2024 - Meet Thomee Bolden

On November 8, Elgin Community College (ECC) student Thomee Bolden will take the stage in the ECC Theatre production of “You Can’t Take It With You.” Bolden will play one of the main characters, Tony Kirby.

“You Can’t Take It With You” is a comedy about the world of a quirky New York family. In the play, Alice, a tech-savvy dreamer, falls head over heels for Tony, the charming banker’s son. When their snooty in-laws crash dinner, chaos erupts, leading to a houseful of unexpected arrests. 

Bolden has been in three ECC Theatre productions: “I and You,” “Blue Stockings,” and now, “You Can’t Take It With You.” He’s also on the board of the Performing Arts Club (PAC), a student club on campus.

“My experience preparing for this play has been challenging but also one of the most fun things I’ve ever experienced,” Bolden said. “It reminds me of the start of a sports season. There will always be problems and challenges, but being surrounded by those you can bond with and call your friends makes the experience much more fun. It also gives you even more reason to be a better version of yourself for you and them.”

Bolden’s love for music and acting has been with him since he was a kid. His dad was a musician and would take Bolden into the studio with him, promising that he’d put him on a track he was working on when he got older. 

“I’ve always loved all kinds of music,” Bolden said. “It started when I was four, and I began trying to write my own songs.”

After high school, Bolden knew he wanted to get into acting. He took a few years off before he was ready to return to school; after researching, he learned about the ECC Theatre Department and began taking classes in the fall of 2023.

“Theatre and music are my passions,” Bolden said. “I knew there was a good production program here, and so far, my time here has been great. I’ve met a lot of nice people, and just being here has landed me a foot in the acting/theatre world.”

Bolden is working to graduate in the summer of 2025 and transfer to Columbia College Chicago or follow his passions to New York.

Learn more about this talented artist, and be sure to look for him on stage in “You Can’t Take It With You. " His presence will grace future stages.

What’s one thing you do outside of ECC? I play basketball almost every day. I also like to go to the gym and am a big gamer.

Dogs, cats, or houseplants? All three! I have a cat named Yuno. My mom has two dogs named Lexi and Roxi. I always ask her to let me take them home when I’m over. I also have a ton of plants around the house.

Where is your favorite spot on campus? The main floor of Building H is near the SecondSpace Theatre. It feels open and flowy around there.

What’s one thing that makes your day? I’m a people person, so if I can make someone smile, that makes my day. And I really like talking, so just a good conversation. 

Shout out to a staff or peer! Susan Robinson, associate professor of theatre and theatre instructional coordinator. I want to thank her for everything she’s done for me. She’s the reason I got into acting. I’d also like to thank the whole PAC board and members.