Though her interest in entertainment began as a young child on the amateur stages of Los Angeles, it didn’t take long for Evan Pearl ’21 to start wondering: What goes on behind the camera—and behind the curtain?
As she prepared for college, Pearl knew she wanted to work in entertainment, but she didn’t know what that might look like, or what opportunities existed. (more…)
At the intersection of culture and creativity is where Peri Warren ’22 likes to spend most of her time.
Earning a degree in American Studies with a focus on Black Studies from Occidental College in 2019, she appreciated the interdisciplinary and intellectual experience of getting to explore topics like U.S. civilization and cultural studies all within one program. (more…)
Roberta Jafet ’23 says her enthusiasm for the arts began as a child in São Paulo, Brazil. She was involved in every arts-related activity possible, from theater to choir. When it came time for undergraduate school, she pondered a musical theater career but went a different direction, studying architecture and urban design at Fundação Armando Alvares Penteado instead. (more…)
 Jonathan Kwock ’23 grew up with some of the Midwest’s best regional musical houses in his own backyard. Surrounded by theater and the arts, he spent time at notable venues like STAGES St. Louis and The Muny, even performing with Muny Teens. When it was time to search for a college program, he chose Northwestern’s BS in Theatre with a Certificate in Musical Theatre. “Instead of being a conservatory, it was a well-rounded experience that lets you choose your path in terms of what you want to specialize in,” he explains. |
Jasmine Roberson ’23 grew up in the world of performing arts, dedicating 14 years to studying dance, including tap and ballet. What she enjoyed most about the experience wasn’t necessarily the performance, but the sisterhood that came along with dancing beside other girls her age and getting to learn from Black instructors. (more…)
After landing his first real musical theater job at age 10, working with Cameron Mackintosh, a well-known Broadway producer, Daniel Roberge ’23 had just one goal in mind: He wanted to be an artist and performer. As Roberge became involved in more ballet performances, he says that many in his hometown of Newcastle called him Australia’s Billy Elliot. Six years later, a classical ballet teacher in Australia took note of Roberge’s talent and wanted to do what she could to help him succeed. (more…)
One of the things Nicole Tank ’23 enjoyed most about high school was all the writing and editing work she did as part of the yearbook team. In fact, that experience—along with an internship at a local newspaper in Round Rock, TX—inspired her to choose journalism as her college major. She toured big-name journalism schools across the country, dismissing any that offered only communication as a major. (more…)
Photo: Kenneth Leftridge
For Sam Brown ’23, art is life—and she wants everyone to be able to experience it.Moving from Florida to Ohio to attend Oberlin College in 2010, she earned a BA in Africana Studies with a minor in dance—complete with a capstone project in hip-hop dance. After graduation, she came to Chicago to be part of the city’s thriving arts scene and found her first arts industry job at The Promontory, a music venue on Chicago’s South Side, where she served as a curator, event producer, and production staff member. (more…)
Captured by @SeanSuPhoto
When Ricardo Ortega ’23 discovered theater in high school, he knew he found a pastime that would stay with him always. As he went on to study history at Kent State University, he found ways to stay connected to theater. (more…)
Grace Johnson ’23 says her devotion to storytelling, reading, and writing began at an early age. For fun, she spent time crafting stories and poems for friends and family, creating content for her blog, and writing her own book reviews. These creative outlets gave her a chance to use her imagination, express her feelings, and hone her craft.
As she got older, she began to connect this passion with her real-world experiences as she lived life as a Black woman. She wasn’t satisfied with how women like her were portrayed in popular media, and she wondered: As an ardent storyteller, could she find a way to help change the narrative in television and film? (more…)
