hands didn’t quite understand the idea of playing the keys beyond plunking out some notes here and there.

I tried guitar, but I later learned my parents were encouraged to pull me from guitar lessons after my teacher affectionately deemed my 8-year old self an “overfriendly chatterbug” to the point of being unable to learn anything useful on the strings. With the drums I ran into a similar problem as the piano and guitar combined; my hands wouldn’t cooperate and I couldn’t stop talking through my lessons.

Still, I was a performer at heart and wanted to make music. I had been passionately dancing through life, singing and dreaming, and that turned out to be exactly the key: When I was singing, I couldn’t talk. Thus, at 12 years old, I successfully started classical voice lessons with Diana Cantrelle of Artemis Voice Studios, where I studied with her for many years- I still consider myself her student to this day- and I credit her for my strong foundation, technique, and vocal style.

As for theatre, I’ve been performing regularly since I was in the sixth grade. I had a music teacher, Ms. Brouillet, who took a chance on me and gave me a comedic but heartfelt solo in our production of Honk, Jr.!, awakening in me a love for the stage and song that hadn’t previously existed. I fell in love with the performing arts, and with the idea of pursuing a life of artistry. In the sixth grade I saw my first Broadway show, Wicked, I knew I wanted to be in that caliber of performance someday, if not greater. Years of school and community theatre later, as well as several professional opportunities, and I was living my life as well as one could juggling work in the day and rehearsals late into the night.

Then, all of a sudden, I was in my twenties and had been doing community theatre happily for years, but deep down I knew I wanted to do more for myself than just play a part. I wanted to lead, to direct, and to produce. I wanted to create something that would last beyond the curtain call.

Together with my fellow artists Savannah Noel, Bradley B. Combs, and Arielle Viola, I collaborated to co-found and establish Sol on Stage Studios, our performing arts nonprofit that aims to bring collaboration-driven productions of eventual Broadway-level caliber to our towns here in Carroll County and beyond. Bringing accessibility and visibility to music, theatre, film, and other artistic mediums for both performers and audiences alike is a driving force behind our team’s creative vision. Inaccessibility should never keep talent from shining onstage or being able to access art, so we aim to open doors and raise the standard of experience for audiences and artists alike.

We at Sol on Stage have been working hard to heal our minds and bodies so that we can continue to do what we love at our healthiest and, hopefully, happiest. We hope that, in nurturing ourselves and focusing on recovery, we can return to the stage shining stronger and brighter than ever. We are people who believe in the importance of humanity and showing it; compassion, kindness, and empathy never being overrated in any part of the creative process.

I encourage any artist (or aspiring artist) of any medium to reach out to our group; no matter the level of experience, we can create one together. There is always room for talent or passion for the arts in a troupe like ours; the beating hearts of our artists are the lifeblood of Sol on Stage.

We greatly appreciate any and all understanding as we work back up to posting and returning to Social Media as well as Social Life. Our main team often needs time away from the screen, but we hope to maintain a small but steady social media presence in the future as we reintroduce ourselves. Our spoons are few and batteries short these days, but our passion remains true.

We highly encourage checking out our social media for updates- the best way to support our growing cause is to follow and engage with us on our journey- [ @s.o.s.studios ], and be on the lookout for performance opportunities and announcements.

We sincerely look forward to performing for you soon!

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

I’d be happy to! The majority of people’s trials and tribulations happen unseen and unheard, so I’m grateful for the opportunity to be seen in this moment. Although I will advise for this story there will be talk of medical history, so reader discretion is advised for possibly sensitive content.

When I think of my resilience, I would have to tie it into my personal health, physical and mental, and fighting a lot of internal battles that go unseen to the naked eye. For years, I have personally struggled with chronic illnesses, pain, and a variety of ranged and complicated symptoms that challenge my day-to-day functions. The most prominent of these symptoms was an unknown abdominal pain that persisted for over ten years despite scans, tests, and multiple trips to the Emergency Room and various doctors.

Chronic vomiting plagued me almost daily, and there would be multiple performances where I would sing a number onstage, then immediately crash and vomit in private backstage for several numbers afterwards, resting where I could and then pushing through to perform after. Worried for my health, my voice, and my continued well-being, I knew something had to change- I needed answers, and I needed to advocate for myself to get them.

Last year I finally started getting the answers to my physical ailments: Fibromyalgia, Dysautonomia, and Hypermobility/EDS accounted for a number of factors, but still more questions remained. More symptoms persisted than could be treated by my PCP and Rheumatologist alone. I wasn’t done questing for the whole truth of myself, so I went to my doctor and requested further testing to determine the source of my continued abdominal pain.

At last, on the morning of Christmas Eve 2025, I was admitted to the hospital for surgery. This operation finally allowed me to receive a confirmed diagnosis of Endometriosis- an incurable, chronic, systemic inflammatory disease that goes far beyond the basic understanding of “really bad periods”. There is a fantastic ongoing movement that just won the 2026 BAFTA for Best British Short Film called “This is Endometriosis” by Georgie Wileman and Matt Houghton that does such an amazing- truly, truly spot on- job of capturing the real experience of having endometriosis, at least from my personal experience. I highly recommend checking it out- it is an incredible way to feel seen if you experience it, or to see into the lives of people you know who have it. Mine is not an uncommon case: More than 1 in 10 persons born with a uterus are affected by endometriosis in their lifetimes.

