“How’s that theatre degree working out for ya?”

“How’s that theatre degree working out for ya?”

I am a UW-Parkside Theatre Arts graduate (class of 2002). The question above is not one I hear sporadically, and always it is asked in jest. My job is in Information Technology (IT) at a multi-national consumer package goods corporation. For all intents and purposes, I am a salaried employee of “corporate America.”

So how does that work, exactly? What have I learned in my 5 years at Parkside, concentrating on my Bachelor of Arts degree that I am able to use effectively in my life?

The answer is as simple as it is complicated. For starters, my life has a great sense of completeness to it. Though I do not claim a theatre based profession, I probably spend more time working, caring for and thinking about theatres or theatre communities that I have involved myself in than any other non-work related endeavour. I have been directly involved in Racine’s Over Our Head Players now for over ten years, volunteering as actor, director, designer, booth, backstage or “whatever needs to be done.” Additionally, I have served on their board of directors, including a couple years as board president, for several years, helping to guide the business aspect of the organization in addition to working on the production half of the house. Also, from my Uni days to present, I have been able to spend time working with or working for other theatres in the Southeast Wisconsin area, including the Racine Theatre Guild, the Lakeside Players, the Racine Youth Players, and in a couple small ways, the Milwaukee Repertory Theatre. I do this because I love it, and I do it because I have a passion for the arts.

At no time in my life was that passion cultivated more so than my time at UW-Parkside. Passion is infectious. I came into UWP with a small case of passion, and through the instructors, the classmates, the artists and staff of UW-Parkside, this mild case of passion grew to become a full blown artsy disease, for which, thankfully, there is no cure, nor desire to cure. Between the expertise of the faculty, including Skelly, Lee, Dean, Judith, to the guidance and tutelage of the staff like Michael, Keith, Kim and the friendships and joys of such wonderful and talented classmates like Ditter, Tim, Dan, and Allison, it has been an honour to have worked with everyone in the department.

In my professional life, I have been able to use the skills of collaboration (directing), creative problem solving (set construction, lighting), public speaking and corporate presentation (acting) as finely developed tools thanks to my work at Parkside. In fact, I have been granted to opportunity to write, produce, direct and present internal corporate videos on multiple occasions due to my background and training in performing arts. These videos have been used to educate and entertain global teams within my organization.

The friendships and connections I have made during my time at UW-Parkside are both personally endearing to me, as well as my ability to pursue my hobby with the expertise of my friends available to me. A perfect example is my most recent involvement with an independent film being shot in Madison. My ability to consult and work on this film has been greatly enhanced by the knowledge and experiences I have obtained via Dan and Fionnegan since graduating. When I consider the writing and directing I have done since my time at Parkside, I credit Tim, Mike, and Dean for the knowledge and experience they imparted to me (as well as anyone they’ve ever come into contact with) to enhance and build upon my personal capabilities.

Finally, and I cannot stress this enough, my marriage to fellow classmate, Jenny is actually enhanced by my passion for theatre, which we both share, and my excitement for her profession as Education Director at a major professional Milwaukee Theater. Having the background in theatre and passion for theatre allows me to connect with my wife with a level of communication which often times is not easily obtained between a couple.

So, how’s that theatre degree working for me? I can’t stress enough how my time at UW-Parkside, despite the fact that theatre has not become my primary profession, has enhanced my quality of life personally, professionally, and through my volunteerism. It has made me a more complete, well rounded person, better able to empathize with others, collaborate, and drive toward common goals. My theatre degree is working out just fine, and better than any outside perspective could ever imagine.