United States Air Force Academy Stamps Scholar Layla Bohl recognizes art as a powerful force for social change. At just 23 years old, she has not only embraced a passion for the arts amidst a rigorous military and academic schedule, but has written, directed, and performed an original play, with messaging specifically targeted to a military audience.
“I’ve always loved theater, music, and art,” Bohl explains. She first pursued theater as a child and remained deeply connected to it through high school, where she joined the theater club and performed in community shows. Wanting to continue her involvement during college, she joined the Academy’s cadet theater troupe, the Bluebards. “There’s something so special about live theater—it’s a shared experience that’s unique every time.”
In May, she presented her idea for an original music revue to the troupe. Previous music revues at the Academy had not been driven by storylines, but were rather a collection of songs from various musicals. Bohl wanted to create something more in-depth – a story that could offer cadets a chance to learn about themselves and each other through the art they presented.
“I wanted to tell a story that was relevant to a military audience and a cadet audience specifically. So I just kind of listened and I was like, what are people talking about?” Bohl noted that her peers talk often of substances, mainly nicotine and alcohol, and felt there was something to be explored in this space.
Upon receiving approval from the Bluebards, she spent the entire summer developing her vision, shaping her storyline, and refining the script. On October 26th and 27th, Bottled Up debuted for approximately 200 cadets and faculty members, the largest turnout a Bluebards revue has seen to-date.
Bottled Up follows two brothers, Michael and Jamie, as they leave home and embark on a coming-of-age journey. The story centers on themes of connection, mental health, and substance abuse, featuring songs from popular and lesser-known musicals, while tackling issues relevant to cadets today.
“I wanted to be intentional about it, where the point of the story isn’t, ‘Don’t drink ever,’ because that’s not really realistic or helpful,” Bohl said. “Ultimately, the play is about the importance of connection – leaning on each other in times of stress, and the importance of prioritizing relationships over substances or even work and ambition.”
Looking ahead, Bohl hopes to utilize the Stamps Scholarship to further explore the intersection of theater and social impact, particularly for veterans and cadets. “It’s an emerging field I’d love to be part of. I want to study the ways in which theater can contribute to mental well-being, can raise awareness of certain social issues, and can inspire change.” Bohl plans to use her Stamps funding to travel abroad in the spring, interviewing theater professionals on the impacts they have noted through their own art. She is also intrigued at the idea of creating another project, like Bottled Up, and measuring its impact at the Academy.
“The Stamps Scholarship has given me better access to mentors and like-minded peers, and it’s allowed me to bring the arts into a space where STEM and politics are usually the focus.” Bohl is excited to introduce her fellow cadets to the impact that creativity and storytelling can have at the Academy.
Reflecting on the experience of writing, directing, and performing in Bottled Up, Bohl takes pride in knowing that the themes of collaboration and community were honored through the entire process. “The freedom of writing your own play, as opposed to one that already exists, is that it allows us to adapt as we go along,” she says. In this format, the cast was able to bring their own ideas and perspective to the production, which added to the message of community.
“I was constantly surprised by the insights and perspectives my fellow castmates brought, many of which I hadn’t even considered,” she said, believing the final product was stronger than anything she could have accomplished alone. “It reminded me how each person really adds to the tapestry of our life.”