Prior to my surgery I had no confirmation of the severity of my condition, but during the procedure it was discovered the endo had spread all the way to my appendix, where, over the years, it had covered and consumed the organ. As with almost all endometriosis, it was not detectable by any normal scans and, upon discovery mid-surgery, warranted an immediate appendectomy and contributed significantly to my recovery time. When my kidneys started failing following a blockage that developed post-procedure, an emergency second surgery was required to implement nephrostomy tubes in my back to drain my kidneys manually into bags at my sides. There was only a fraction of a chance such a complication could develop, but it did. These tubes stayed in my back for two months following the operation, and only now as we talk here am I recently recovered from their removal.

Recovery was far from easy, but it was certainly better than my quality of life beforehand. The lack of answers and the plaguing persistence of symptoms without respite were agony. I am so grateful to my medical care team for their compassion and concern during this whole process- my thanks to Dr. Abbas and his whole team; truly paragons of professionalism and personability. Too many individuals also suffering from endometriosis go years, even decades, before diagnosis, if they ever obtain one. I am lucky that I had a doctor who believed me when I pushed for further testing after over a decade of my own pain and found the endometrioma that necessitated surgery, and I am blessed to have had the pre and post-surgical care that I did in addition to the actual procedure.

I firmly believe proper medical care is not affordable or accessible enough to many of those who are in need, and not prioritized enough in our country by those with the power and means to change it. I am thankful for my level of care that I have been able to receive, and only hope that everyone is able to get life-saving surgery when they need it. Shoutout to social workers trying their best to help their people navigate the system. It’s broken and needs serious overhaul, and you don’t deserve half of the hoops you have to jump through.

I have jumped through those hoops, though, and accessed care that has changed and saved my life. With chronic conditions like Endometriosis, there is no cure. I won’t “get well soon”, never experiencing pain or symptoms again, but I will heal from surgery, and the tubes, and losing my appendix. All the support and love I’ve received has made such a difference in believing things are changing for the better- they have to be. I’m in less daily pain. I have more energy. I can sing without throwing up, and that’s been the greatest joy of all. I can sing! The prospect of returning to the stage to do what I love is so appealing, I have to do all I can to rest and heal from what I can so I can keep moving forward.

I am looking to the future with fresh eyes and renewed hopes regarding the quality of life that I will be able to live; hopeful and determined to maintain the body I’ve been given through it all, loving it as best I can as I go, pursuing my passions with my whole heart.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

Oh, this is the kind of question I have waited my whole life to answer, thank you so much for asking! There are so many ways to support artists and creatives, but it can start at home, with the artists and creatives in our own households and within ourselves. Nurturing our own love of the arts- be it creating, collaborating, or consuming- will lead to strong artists and audience members alike. The people who want to create and perform, those who want to produce, and those who want to take it all in; all are needed to create said ecosystem.

For the writers, the dreamers, the songwriters, the designers: The world needs more art, and they need your art. Your stories. The world needs you.

Those who want to perform, perform in your community. Find local theatre groups or, if there are none, in the words of Jason Alexander: “There’s nothing that can stop an actor from acting. Walk outside. Start doing Shakespeare monologues. People will watch.” There is nothing keeping you from recording a monologue or song on your phone and sharing it or finding fellow performers and reading scenes together, having a jam session, or just playing and having fun.

Those who want to produce, find the performers. Collaborate to put on productions or small performances in your area. For those who can, consider revitalizing the patron system and support your local artists in a modern renaissance. So much talent is sidelined by a lack of access to resources and support, so a little goes a long way, and a long way changes lives.

Those who want to take it all in, be there! Be present and be loud in your support. Let the artists and the creatives and those in collaboration know you’re there and are rooting for their success. Comment. Share. Show up. Buy the tickets or donate to the cause, if you can. An artist is only as big as the experience they provide and the communities they contribute to, and making that impact known is a great way to ensure it continues. They’ll get more support if they have more support.

Accessibility in the arts is also vital to their success. Greater funding and support are needed for arts programs in education and community ventures. Affordable prices for tickets and protections for performers should be prioritized by those making the calls to ensure people on both sides of the curtain are accounted for. Adjusting productions to be accessible to performers of all abilities opens the door to many more artists than the most able-bodied. Enthusiasm for the arts can come from anywhere and anyone, and nothing should prevent someone from pursuing their dreams.

We are only as high as we can uplift one another. A thriving ecosystem is built on mutual understanding, trust and order, and meliorism. Art edifies the world, and as the conduits of that art we create the human experience, together. Supporting that art through all parts of the process- Concept to Creation to Production to Consumption- ensures a thriving, flourishing ecosystem rich with resources that will preserve the human experience for generations to come.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @s.o.s.studios @sky_betz
• Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@SolOnStage
• Other: Email: sol.onstage.studios@gmail.com

Image Credits

Savannah Noel, Sol on Stage Studios