McNeese Dept. of Performing Arts

Text Box: Encore ENCORE: WHAT I TOOK WITH ME… High school seniors: Are you still not sure if McNeese Theatre is the place for you? Alumni: Want to relive some of those memorable moments? This page is devoted to messages from past McNeese Theatre folks. These are actors, designers, technicians, and “Theatre Groupies” who want to share some of those moments with you. We hope you enjoy (and remember!) some of our favorite folks and their favorite memories. If you have a special moment to share or words of wisdom to pass down to our present and future students of theatre, please email to Joy Pace – Coordinator of Theatre: jpace@mcneese.edu. What I have taken away from McNeese: From - MSU Theatre Graduate, Jill Tate “The McNeese State University theatre program in the Department of Performing Arts taught me the essentials of the profession. From acting and technical classes to dance and movement classes, I received a variety of training that I know will help me to pursue a career. I learned that talent has to be molded and that there is always someone out there that can do exactly what you can do, sometimes better, and that the right attitude towards people and situations may give you the edge that you need to land a job. A piece of advice that I have for new majors is to learn how to work with others. It seems like it’s a simple concept, but so many people forget how to just work together to achieve an excellent product. Learn all that you can, and never come into anything thinking that you know everything because there is always something that you can learn. Don’t burn any bridges — in this business it’s all about who you know. This may seem like pre-mature advice to someone who is still enrolled in school because they haven’t gone into the “real world” yet; but I promise it starts now. The skills that you will learn in theatre can help you to land theatre related jobs (acting, technical, dance etc.) but can also help you in any job field that you can think of. Your degree plus the people skills that you learn will make you a valuable asset to any employer that you may seek after college. So listen, learn, and break a leg! Jill Tate, B.A. in Theatre Arts 2008 From MSU Theatre Graduate Michelle Watsky And my last piece of advice: DO HAVE A WONDERFUL TIME LIVING IN THE THEATRE! You'll miss it when you leave. Michelle Watsky (Class of 2005)

DO	DON’T
Audition for everything	BE LATE FOR REHEARSAL
Become friends with everyone	Have a job if you want to live in the theatre
Become familiar with the holes on the stage in Squires	Take your theatre classes for granted
Take technical theatre. You’ll be happy that you did!	Audition with a piece you wrote (monologue or song)
Do try to work with every director/professor.. You'll become more rounded as an actor.	Walk barefoot backstage or in the scene shop
Take singing for Non-Majors	Wear flip-flops or khakis while building sets
Become a student designer. Sound design is rarely tapped.	SCREW HOLES IN YOUR FINGERS!
Take Make-up design	Become a diva!
Do try to diversify yourself and chose different monologues from comedy to drama; from Greek to Contemporary; from Restoration to Surrealism.	Talk back to your directors.
Do take every dance class with Mr. Whitlock. He's a fabulous dance professor/choreographer.	Sign up for something if you can’t give 110%.