Long before the lights are on and the audience hears the first lines, an entire world is already in motion. Students in NAU’s theater program not only perform on stage, they also build the stage, work the lights, prepare the costumes, manage the sound, market the show and oversee every element that brings a production to life. Every position in a theater production is filled by students who take full ownership of the creative process. 
Each semester, the program mounts two productions, challenging students to balance artistry with discipline, teamwork and leadership.
“It is a gift to work with these students,” said Jaclynn Jutting, assistant professor in the Department of Theater and director of their most recent productions, “The Dumb Waiter” by Harold Pinter and “Los Vendidos” by Luis Valdez. “They are incredible artists who are actively learning the skills they need if they want to do this as a career. I think theater is about community telling stories in a community, and in theater, you don’t have to decide to only do it professionally; you could also come to the theater and just experience it.”
McKenzie Mack, a junior majoring in theater and minoring in creative media film who has been in several theater productions throughout her time at NAU and will be part of the cast of Molière’s “The Imaginary Invalid” in April, said her favorite part about the program is its many different points of entry.
“We have so many different clubs,” Mack said. “We have a fraternity, Alpha Psi Omega, and classes for each design aspect of theater, and we combine them all for the shows. Each production gives you an opportunity to work or be on a show. There is always something to do and that is something I really like. You don’t have to be a theater major or minor to participate; all you have to do is show up.”
Which is exactly what Ben Norman, an environmental sustainability major who is also majoring in theater with performance emphasis, did.
“I wasn’t in the theater program until my sophomore year,” Norman said. “I took the acting intensive class and I fell in love with it because of the professors and the people were so welcoming. It was such a fun experience.”
Training professionals
In a field as competitive as the performing arts, experience is everything, and this program not only teaches actors but also trains all kinds of theater professionals. During the production of “The Dumb Waiter” and “Los Vendidos,” Norman oversaw the firearms, making sure only he and the head stage manager would move and access them for safety. He said that even though they can’t be fired or used to harm anyone, because they do look real, there is a person assigned to watch them—just as though it were a Broadway production or a big-budget film.
“Being in a show has been the most valuable experience to me,” Norman said. “We get hands-on experience by working on the shows as both performers and crew members. Everyone is so welcoming and I’ve met so many people. During my capstone class, I was able to build my resume, a website and a network thanks to the performers and technical designers of major shows who talked to our class about the industry.”
Another member of the production whose capstone class is giving her the tools to prepare for life after college is Kayla Black, a senior double-majoring in theater and accountancy.
“It’s a culmination of all our efforts here in the theater department,” Black said. “I started in costumes my freshman year and throughout my journey through theater and NAU I have been working in the costume shop. I love the collaboration and jumping over obstacles that show up along the way, changing things and adjusting them as we go. My favorite part of theater is the people and the community.”
Building community
Sophomore Sarah Lorraine Lee, who is majoring in theater and minoring in English, said NAU theater feels like a family.
“Theater is filled with interesting and amazing people and you make so many amazing connections,” Lee said. “My favorite part of being a costume crew head is teaching people how to do things; to have the opportunity to explain it the way it was explained to me is very rewarding. Working under our professors has been such a wonderful experience and so encouraging. I have felt nothing but support throughout this process. They are some of the most talented women I have worked with and since I want to teach costuming design, I can see my future in them and it is very bright.”
Kate Ellis, a theater professor with a focus on costume design, technology and stage makeup, agrees. She said some students take internships or work in summer stock, which supports their future careers when they graduate.
“Our design and tech students have had a really high level of success getting into the field,” Ellis said. “It can be challenging for our performance students due to the number of actors out there, but our students are getting cast and are well prepared for professional auditions when they graduate. Our hashtag is ‘doing theater,’ so students are not just taking classes and studying theater; they are doing it! We train them to go out and work through production. Watching them grow and helping them in their professional career is very fulfilling. Even if they start in other professions, you can see the core of theater in what they do.”
The next Theater Department production is “The Imaginary Invalid,” scheduled for April 17-25 at the Clifford E. White Lobby.
Mariana Laas | NAU Communications
(928) 523-5050 | mariana.laas@nau.edu