Academics
Melissa Briner '08
Starting at the end of May (2008) I have been hired to join the acting company with Missoula Children's Theatre, which is a non-profit theatre based out of Missoula Montana. This is a traveling children's theatre so I will be on tour with them for three months and hopefully longer.
Being a Theatre Major at Saint Michael's College really helped me learn about every aspect of theatre. I really got to rediscover what it was about theatre that I love so much and it just proved even more that I would like to pursue a career in that field, even though it is a difficult field to enter.
The Liberal Studies program here is great. I learned so much in so many different areas of the college, I feel like it gave me a really broad knowledge and a great amount to fall back on. I feel like because I have this wide range of knowledge that I could go into any situation and be able to converse and communicate with anyone. It also sparked an interest in different areas that I think I may pursue in the future. My four years at St. Michael's College were just what I wanted and needed and I wouldn't change anything about them!
Tina Shantz '08
After graduating in 2008 with a double major in theatre and psychology and a minor in English I have been working in Charlottesville, VA, at the Heritage Theatre Festival as a Master Electrician. I've been focused in their black box space, which is more intimate than the theater at Saint Mike's, so I've had the chance to really excel in my first real professional position.
I came to Saint Mike's with a passion for acting but quickly realized I also loved working backstage. Both the faculty and students in the department were so passionate about their work that I couldn't help but love working in the theater on a daily basis. My knowledge of lighting, costuming, and carpentry increased immensely and at the same time I was able to continue honing my acting skills. This was perfect for me since I wasn't sure which area(s) I wanted to pursue, (in fact, I'm still not sure!).
In general, my entire experience at Saint Mike's was amazing. Since you have the chance to take a variety of classes in multiple fields I felt like I left the school with a broad range of knowledge which was something that was very important to me. However, it was the sense of community, both on the campus and in the surrounding areas, that made my Saint Mike's experience so memorable. I'm certain many of the friends I made with both the students and the professors will be life long and I am so grateful I was able to have such a wonderful four years.
Elizabeth Hartford '07
Just ten days after graduating from Saint Michael’s College I will travel to Missoula, Montana, to begin my summer adventure with The Missoula Children's Theatre, a professional non-profit touring children’s theatre. I will direct and act with 50 to 60 children a week in the musical The Wiz of the West. In September 2007, I will play Dulcinea, the lead female in a national tour of Don Quixote for The National Theatre for Arts and Education.
Saint Michael’s Theatre Department has immeasurably helped me to prepare for my future. The professors are incredible resources for coaching audition pieces. Also, the size of the theatre program enables much one-on-one attention. The aspect that I found to be most beneficial were the contacts I made because of my professors. Recently, a few alumni theatre majors were invited to share their career paths with current students in a class called Life in the Theatre.
I believe a liberal arts education is extremely valuable. I feel that the knowledge I have gained in the humanities, social sciences, philosophy and religion will forever benefit me in any path I choose to take.
Kaitlin Kevorkian '06
I live in Los Angeles, CA, and I'm the Senior Coordinator of Donor Relations and Volunteer Services at the Los Angeles Music Center. My responsibilities include making arrangements for high profile donors to see the shows at the specific organizations to which they contributed money, and to have new experiences seeing other performances at other organizations. The LA Music Center includes the Center Theatre Group, the LA Philharmonic Orchestra, the LA Master Chorale, Dance at the Music Center, the LA Opera, and other educational and outreach programs for Los Angeles Area students.
Saint Michael's College Theatre provided a broad look at all facets of theatre which showed me that there are many ways to be involved and many options when it comes to a career in theatre. In addition, in our theatre classes, many speakers were invited to meet with students to talk about what they're doing and how they came to be on their personal career paths. Meeting people who are successful in the arts was both impressive and inspirational. Saint Michael's liberal arts program also allowed me to study other areas they I was interested in, and to broaden my intellectual experience while in college.
Jessi Shuttleworth '06
After arriving in Boston in July 2006 and getting a part time job in the Marketing and Publicity Office at the American Repertory Theatre, I received a call from one of many casting agencies I had submitted my resume and headshot to. Suddenly, I was performing as “an attorney in the mayor’s office” on an ill-fated CBS Television drama, “Waterfront” starring Billy Baldwin, Mary Stuart Masterson and Joe Pantoliano. After five episodes were filmed, the series was dropped before airing. More recently I have been working in my first film, Focus Features’ “Evening”, starring Meryl Streep, Glenn Close, Claire Danes and Natasha Richardson.
Although I’ve known since I was three years old that I would be an actor, I arrived at Saint Michael’s College with virtually no theatre experience. I was excited to study under Professor Cathy Hurst. Professor Hurst guided my growth, was challenging, and supportive without coddling me. In areas where I needed growth, I received enormous assistance. Beyond theatre classes, I especially benefited from dance and voice courses. In addition to acting classes, I acquired skills in design and stagecraft from Professor John Devlin. I also found myself enriched by courses in religion, philosophy and art. I feel blessed by my time at Saint Michael’s College, for it has given me the career of my dreams.
