Student Blog: Taking the Plunge Into Senior Year

Embarking on my first semester of senior year has been a whirlwind. From reuniting with friends to having my first “lasts” to juggling my classwork, the first few weeks back has been nothing short of interesting. 

My name is Reese Leif, and I’m a current senior at the University of Michigan studying Theatre Arts with a concentration in Performing Arts Management. In addition to my studies in the arts, I’m in the process of completing a double minor in Writing and Digital Studies. This post marks my first article on BroadwayWorld, and I’m thrilled to be joining the Student Blogger team this fall!

While my time in official classrooms is limited these next few months – 9 hours a week despite my 14 credits worth of work – I’ve found that my real-world experiences in the arts over the past few summers have presented me with a new opportunity to connect my professional work to my schoolwork. My courses in arts fundraising, leadership strategy, and professional development hold a new weight, as graduation is approaching like a closing curtain on a long-running show. 

This semester, because I’ve completed the majority of my in-class curricular requirements needed to graduate, I’ve had the privilege of pursuing other projects for credit that are helping to further my interests in producing, fundraising, marketing, public relations, dramaturgy, and directing. Under the supervision of Jay Pension, I’m combining my passion for the work of NMDP and live event coordination by producing a benefit concert for the organization. Additionally, I’m working with Dr. Karin Waidley on Production Dramaturgy for the university’s upcoming production of John Proctor is the Villain. 

From a co-curricular standpoint, I have quite the semester ahead of me. I have the privilege of serving as the Artistic Director of Basement Arts, a long-standing student theatre organization housed in the Department of Theatre & Drama. This position has allowed me to explore my interests in producing, literary management, financial management, and grant writing. Quite the educational experience! Additionally, I’ve just joined the executive board of Blank Space Workshop, a student organization (founded by Bachelor of Theatre Arts alum Eli Rallo) focused on new work development across all performance mediums. 

To tap into my artistic side, I’m serving as the Production Dramaturg for Murder on the Orient Express, which is being produced by Rude Mechanicals – a titan in the student theatre scene on campus. Later in the semester, I will be directing a staged reading of Macbitches by Sophie McIntosh in the Walgreen Drama Center’s iconic Newman Studio. It’s not lost on me how truly lucky I am to have access to so many student-led opportunities. It is through organizations such as these that I was given the chance to explore my many interests in the theatre industry prior to working professional internships in the field. 

The first weeks of the semester have felt like jumping back into a cold pool. Plunging back into my schoolwork and on-campus commitments has been shocking yet refreshing – as a senior, everything feels different. As I navigate the halls of the University of Michigan’s larger-than-life campus, I try to take each stride with a newfound sense of gratitude: in a year, who knows where I’ll be?