![\"Theatre](\"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/greatminds\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2015\/11\/Theatre_HP.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nAT RISE:<\/u><\/p>\n
Three over-achieving theatre majors talk \u201cUMW.\u201d<\/p>\n
Act One: U-M-What?<\/p>\n
Jackie<\/u>: We were driving on 95, and I saw the exit for the University of Mary Washington. I literally looked it up from the backseat. Small classes were important to me. In high school, I developed a bond with so many of my teachers. I really wanted to carry that over into college. That\u2019s how I learn best.<\/p>\n
Gwen<\/u>: [clasps hands] I was originally supposed to go to school at Fordham University at Lincoln Center, take classes at Julliard, but it was incredibly expensive. My grandma had lived in Fredericksburg, and I knew about Mary Washington. I got a performing arts scholarship from my high school to come to UMW, but my first tour, to be honest, I didn\u2019t like it. The second time, I toured with (Department of Theatre and Dance Chair) Gregg Stull and that completely changed my point of view.<\/p>\n
Catherine<\/u>: I got invited to UMW to audition for governor\u2019s school for theatre but it got cut short so I only saw the back of duPont. I finally went to a Discovery Day and completely fell in love with it, like crazy about it. I loved how it looks, the size, the whole classroom experience they talked about. I was one of those kids who didn\u2019t apply anywhere else.<\/p>\n
Act Two: Theatre 101<\/p>\n
Jackie<\/u>: [tucks hair behind ear] I\u2019ve always loved theatre but in high school, I had extreme stage fright. I didn\u2019t get into actual theatre until I came here. Sophomore year I did a practicum and was second assistant stage manager for Lysistrata<\/em>, my first foray into the theatre department and seeing how a production works. Last fall I was cast in Sunday in the Park With George<\/em>. It was my first acting experience ever. I loved it.<\/p>\n Gwen<\/u>: We had a landing over my living room, and I\u2019d put on performances and make my parents watch. I loved Christmas because we\u2019d put on shows, Mary Poppins<\/em> or The Sound of Music<\/em>. I was 6 when I was first onstage in community theatre. I did Spring Awakening <\/em>my first semester at UMW. I always knew I wanted to major in theatre, but what\u2019s amazing is (Assistant Professor of Music) Mark Snyder\u2019s composition class; I\u2019m getting to write two to three songs a week.<\/p>\n Catherine<\/u>: I did my first show in kindergarten, first lead in a musical when I was 12 \u2013 45 Minutes From Broadway<\/em>; I was Mary. I was an athlete, so for a long time I wasn\u2019t focused on theatre at all. When I was diagnosed with severe asthma, they said I could never play again. That was the turning point; that summer I got into the New York Film Academy, an awesome, amazing experience. At UMW, I auditioned for Miss Firecracker<\/em> and got a call back. Then I met Gwen in acting class.<\/p>\n Gwen<\/u>:[hugs Catherine] Yay!<\/p>\n Catherine<\/u>: We both did a summer internship on Always \u2026 Patsy Cline<\/em>, and I really started getting involved. When I got a lead role in Doubt<\/em>, I declared a theatre major.<\/p>\n Act Three: Setting the Stage<\/p>\n Jackie<\/u>: Psychology helps you understand people. I use a personality type indicator on my characters to understand how they\u2019d act in different situations. This summer I volunteered at Camp Bruce McCoy for survivors of traumatic brain injury. It was a paradigm shift. I\u2019d love to act, but I really want to go to grad school and pursue occupational therapy.<\/p>\n Gwen<\/u>: I definitely want to keep acting, but I know I\u2019m going to do singing and songwriting. When I was 12, I went to New York to do my first demo, then ended up working with a label in Nashville and getting a development deal writing for artists. When you\u2019re so young, you get taken advantage of. Now I\u2019m getting paid to write for an artist based in Japan, so I\u2019m kind of trying to keep the ball rolling.<\/p>\n Catherine<\/u>: [glances knowingly at Jackie] Psychology helps with every aspect of life, especially theatre, especially when you\u2019re playing those really gritty roles. In a scene in class from Angels in America<\/em>, I played an agoraphobic addicted to valium. Having that psychology experience gives you a step up. I want to go into film. Film\u2019s really my passion.<\/p>\n The End<\/span><\/p>\n Just the Beginning<\/p>\n