Tracey Sullivan '05
I’m currently a Wardrobe Supervisor and stitcher at Northern Stage Company in White River Junction, Vermont. My most interesting experience was at Barbara Matera LTD in New York City, where I saw that theatre is truly a business. Working on costumes for Broadways shows (The Color Purple, The Lion King, etc.) helped me see that Broadway is very different in many aspects.
My education at Saint Michael's College has shaped me in all aspects of my life – personally and professionally. The size of the school allows you to think of your peers and educators as a family, and also as a team with one goal in mind: learning. Saint Michael’s Theatre Department is a wonderful place to nurture your craft as an artist – as well as a person.
Janet Lynn O’Hare ’02
I am a tour actor and director as well as a certified trainer with the Missoula Children’s Theatre based in Montana. I currently work with the Huntington Theatre Company in Boston as an Artistic Educator, working with inner city teens producing a play to inform their peers about their rights and responsibilities as a resident of Massachusetts. I am getting my Masters Degree in Theatre Education with an emphasis in Drama Therapy in hopes of being licensed in the next couple of years.
Any job or position or role I audition/interview for is done with Saint Michael’s College at heart. My touring invitation was thanks to the Theatre Department faculty at Saint Michael's. Since Saint Michael’s College is such a highly accredited institution it is looked upon highly when employers see it on my resume. I always come across people who went there or knew someone who went there. I have confidence that my experiences and opportunities in theatre are thanks to Saint Michael’s College!
Chris O'Neil '02
One of the first things I did was extra work in the film Me, Myself, and Irene. After that I was cast in a local independent production of a show called LARDINGTON LARK. This was my first legitimate acting work outside of college. Of course it wasn't the end-all experience, but it still felt good to get my first paycheck as an actor.
Since then I have done extra work in the film, Fever Pitch, in addition to doing five independent films and four History Channel documentaries. The documentaries, Slave Catchers - Slave Resisters, Bible Battles, and Aftershock: Beyond The Civil War, have all aired on the History Channel in the past two years. In fact, Aftershock was just debuted on January 3, 2007. The final documentary I was in was called 300: The Battle of Thermopylae. It will air in March 2007 as a historical reflection of the movie 300 starring Gerard Butler.
I honestly credit my time in the Saint Michael's theatre department for not only helping me become the kind of actor I am now, but also for helping me grow as a person. My life was shaped in a way that didn't really occur to me until after I graduated. I couldn't be more grateful to for the experiences I had when I was there. I have to credit Cathy Hurst and Peter Harrigan for a lot of those experiences.
Peter Sampieri '99
I am a professional director, a member of SSDC (Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers) Union and an Adjunct Professor of Theatre at Rhode Island College. After I received my degree from Saint Michael’s College in Theatre and English, I went to graduate school and received a Master of Fine Arts degree in Directing from Trinity Repertory Conservatory in Providence, RI. Most recently, I directed the Off-Broadway premiere of On the Line at the Cherry Lane Theatre in New York, produced by Mike Nichols. In the future, I hope to obtain a full-time teaching professorship and start my own theatre company.
Saint Michael’s Theatre and liberal arts education have been invaluable to me: the self-reliance, humility and drive that were instilled in me as a student here have served me well as a director and teacher. In addition, the level of personal attention I received at Saint Michael’s was something I never would have received at a larger, more impersonal institution, and I thrived on that, then and now. Saint Michael’s taught me how to dream big and risk big.
Joseph H. Biancaniello '97
Since graduating Saint Michael's College I have written and directed a few independent films and have become involved in television production in both directing and editing capacities. My education at Saint Michael's was the essential first step in my career. I constantly utilize and rely on the tools I gained through pursuing a liberal arts education, and most importantly, the skills I learned in the theatre department in congruence with my business degree.
Currently based in Los Angeles, I have started my own film company to develop and produce feature films and am currently associated with a New York based production company for directing commercials. Saint Michael's provided me with the knowledge to pursue my dreams and the proper fostering and encouragement of my creativity to give me the confidence to move forward.
Adam C. Scarano ‘97
I’m currently the Artistic Administrator at Merrimack Repertory Theatre in Lowell, MA. I manage five different departments for Merrimack Rep mainly focusing on producing theatre for the company. My most interesting experience in theatre was when I spent a week in Kansas City with playwright August Wilson. He was in town working on a production of Joe Turner’s Come and Gone and I was the Artistic Director’s assistant. I assisted Mr. Wilson with getting around the city and I organized his speaking engagements. My plans for the future are to continue with my Stage Management, Directing and Producing careers and eventually teach at the college level.
Saint Michael's Theatre Department made me into the artist I am today. Without the program, I wouldn’t be working as a professional in this business. The one-on-one instruction and the freedom to create, explore, and express my art were all invaluable to me as I discovered the power of the art of theatre. The liberal arts education I received at Saint Michael's College facilitated my growth as a complete student of the world.