Student Blog: The Arts in Liberal Arts

We experience the arts differently no matter what we do after high school, whether it be attending a conservatory program or a well-known university, or even skipping school completely and throwing your hat into the ring with self-tapes and auditions. But what is it like attending a small, liberal arts school? What even is a liberal arts school? Well, I'm glad you're here because I, for one, attend a liberal arts school, Augustana College to be exact. Now, before you open another tab on whatever you're reading this on, I'll help you out. Liberal arts is essentially a phrase that encompasses the studies of history, literature, writing, philosophy, sociology, psychology, creative arts, and more. The primary course load contains material that makes us think outside the box, and many programs at my school focus on unconventional methods of approaching, learning, and teaching the materials. Now, although my school is a liberal arts college, we offer more than what I listed above... and so much more, including theater and film, my areas of study!

My department is unique in that we are very small, but we maintain an abundance of resources from the professors within our department... to alumni who've moved on to do some pretty awesome things. We have 3 primary professors who teach subjects ranging from Directing, Stage Combat, Dramaturgy, Tap, Musical Theater History, Acting, and so much more (those are just the ones that I can remember off the top of my head). We also have 2 technical professors who teach classes that are catered to their degrees of study, including StageCraft, Lighting Sound Design, Scenography, and Costume and Makeup Design. These 2 professors are the same professors who offer work studies within our department, which means we can get paid to learn practical skills within the technical side of theater. Now, my professors don't just teach... Between the 5 of them, there are award winners, authors, singers, designers, technicians, and writers! For example, one of my professors is currently preparing to attend The Hollywood Fringe Festival with her one-woman show, which we wrote, starred in, and produced... all while teaching her students full time during the school year. Talk about a multitasker!

I always like to say that our department is small, but mighty, using the resources that we have, and telling some pretty awesome stories. In fact, during our upcoming season, I will actually be directing, which, although not a specific area of study offered at my school, is an option for those who are interested. We have the overall program of Theatre, and within that comes the actual concentrations for our major, including Performance, Theatre History, Design & Technology, Musical Theatre, and Generalist. We also offer a theatre minor, and new this past year, more crossover with our film department, which operates very closely with our theatre department.

Now, before I go on and on about the logistics of my department, I feel it's best to step away from my inner tour guide, and be honest about why I actually chose this department, ignoring the organization of the program and the professors. I chose this program compared to a few others that I looked at because it was small, and close-knit, of course, but most importantly, it offered opportunities for me to grow freely, without being bound to an audition to keep me in the program. I want to grow and improve my skills, and if a program insists I need to prove I'm already capable by auditioning for the program, then I feel like the program itself is only willing to teach those who they deem are already capable of succeeding. Now, this is obviously my own opinion, as I know there's many great programs out there where auditioning is part of the application process, and these are amazing programs, but for me, who was just beginning to find my footing as a storyteller when I was looking for schools, it was the right move to choose a school that didn't require an audition to get in.

Well, I'd say that's all there is to say about my department, but the truth is... there's so much for me to talk about. I will be a senior this next year, and so much has happened within the 3 years I've been at this school. I could talk about the guest directors we've brought in, the shows I've done, my introduction to immersive theater in which I played a ghost within an actual library... you see what I mean? 

Before I sign off, I do want to challenge you. Whether you're looking at what schools to attend after you graduate high school, are looking back at your times in school, or are simply scrolling through the student blog section on BroadwayWorld.... ask yourself, are you where you want to be? An artist, a storyteller, a writer, an editor, a singer, a dancer, a mom, a doctor? Whatever you may be doing in life, it's important to take a moment and reflect on where you are. You thought this was just a blog about my department at school huh... I'm a writer with ADHD, what do you expect! The reason I ask is because if I hadn't asked myself the same question my freshman year of college... I would not be where I am now. I wouldn't be interning as a cinematographer and editor, I wouldn't be directing a show next year, I wouldn't be applying for Master's programs in film and theatre, I wouldn't be writing to you now. Within the arts, it's difficult sometimes to appreciate the journey it takes to reach the goals we set for ourselves. We may feel stuck, but if there's anything this little midwestern liberal-arts-college-that-could has taught me, it's that sometimes the most unconventional journeys are the best ones. So think outside the box, throw a few things at the wall and see if they stick, and if they don't, try again. Or maybe stop throwing pasta at the wall to see if it's cooked through... that's a myth anyway. Catch you on the flipside theater-lovers!