With every graduating class at the Arts Academy, theatre majors set out on a challenging journey to make successful careers as professional actors. Along the way, they make decisions and learn valuable lessons about choosing a college, agents, roles, auditions and much more. Despite many obstacles, many Academy theatre students successfully navigate the difficult early years of their career to establish themselves as successful working actors. With generous support from the Allen-Heath Memorial Foundation, the theatre department has helped many of these successful young actors return to campus to share their experiences and insights about starting an acting career with current students.
Through the foundation’s gifts, the theatre department has established a regular series of visiting artists. Some of the visiting artists have been high-profile guest artists like Tony Award-winning Camp alumna Victoria Clark, renowned composer Alan Menken and faculty from the Royal Scottish Academy. The theatre students relish the opportunity to meet with such notable individuals but they are just as eager to welcome younger actors and alumni who, although not household names, have established successful acting careers at a young age.
“The idea is to bring in former students who have graduated within the last decade,” explained David Montee, director of the theatre department. “Many of our young alumni have already made great strides in their profession but they have not forgotten what it is like to be a high school student. The lessons that they have learned about starting a career in today’s world of acting are very fresh in their minds.”
Frequently, several alumni are invited to appear at the same time, in panels organized with a theme in mind, such as musical theatre, television, working with agents, college programs or exploring career options in different cities. The panelists use their own educational and career experiences to answer students’ questions and provide insights. “With three or four successful young alumni here at once, there is such great interaction between them. They feed off each other and the conversations take unexpected twists that would not have happened with just one guest,” said Montee. “The students take away a much more complete understanding of their career choices. And the alumni have a great learning and networking experience too.”
"The theatre alumni panels have been some of my favorite events at the Academy," said Logan Woodruff, a senior theatre major. "The insights, experiences and energy they share provide us invaluable information into the realities of a life in the theatre."
The Allen-Heath Memorial Foundation has played a crucial role in sustaining the guest artist program by covering the travel and housing costs of guest artists and panelists.