Some collegiate artists have too much passion to fit inside a single box.
by Amanda Louise Miller, grad student
One of the hardest things for me about completing these blog posts every week is deciding what to put as a "job title" after my name. “Grad student” is accurate, but boring (and, to be honest, a bit misleading, since I've been working as a professional in education since 2003). But “writer-composer-performer-educator-faculty developer” sounds silly and pretentious. Often, I try to err on the side of unpretentious and/or funny, with varying degrees of success.
Fact is, I’m a “hyphenate.” I play in many different creative sandboxes, and they’re all extremely important to me. We’re a rare breed, we hyphenates -- we’re generally too busy to let you in on everything we’re doing, we’re probably running on caffeine and deadlines, but we’re out there.
A few fun and famous examples of “my people” include Barbra Streisand, Carla (from Top Chef), and I have to mention Nathalie Stutzmann (the extremely badass conductor-vocalist of early music I recently researched for a grad class in a project that inspired this blog post).
I thought the most interesting way to explore this idea, though, would be to focus on the famous-to-be. So today (and in some future posts down the road), I’m sharing profiles of some of the coolest collegiate hyphenates I know, sharing - in their own words - their plans, talents, and opinions on what it means to be so fabulously multifaceted.
This week, we'll get to meet an "actor-poet-visual-artist," a "theatrical-dance-opera lighting designer/modern dancer/stage production technician," an "actor-director-choreographer," all persuing undergraduate or graduate degrees at various colleges in the Midwest.
- Name?
Noah Diaz - Hyphenate on your business card (imaginary or otherwise)?
Actor-poet-visual artist - Any other applicable titles/jobs/identities?
Sign language enthusiast - College, year, and major? (And do you have any other degrees?)
Sophomore at the University of Nebraska - Omaha majoring in Communication Disorder and Sign Language Interpretation (minoring in Creative Writing) ((I know - not theatre? What?!))
(Noah performing his original poem, "Reasons to Get Our Lives in Check" at an Encyclopedia Show in Omaha, NE)
- Current plans after graduation?
Packing up and heading to Chicago to pursue a theatre career. - Tell your backstory in 15 words or less.
Boy loves the arts, DOES THEM ALL. - Describe your pie-in-the-sky dream job/jobs
I want to make a living with performance. I say "performance" because it's a transcendent thing - it could be slam poetry, theatre (which is what I'm most passionate about), etc. I just want to live comfortably off of "performance" paychecks.
(performing in "Lend Me a Tenor" at the Omaha Community Playhouse)
- What’s awesome about being a “hyphenate” in the arts?
Being a hyphenate is the best. All of my descriptors influence each other - they are all one fluid *thing*. A line I say in a play might spark a poem I write which might inspire a found-object sculpture I create. Everything is always working with and for each other. - What’s not-so-awesome about it?
It seems the more hyphenates you have, the less people take you seriously. People want to understand you as a singular thing (you are an actor OR a visual artist), but hyphenates live in millions of different boxes.
(Noah performing "Reviewing the Situation")
- Anything else you want CrazyTown readers to know?
(A) You can see me perform in a staged reading of 'A Bright New Boise' with the 21 & Over Series at the Omaha Community Playhouse on October 22nd at 7:30 (it's FREE!); (B) You can check out a series of mixed media art pieces I've done in conjunction with the Kent Bellows Studio's exhibition "Harvest" that's running October 12th - 30th; (C) You can hear me perform some of my poetry with STIR! at First Christian Church on October 24th at 6:30.
_______________________________
- Name?
My name is Aja Michelle Jackson. However, all of my resumes read Aja M. Jackson. - Hyphenate on your business card (imaginary or otherwise)?
As of now, my imaginary card would read: Theatrical- Dance- Opera Lighting Designer/ Modern Dancer/ Stage Production Technician - Any other applicable titles/jobs/identities?
I am a Department of Labor certified stage technician and I have done many shows as a Master Electrician. Additionally, I have choreographed for student concerts and I am currently working on another dance piece that will be presented at the end of November.
(Aja, the dancer)
- College, year, and major? (And do you have any other degrees?)
I am currently a double major in Theatrical Design and Production with an emphasis in Lighting Design and Dance Performance with an emphasis in Modern Dance. - Current plans after graduation?
I am currently working on a grant to aid some work opportunities in London. Afterwards, I would like to live in Denver, CO. My penultimate dream is to work at The Denver Center for Performing Arts. My ultimate goal is to work in the lighting department at The Metropolitan Opera. - Tell your back-story in 15 words or less.
Starting young, drawn to the stage, after time, challenges of technology split my interest backstage. (That is difficult!)
(Aja, the lighting designer)
- Describe your pie-in-the-sky dream job/jobs.
As I mentioned before, The Metropolitan Opera is my “dream job”. The Met works on an artistic and technological level that remains unrivaled by any other theatre. Not only do they produce stunning shows, but also they remain true and honor the original work. To be submersed in such a rich environment and working with the best designers and technicians in the world would be an honor. In addition, the day-to-day challenges and obstacles would keep the job and life interesting and exciting. - What’s awesome about being a “hyphenate” in the arts?
I feel as though I have an interesting perspective, especially when it comes to artistry. - What’s not-so-awesome about it?
It was and always will be a balancing act. It is difficult to not let one part of the “hyphenate” dictate the other. It is also a test of time management, making sure that I am allocating appropriate time to both design and performance. It is important to me that I am well rounded and eloquent enough to speak on behalf of both.
(Aja, on tour)
- Anything else you want CrazyTown readers to know?
Thank you so much!
___________________________
- Name?
Randall T. Stevens - Hyphenate on your business card (imaginary or otherwise)?
“Director-Actor-Choreographer”
(Randall, the actor, as Hedwig.)
- College, year, and major? (And do you have any other degrees?)
University of Memphis, 2nd year Masters Student, MFA Direction. I also have a BS in Secondary Education, with an endorsement in Language Arts. - Current plans after graduation?
To direct stuff. :) I would love to go to a big city and find work, or be based in an affordable (probably Midwestern) city and travel freelance to work. Ideally, I’d love to be an artistic director at an established, reputable theatre. - Tell your backstory in 15 words or less.
Started off as a actor, couldn’t remember my lines anymore, so I became a director.
(Randall worked last summer as an assistant director for The Lion King on Broadway)
- Describe your pie-in-the-sky dream job/jobs (in as many words as you want).
Artistic director of the Old Gold Theatre in San Diego. - What’s awesome about being a “hyphenate” in the arts?
It gives you a better understanding of the art as a whole. I’m a director, but I know what actors go through. I have their same insecurities, quirks, craziness, so I know how to deal with them. - What’s not-so-awesome about it?
I think that's a hard question to answer, because they say if you’re doing something you love, then you thrive on it no matter the bullshit you have to deal with. So even if I’m working in a community theatre not getting paid, I’m still doing what I love... but the hours, I guess, if I have to say something that's not-so-awesome.
- Anything else you want CrazyTown readers to know?
I'm excited about my next project - directing "The Normal Heart" at our university. It's going to be an exciting challenge to try and make the show relevant to students who were not even a thought at that time in history, in order to tell the story honestly and truthfully.
Stay tuned for more awesome collegiate hyphenates!
AMANDA LOUISE MILLER
never knows what to write for this bio line either. :)
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