Why Tufts: The Stage
After my final production in HS I decided I was done being on stage. I’d had a fantastic four years, full of fascinating characters and shows, but I felt that at Tufts I should try to focus down on my academics and leave my theatre girl identity at home in California. HA! That decision lasted a long time… NOT. I walked on campus, met three people, discovered they were ALL theatre people, and next thing I new I was whisked off to an ice cream social for 3ps, the Tufts student theatre group, and found myself putting my name on almost EVERY contact list and signing up for FOUR auditions… all in the first two days I was on campus. And, honestly, I’ve never looked back or regretted that decision.
Day Father -- Mother and Anna (Imogen and Leah)
What I found waiting for me in the Tufts theatre department was an incredible group of talented individuals who were genuinely excited to bring me into their community and help me back up on stage. I ended up diving right into 3ps week two of college, as I was cast in an incredible role in Day Father, the 3ps major production written by senior Lindsey Carpenter and directed by Junior Cole Van Glahn. Not only was I cast in a show, I decided to audition for, and was accepted into, TRUNK, Tufts Traveling Treasure Trunk, Tuft’s only children’s theatre troupe, I was honing in my craft in Acting II first semester, and was cast in my first department show, Measure for Measure, directed by lecturer Sheriden Thomas. The whole community embraced me and I quickly found some of my best friends: TRUNK has become my constant support group and a welcome break from any day, Cole quickly assumed the role of big brother and mentor, and the senior, Leah Bastacky, who played my daughter in my first show, is the most amazing friend a girl could ask for, one willing to give me all kinds of advice and love (Cole and Leah road tripped down from San Francisco over winter break to visit me in LA!), not to mention heaps of others I can’t imagine my life without.
Cast of Measure for Measure warming up
I can’t imagine my life without Tufts theatre in it. When I’m not doing a show, I have serious withdrawal problems but am lucky enough to be able to surround myself with my incredible friends. I have been challenged by every character I’ve played, been blown away by the professional nature in which shows are produced, and have LOVED every moment… walking into the Balch arena theatre from Easy (one of the vom entrances) was a pretty amazing feeling. I didn’t choose Tufts because of the theatre program, but am so lucky that Tufts has offered me a way to pursue my dreams and passion for theatre, but still be as academic as I wish and not make it my sole activity. Here, there is the amazing opportunity to dip your toes into everything you want to, as long as you can fit it into twenty-four hours and, were I looking to peruse theatre in an academic setting, I couldn’t have made a better choice.
If you have any questions or want to chat about theatre, please comment below or shoot me an e-mail at imogen.browder@tufts.edu!
Links You Might Like -->
Department Website:http://ase.tufts.edu/drama-dance/
3ps, Student theatre: http://tufts3ps.webs.com
TRUNK: http://travelingtreasuretrunk.com
Last semester I created a series of vlogs about a 3ps major, the first episode is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAx2dURc0Jo
TRUNK bonding!