Theatre Major Darcy Wood ’08 Appears on Hit TV Show "Empire"

Darcy Wood has been working professionally as an actress, musician and entertainer in Chicago for the last seven years. Recently, she played a singer auditioning for a new group on the TV show “Empire.” 

“It was fun to actually utilize both my acting and singing skills,” she says, “even though they asked me to ‘sing badly’ to add a bit of comedy flair to the scene.”

Darcy has extensive experience in both film and TV. (Watch for her as “Zombie Mom” in a Halloween commercial for a major retailer.) In addition to her theatre work (select Chicago theatre credits include “Dyanne” in “Million Dollar Quartet” and “Marty” in “Paramount Theatre ’s Grease”), Darcy spends much of her time traveling the world with various rock and roll show bands and co-hosting the live game show “America’s Greatest Game Shows.” 

"I also loved that our theatre professors were not only professional educators, but also working professionals in the business. Knowing they were teaching by day and directing/ writing/acting or designing professionally by night was something I very much respected and drew inspiration from on a daily basis."

“Seton Hill's theatre program, though small, packed a mighty punch,” Darcy says. “The training was based around the idea that you could focus on a variety of skill sets within the entertainment industry. As an actor, if you had asked me 10 years ago if I would utilize the sewing techniques I learned in my costume technology class or light rigging from my production class, I would have told you you're crazy. Come to find out, I’ve used them and am a better artist because of it. You had to figure out your own path, it wasn't laid out for you, much like real life. I also loved that our theatre professors were not only professional educators, but also working professionals in the business. Knowing they were teaching by day and directing/ writing/acting or designing professionally by night was something I very much respected and drew inspiration from on a daily basis.”

Darcy has recently returned from her second South American tour singing with Elvis Presley Enterprise’s ultimate artist Shawn Klush. She’s appeared on the “David Letterman Show” singing back-up with her rock-a-billy band The Lovers and The Paul Shaffer & The CBS Orchestra for various Elvis tribute artists during “Elvis Week”. Other tours include “The Man in Black Show “(June Carter Cash), “Class of ‘59” (Connie Francis & Brenda Lee) and her own tribute show “Leaders Of The Pack,” celebrating the girl groups of the 40's, 50's and 60’s.