What Can I Do With This Degree? The theatre experience at McPherson College breeds abilities in multi-tasking, time management and creative expression. Alumni pursuing careers in theatre note the these abilities as key factors for their jobs.

Current McPherson Theatre alumni are involved in theatre ranging from local community theatres to Broadway and beyond. Past theatre students have also found that studying theatre has helped them with their current careers in Ministry, Public Relations, Medical Professions, Teaching and Business. Because of the production calendar, adding Theatre as a second major to another interest is relatively easy to do.

Some stories from theatre alumni:

Jen (Taylor) Pollard, '00

After graduating with a Theatre Degree from McPherson College in the spring of 2000, Jen Pollard enrolled in graduate studies in Theatre at Michigan State University. She currently lives in London and works at Shakespeare’s Globe as the Front of House Manager.

“I always felt that Mac gave me the opportunity to jump in and learn hands on. Because it's a small environment, you have the chance to do so many things, and sometimes they need you to step in and fill a gap, so you jump in and try something new.”

Jen took full advantage of the networks already in place at McPherson College. She spent a summer at the Urban Life Center in Chicago and spent a semester abroad in Cheltenham, England, through Brethren College Abroad.

Jen picked up a variety of skills at McPherson College “from stenciling teapots on a set to being the back of a dancing cow. Rick had to teach me how to walk in high heels my freshman year. So I felt it was a huge achievement [in my senior year] that I wore 4 and a half inch heels and didn't fall over on stage.”

In addition to the front of house duties, Jen coordinates the volunteers at the Globe Theatre.

 

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Katie Sue Nicklos, '02

Katie Sue Nicklos utilized her experience both on and off stage at McPherson College to propel her all the way to Broadway. She currently works for the Timberlake Studios, Inc. in New York City, building costumes for stage, promotion and fashion!

Katie Sue had very little problem embracing her Midwest culture when she moved to New York City. “I was born in Colorado, got my undergrad degree in Kansas and my graduate degree in Iowa. I can't really say that this has helped or hurt my ability to thrive in New York, but I can say that I wouldn't be here if I hadn't been there. And that speaks for itself.”

Katie Sue credits the theatre department at McPherson for teaching her the art of multi-tasking. "Taking classes in a variety of disciplines, getting homework finished, studying for exams, and remembering to sleep without losing your marbles takes lots of planning. Add in producing six theatrical productions a year (every one of them dinner theatre) and you've got yourself a tricky situation! Working in the theatre is distinctive in that we are ruled by deadlines – the show must go on! I know my skill set as a professional is a result of the work environment I was immersed in at school – to do my job as best as I could as efficiently as I could, and then lend a hand to everyone else."

Learning the art of collaboration is also an asset taught at McPherson. For her senior project, Katie Sue co-produced the one-woman show “The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe,” which she also starred in. She worked closely with her peers and faculty to get everything ready. Since the show was professionally touring the United States, Katie Sue and Dr. Rick Tyler also worked with the author of the show, Lily Tomlin, to get special permission to stage the show.

Katie Sue interacts every day with designers, actors, and other theatre professionals from Broadway and beyond working on shows like The Coast of Utopia, Curtains and The Producers.

 

 

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tylerr@mcpherson.edu

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