A Curtain Call Commencement: Papayoanou ’26 Celebrates Graduation on Stage

Nicholas Papayoanou ’26 had a good reason for missing Emerson’s Commencement ceremonies on Saturday: he was acting in a production of the SpeakEasy Stage Company’s Swept Away.

As a member of the ensemble, Papayoanou was scheduled to perform in two shows that day at the Boston Center for the Arts. But with the undergraduate diploma ceremony for the School of Arts and Interdisciplinary Studies beginning at 3 pm, and the Emerson College Commencement ceremony set for 7 pm, Papayoanou realized he wouldn’t be able to join his Emerson peers.

Instead, his cast members surprised him during the show’s curtain call on Saturday night, presenting him with flowers and a diploma, thanks to Performing Arts Affiliated Faculty Alex Lonati ’14, director of artistic & community programs at SpeakEasy, who helped coordinate the unofficial ceremony. 

“I am very glad to be in the show. It’s a very fitting way to graduate,” he said. “My mom [said], ‘You’re putting your degree to use.’ And I said, ‘Yes, indeed.’”

His family, who had already made plans to visit from Singapore to attend Commencement, was able to watch him perform on stage instead. Papayoanou noted that his family hadn’t seen him perform live since he was in high school in 2018. “I’ve done almost 15 shows in Boston between Emerson Stage, professional shows, and student-led productions,” said Papayoanou. “It’s gobsmacking they [got] to see me actually perform.”

Setting the Stage for Success

Papayoanou’s path to Emerson was not a traditional one. After attending high school in Singapore, he completed two years of mandatory military service before taking a gap year.

“Looking back, it was very beneficial. Not just the discipline instilled in us. There’s a community camaraderie—we’re in the pits and we’ve only got each other, whether we like each other or not,” Papayoanou said. “It’s about teamwork. Even ensemble-driven. There are a lot of transferrable skills from the army into the real world and acting.”

At Emerson, he said he learned the importance of generosity and collaboration, lessons he carries into rehearsals and performances.

“It’s never about trying to be the best in the room,” he said. “It’s about being present and persistent. A lot of the time at Emerson, I learned it’s about being generous and kind, not just as an artist [but] as a person. It translates to rehearsals and the energy you provide to people.”

Papayoanou said the dedication he saw from both faculty and classmates motivated him throughout his time at Emerson, where he performed in four Emerson Stage productions.

“The rich student org culture at Emerson is in a league of its own. There are so many opportunities: Emerson Stage, student shows, photo shoots for magazines, different student films,” said Papayoanou. “Those extracurriculars keep Emersonians busy and keep them excited. A lot of them are student-led, and there’s a liberation in the creativity you can make. I took advantage of that during my time at Emerson.”

That creative environment helped launch Papayoanou into Boston’s theater scene. Before joining Swept Away, he appeared in Company One’s You Are Cordially Invited to the End of the World!, earning a nomination for Outstanding Featured Performance in a Play, Small at the Boston Theater Critics Association’s 43rd Annual Elliot Norton Awards.

Papayoanou said he is grateful for his time at Emerson, and from learning from such faculty as Performing Arts Associate Professor Nathaniel Justiniano, one of Papayoanou’s favorite instructors, who also is nominated for an Elliot Norton Award— for Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play, Small for the beautiful land I seek (la linda tierra que busco yo).

“I loved my time with Natty. He taught us about how exploring physical vocabulary can be very freeing,” said Papayoanou. “The way Natty teaches is very grounding.”

Papayoanou needed that grounding while performing in You Are Cordially Invited to the End of the World!, in which he played six different characters.

“I was the protagonist boyfriend, Will. An army guy, a real rodent—a rat, a British TV newscaster, a grief counselor, and I also played an old bar owner,” said Papayoanou. “It was a fun role and a challenger as an actor. I love character work to see how we can push ourselves.”

Swept Away has pushed him in new ways as well. Although he performed in musicals as a child, Papayoanou said he had not auditioned for one in years. He previously played Young Simba in an eight-month touring production of The Lion King in Singapore when he was 11 years old.

He also did not initially audition for Swept Away. Since SpeakEasy holds auditions for its full season, Papayoanou originally read for a different production. 

Now, as Swept Away continues through May 23, Papayoanou is auditioning for future roles while considering his next steps after graduation. Although he hopes to eventually move to New York City or Los Angeles, he said he wants to continue building on the relationships he has formed in Boston’s theater community.

“Coming off the Elliot Norton Awards and my first contract with an equity company…I want to stay in touch with my connections I’ve made here,” said Papayoanou. “They feel like family.”