Channeling creativity is something that has always come naturally to Rocco Pugliese. A lifelong performer, the senior from Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, began his Wilkes journey as a sophomore in the Upward Bound program. His passions eventually led him to study music recording technology at Luzerne County Community College before transferring to the University of the Arts in Philadelphia.
Following its closure in 2024, Pugliese needed to make a pivot. While he liked Philadelphia and had originally planned to stay there for a few more years, he found a more permanent home for his talents at Wilkes. “I think everything happens for a reason,” he says.
Returning to northeastern Pennsylvania wasn’t anticipated, but Pugliese feels it was the right move. “My sister, Sarah, also goes to Wilkes and majors in musical theater,” says Pugliese. “I heard how much she enjoys it and all the information about the program.”
Now as a musical theater major, Pugliese focuses his creative energies on the study of acting, dance and voice in a pre-professional program that emphasizes excellence across disciplines. As an artist, Pugliese enjoys working hard to find the truth in his performances.
“I want to make the kind of art that inspires others, those younger than me especially,” says Pugliese. “[Art] that makes people feel things and makes people think.”
Susan Minsavage, a voice instructor within the Conservatory at Wilkes, has been a close mentor along the way. “She finds where you are and meets you to push you further,” he says. “She’s the best voice teacher I’ve ever had in my life,” says Pugliese.
“He fit right into our program and quickly became an asset to Wilkes theater productions,” says Minsavage of Pugliese’s seamless transition to Wilkes.
Pugliese started singing as a child but found more fundamental training and guidance through his lessons with Minsavage. “She really helped me lose bad habits and find the tone and sounds vocally that I never thought was achievable for my voice.”
“In my experience, Rocco works very hard to learn and implement the finer points of his training with the goal of elevating his craft – he has an innate understanding of the human experience and brings that to the stage with charm, nuance and talent,” says Minsavage. “He’s also a very kind and supportive colleague to his peers, which is something that can’t really be taught. He possesses many gifts, his good heart among them.”
But perhaps the most important advice Pugliese has received is to take a step back sometimes. “I always want things to be the best they can be,” says Pugliese of his perfectionism. “[Susan] sees that I work a lot and that I can really focus and overpractice. She’ll remind me to take a breath and to listen.”
That approach goes beyond just vocal performance. “There’s a focus from all of the faculty in courses on staying safe and finding ways of separating the work from your life,” says Pugliese. While Wilkes graduates from the division of performing arts are artistically excellent, technically strong and prepared for a future in their chosen field, they’re also encouraged to be healthy about their pursuit of their professional goals. “It’s never going to be perfect, but you strive for excellence.”
Not only does Pugliese shine on stage, but he enjoys playing basketball with friends and lends his skills to the Valorant esports team, which placed second at the national level in spring 2025. Participating in extracurriculars may seem daunting in a theater program that prepares graduates to succeed at a professional level, but Pugliese notes it’s important to find ways to enjoy the time you have outside of a production schedule. “You do have stuff outside of the theatre,” he says.
Finding success in a competitive field is no easy task, but Pugliese is seizing the opportunity. This summer, he booked the role of Doody in Grease at the Shawnee Playhouse in Shawnee on the Delaware, Pennsylvania. The five week run, which included a sensory-friendly performance, was paid and is hopefully the first of many more in his future.
Next semester, he’ll start looking into talent agents and is excited to take a course that focuses on the business-side of theater. “We build a website for ourselves – you are your own business,” says Pugliese. As for what comes next, he’s excited to put his creativity to good use in building his brand and saying ‘yes’ to as many opportunities as possible. “I really want to do my best and not give up, especially when you’re gonna hear the word ‘no’ a lot,” he says, noting that he’s eager to try as many projects as he can, whether it’s on stage or in film.
“It’s been my pleasure to have Rocco in my voice studio and I hate to think of him graduating soon. But I know good things await for Rocco. I’m glad to be a part of his journey,” says Minsavage.
For now, he’s focused on playing the lead role of Austin in Wilkes University’s production of I Love You Because, which runs Nov. 13-16, 2025 in the Dorothy Dickson Darte Center. “It’s going really good and we keep making it even better,” says Pugliese.