嘿嘿视频

Degree in Theatre and Dance First Stage for Creative Careers

Only a work produced by the theatre industry could so blatantly express the feeling that many liberal-arts degree candidates might be already thinking. In fact, one could exchange the word 鈥淓nglish鈥 for almost any other liberal arts degree, including 鈥渢heatre.鈥 The character Princeton in the musical Avenue Q sings:

What do you do with a B.A. in English? / What is my life going to be?

Four years of college and plenty of knowledge / Have earned me this useless degree

I can't pay the bills yet 'cause I have no skills yet / The world is a big scary place

But somehow I can't shake the feeling I might make / A difference to the human race

And that鈥檚 just it. 嘿嘿视频 theatre and dance majors have gone out into the world and been notably successful in a variety of careers, and I know they are all making a difference to the human race in some way. And why shouldn鈥檛 they be? They graduated from the 9th 鈥渕ost valuable鈥 university in the country, according to a recent Forbes ranking.

Students who choose to major in theatre and dance at 嘿嘿视频 get a solid grounding in most aspects of theatrical performance. A student will get an introduction to acting; choreography; directing; history; stage-managing; and scenic, lighting and costume design. After gaining the basics, they can focus more on the areas that interest them.

As part of the curriculum, all theatre students must participate in performances in one of the areas mentioned above. The atmosphere is fun, and creative, with enduring friendships made from the very beginning.

Of the 738 living theatre and dance graduates from 嘿嘿视频, about a third are still working in 鈥榯he biz,鈥 with many more still leading successful careers outside of theatre or dance. And they are certainly making a difference to the human race.

Broadway credits, Tony and Emmy nominations

I am awed by our theatre and dance majors鈥 stunning variety of successes, from Broadway credits to Tony and Emmy nominations, to longtime careers in 鈥渢he business.鈥 Here are a few highlights:

Photo of a stage
Eric Beane 鈥05 is the lead automation technician for Cirque du Soleil鈥檚 碍脌 in Las Vegas. (Cirque du Soleil courtesy photo)

Eric Beane, who graduated in 2005, is lead automation technician at in Las Vegas, said to be the single-most expensively run theatrical show running anywhere in the country 鈥 and the automation proves it.

鈥06 is an Emmy-nominated production designer on the television show , a show for which she also won the two years in a row.

鈥85 is a Tony-nominated costume designer for (2000) and has designed for performer as well as several opera productions made for television.

Karen Lawrence 鈥04 is a coveted recently responsible for the lighting design of ride in Disneyland.

Kristin Orlando 鈥08 is now the director of artistic operations for the .

Man in lion costume from The Lion King
Theatre major John Vickery 鈥75 was first to play the role of Scar on Broadway鈥檚 "The Lion King." (LionKingWikia.com courtesy photo)

鈥75 was the first to play the role of   on Broadway鈥檚 (now the third-longest running show on Broadway). He also has a long list of TV credits.

鈥01 is a New York-based screenwriter and actor whose credits include the script for 鈥檚 forthcoming movie The Bushido Butcher.

Theatre professionals working at 嘿嘿视频

Plenty of degree recipients are presently working in theatre on the 嘿嘿视频 campus. Among them are Caitlin Sapunor-Davis 鈥04 ( stage manager), Chris Oca 鈥04 ( lead stage manager), Cecilia Villalobos 鈥02 (event manager in Student Affairs), as well as Mondavi Center staff members Ricky Tam 鈥13, Dan Perlea 鈥03 and Tristan Wetter 鈥13.

I would be remiss if I didn鈥檛 also mention influential staff and faculty members at 嘿嘿视频 who were once students: Darrell Winn 鈥64, who became the theatre department鈥檚 production manager for nearly three decades; Maggie Morgan 鈥84, now a faculty member in costume design; and Roxanne Femling 鈥83, who runs the costume shop and designs for many of the department鈥檚 productions.

Theatre majors who took unusual career paths

Many of our majors don't end up in theatre permanently, or perhaps at all. Among those who have gone on to have successful professional careers other than in theatre are 鈥77, a longtime administrator and finance officer at UC Berkeley.

Students who work together sometimes stay together

I will tell you the degree isn鈥檛 the only thing that matters in going to college. A fair number of students in theatre at 嘿嘿视频 met and married their significant others, including myself.

I met theatre major Katie Baad 鈥06 while I was a music major 鈥05 conducting a student-run production (a group called Studio 301) of Sondheim's where Katie was both a lead and producer. She is now the casting coordinator at California Musical Theatre, the region鈥檚 highest-budget regional theatre company.

Theatre major Drew Phillips 鈥05 met and married theatre major Syche Hamilton 鈥06. Syche worked off-Broadway as a stage manager and is now the associate director of marketing at in Silicon Valley.

If taking a class or two, or even majoring in theatre, interests you, I highly recommend scheduling a meeting with any of the . Better yet, go see a show!

Phil Daley 鈥05 has a bachelor鈥檚 degree in music and is a musician, aviation enthusiast and longtime staff member in the

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