Talented students pursue Hollywood dream

By Kathryn Karasek

Santa Clara has a long history of graduating outstanding students in the performing arts. As far back as the 1960s, Broncos have been gracing the stage and screen. "The Beverly Hillbillies" was one of the most popular television shows in the United States from 1962 to 1971. Jethro Bodine was a doltish, lovable character played by none other than Max Baer Jr., a Santa Clara graduate.

Other notable alumni in Hollywood include "Seinfeld" director, Andy Ackerman, and "That 70s Show" actor Kurtwood Smith, who played the sarcastic, yet lovable, Red Forman. In the music world, Jorma Kaukonen and Paul Kantner of Jefferson Airplane, an inductee of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, can both proudly call themselves Broncos.

Several times a year, Santa Clara's performing arts center puts on fabulous performances. Whatever the medium, the productions are wildly impressive and show off the talent of SCU students.

So how are current performing arts students planning on using their majors and their talents after graduation? Will they be the next hall-of-famers or sitcom stars?

The Santa Clara University website advertises that the theatre arts major "can prepare you for a career with professional theater and dance companies, film, television, arts administration or teaching." The creators of the programs recognize that there are a plethora of opportunities for those with performing arts degrees, but what are the specific plans pursued by SCU graduates?

According to Payscale.com, the most popular jobs for those with a Bachelors of Arts in music are teacher and music ministry director. For Marlys Hunt, a junior double major in music and chemistry, these projections are right on. She plans to attend graduate school in education and "teach elementary or middle school music and/or science," said Marlys. "Another possibility is to work as a pastoral musician at a Catholic church, directing the music." As one of the current music ministry interns here at Santa Clara, she is developing important skills for both career possibilities.

However, there are other performing artists at Santa Clara with more Hollywood and Broadway-esque ambitions, For example, Briana Mitchell, a theatre arts major, is embarking on the adventure of a lifetime this summer with the international tour of "Pawn: The Musical," a folk rock musical written by Stanford University undergraduate Karmia Chan Cao.

This summer, Briana and the cast of "Pawn" will start their tour at the second largest international music festival in the world, the Daegu International Music Festival in South Korea. From Daegu, they will travel to China and Canada before concluding the tour at the New York International Fringe Festival.

As a junior, Briana still has plenty of time to make plans for after graduation. However, she already refuses to "‘pigeon-hole' (herself) into strictly an ‘education' or ‘professional' track." Briana says, "I honestly enjoy and find value in both paths, and believe there's a way to balance them together." That being said, in pursuing the professional route, Briana would be following in the footsteps of many other impressive Santa Clara alumni.

Here at Santa Clara University, students are encouraged to dream big and pursue their interests in a variety of academic and professional fields. Dance, theatre and music encompass only a few of these, but are perhaps three of the most exciting.

As talented students enter into the professional world, they must decide how to best make use of their talents. One thing is certain: SCU students will continue to shine both onstage and off.

Contact Kathryn Karasek at mkarasek@scu.edu or at (408)554-1918.