This week, we look at three more impressively-multifacted college artists.
by Amanda Louise Miller, grad student
In last week's post, I started talking about the idea of "hyphenates." In my book, hyphenates are individuals who persue activities in more than one creative genre. I first heard of the term as "a thing" on a Barbra Streisand recording:
"Growing up, I always wanted to write music. Maybe a symphony, maybe something for a movie. And when I was 14, I remember standing in front of the mirror with a hairbrush, conducing Tchaikovsky's Romeo and Juliet and crying. I also wanted to play the part, by the way. It was my first dream hyphenate: 'conductor-actress.'" -- Barbra Streisand, "Evergreen" (frm her Timeless album - watch the video clip here.)
Nowadays, I usually call myself a "writer-composer-performer-educator," but when I was in elementary school, my "dream hyphenate" included at least a dozen different careers. I remember, as a kindergartener, usually answering the "What do you want to be when you grow up?" question with something like: "An astronaut-slash-ballerina-slash-detective-slash-musician-slash-scientist-slash-writer-slash-fashion-designer-slash-artist-slash-mom..." (at which point the well-meaning grown up who asked the question would start backing away slowly, leaving me to keep listing job after job).
Kindergarten Amanda may be a rare example, but you can find us hyphenates everywhere, working and doing all the things that we love, if you know where to look. This week, I'm profiling four more particularly awesome collegiate hyphenates from around the Midwest: Jamie Fields, Kathryn Miller, and Stephen Variames. Haven't heard of them yet? You will. :)
- Name?
Jamie Fields - Hyphenate on your business card (imaginary or otherwise)?
Actor – Scenic Carpenter/Welder - Any other applicable titles/jobs/identities?
I’m currently President of my school’s Student Theatre Co-operative. I’m also a barista. I can be a technical director or a stage manager, but I haven’t fully pursued those options. Except being a barista, that’s paying off my loans. I also like to consider myself a life enthusiast.
(Jamie onstage in "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead.")
- College, year, and major? (And do you have any other degrees?)
I am a senior at the University of South Dakota, and just recently starting pursuing my BFA in Theatre with an Acting Specialization. I just made the switch from being a Technical Theatre and Design Major meaning I will be a super senior, and I’m totally okay with that! - Current plans after graduation?
I will be moving to either Minneapolis or Chicago to pursue an acting career, with a specific interest in physical theatre, devised works, and ensemble based work. I will also probably end up with a carpentry gig to help pay the bills. - Tell your backstory in 15 words or less.
Passionate, life loving student eager to learn everything and share what I know with everyone! - Describe your pie-in-the-sky dream job/jobs (in as many words as you want).
Pie-in-the-sky dream job? Well, this probably makes me sound over ambitious, naive, and a wee bit crazy but I’m well aware of that; I want to inspire the world. I want people to learn how to be happy with themselves, and with their lives, regardless of their personal situation. I want to use theatre and performance arts to show people how to do that, give them the experience of expression and understanding. Now, how I’m going to accomplish this – not sure yet. Maybe I will do it through directing, or through being an educator, or by being an actor but that’s my pie-in-the-sky dream…it will form into a job at some point.
(Carving foam in the scene shop)
- What’s awesome about being a “hyphenate” in the arts?
Being a hyphenate is neat. It gives me a wider range of viewpoints to look at a situation, whether technically or artistically. - What’s not-so-awesome about it?
What’s not-so-awesome is sometimes people don’t take me seriously. Or they are intimidated by me, which is just plain silly! - Anything else you want CrazyTown readers to know?
Dear Readers – Live your passion. I’m a firm believer in doing what you love, because you only have one life, why not make it an amazing one?
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- Name?
Kathryn Clare Miller.
- Hyphenate on your business card (imaginary or otherwise)?
professional vocalist/nanny/seminarian - Any other applicable titles/jobs/identities?
Vagabond?
(Performing during a seminary worship service.)
- College, year, and major? (And do you have any other degrees?)
I'm a first year MDiv student at the Chicago Theological Seminary. I'll (hopefully) graduate in 2014..... previously graduated with a Bachelor's of Music in Musical Theatre from the University of Nebraska at Kearney, in May '06. - Current plans after graduation?
Unsure of plans post-graduation, but probably something trying to mix everything I like and do now - faith based job, working with kids, involving the arts, - Tell your backstory in 15 words or less.
Farm girl turned singer/actress turned nanny/vagabond turned who knows?! (and farm girl)
(Farm girl)
- Describe your pie-in-the-sky dream job/jobs
My pie in the sky dream job(s) would probably be either as a full-time professional vocalist or a youth/music pastor in a big church where I can start a bunch of cool stuff..... - What’s awesome about being a “hyphenate” in the arts?
I have never been someone that has ever decided "This is the one and only thing I want to do the rest of my life, the the exclusion of all else." I used to think I was that way about theatre, but I'm not. Doing shows are fun. Auditioning and worrying about money and headshots and being the perfect size and having the perfect face and all the business crap that goes along with acting are not my cup of tea. And as someone who resoundingly does not fit nicely into a theatre "niche" or "box" or whatever you want to call it, I just decided I wanted to find a job that I found more fulfilling and keep the theatre stuff for myself. It has been a great decision. I love that I can do that, because I personally feel more well rounded that way. - What’s not-so-awesome about it?
What's not so awesome are the plethora of not-so-nice responses I get from people who think that I'm selling out or giving up. I think some people view suffering for your art as something wonderful and noble. (I used to be one of them.) Now, I'd just rather be done with suffering and be happy instead! - Anything else you want CrazyTown readers to know?
If you're going to be in the Chicago Area this holiday season, you can come see me in the Shedd Aquarium Holiday Fantasea show! ....CrazyTown readers should also know that the writer of this blog is awesome. I might be biased, as I've known her my entire life because we're kinda sorta related, but whatever. She's pretty darn cool!!!
Ok, full disclosure: Kathryn's my sister! You can check out our collaborative musical stylings here. :)
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- Name?
Stephen Variames - Hyphenate on your business card (imaginary or otherwise)?
Vocal Coach - Accompanist - Composer - Conductor (You know, like what composers had to be, back in the day -- it all fell under the job of being a composer.) - College, year, and major? And do you have any other degrees?
I am currently a first-year Artist Diploma Opera Coaching Major student at the Cincinnnati College-Conservatory of Music. I have an undergrad degree in Composition from Baylor, and I got my Master's degree in Vocal Coaching from Oklahoma City University.
(Stephen receiving his MM degree from OCU.)
- Current plans after graduation?
I don't know. Right now, I'm hoping to do a few programs -- get a prestigious summer program, and then get a residency somewhere. - Tell your backstory in 15 words or less.
Composition, after tears.
Played for singers for money.
Fell in love with opera (pays rent). - Describe your pie-in-the-sky dream job/jobs (in as many words as you want).
My dream job would be working in the Bayreuth House in Germany as one of their leading coaches. In addition to presenting Wagner and Strauss, I could write and produce my own operas and distribute them throughout the world.
(from Stephen's graduate vocal coaching recital)
- What's awesome about being a "hyphenate" in the arts?
Every day is different, and you always find something new in a piece when you look at it from so many different angles. There's always something new, something to see in a different way. - What's not-so-awesome about it?
Sometimes you get pigeon-holed. People want to see you as just one thing, and it gets frustrating because you want to do so much more. And sometimes, there's not enough time to do both or all things. - Anything else you want CrazyTown readers to know?
Never close your mind off to new possibilities. :)
AMANDA LOUISE MILLER
still kind of wants to be an astronaut/ballerina/detective/musician/scientist/writer/mom.
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