Theater Monologue

It was in middle school where I lost my identity; it was crushed and altered by strangers full of judgments and opinions. I was a stain on a white shirt, my flaws easily visible. Transitioning from middle school terrified me. The thought of new strangers teasing filled me with fear. Theater arts, in a span of four years, transformed me into the confident woman I am now. The discovery of art was like entering a world specifically created for me. Confidence and self-actualization embody me like a suit of armor giving me powers that made all the negativity disappear.

The set used for Vernon God Little was highly symbolic and simplistic; when we walked into the theatre we could visually see that there were flowers, cards and memorable items attached on the audiences seats above our heads, which already created a sombre atmosphere around the theatre.

For the entirety of my high school career, I have been a student in the Leadership Center for the Sciences and Engineering (LCSE) held at Norview High School. Being enrolled in this specialty program has strengthened and pushed me academically, as a leader, with public speaking, and as a service worker. Specifically, LCSE has developed my leadership skills and allowed me to become a more service-oriented leader. In the first year of the program, students take Leadership Foundations where the basics of leadership and the history of great leaders are taught. Then, in Advanced Leadership students model leadership skills by hosting holiday gatherings, being counselors for the LCSE Summer Orientation Camp, and completing 200 volunteering hours.

At my ongoing placement year at KPMG, I was recently assigned as the In-charge for a group of three summer undergraduate interns from the months of June – August 2016. My role included acting as a guide to the new recruits, showing them the ropes of the various functionalities of the unit, and being their first point of contact in case of any issues or challenges that may arise at work. This was a very good experience that gave me an insight on leadership in the professional environment, and also gave me the chance to see the importance of not only to be a “teacher” in a position of leadership but also the relevance of being a “student” as well. At university, I had the opportunity to be the Treasurer of the FXU chapter of Enactus, a society

As for the first theatre, I chose Book-It Respertory Theatre. Its location is at The Center Theatre in Seattle, Washington, and the address is 305 Harrison St, Seattle, WA 98109. They have just finished with the show “Emma”, which came from the book that Jane Austen wrote. During May, they will start with a new show called “The Brothers K”, and it is written by David James Duncan. Although I have never read this book before, the review said it’s one of the great American novel one hasn’t read. As for the current artistic director, Myra Platt, she will be leading and directing the show for “The Brothers K”. The theatre started in 1990, and it has been able to continue operating for twenty six years with the hard works of its members’.

Applied theatre refers to the practice of theatre and drama in a non-traditional setting. It focusses on social and cultural issues including health and social welfare, but is also used as a rehabilitator, team building in a corporate setting and most importantly education. Applied theatre takes many different forms, is used in many different settings and can focus on a diverse range of issues. There are many applied theatre companies both in Australia and internationally; examples include: Geese Theatre Company, Shakespeare Behind Bars, Big hART, Western Edge Youth Arts, Theatre for Living and Milk Crate Theatre. These companies use Prison Theatre, Community-Based Theatre and Theatre of the Oppressed in their work, which all fall under the

Staring out into the crowd, lights scorching my face as I recited the big monologue that led to my inevitable suicide, time stopped, and I finally realized that I love what I do, and I wouldn’t have made it here without him. He pushed me harder and harder, each time making it more difficult to meet his expectations for greatness, but I know he did it to make me a better performer, and I appreciate that every day. When I’m stuck in that pit of problems, whether it is about my inner obstacles or life in general that wraps its soul crushing tentacle binding me internally, he is there to free me from my internal shackles. With his guidance, I broke out of my shell and literally found a voice of my own.

The day had arrived. Feelings of excitement and dread rolled around in her stomach at the thought of seeing her friends and family again. She remembered the feelings of helplessness at watching her mother speak to Dr. Faas.

In Scott McCloud’s “Understanding Comics,” he defines art as both “any human activity that doesn’t grow out of EITHER of our species two basic instincts: survival and reproduction” (164), and “the way we assert our identities as individuals and break out of the narrow roles nature cast us in” (166). Although McCloud was discussing graphic novels in his work, I think that these quotes and his argument apply to any type of visual rhetoric. As a former theatre minor at Marquette, I have had the opportunity to be privy to this argument in the form of theatre. Watching a play unfold onstage has an effect on the participating audience, largely due to the intricacies of each scene. While a good play must start out

Maybe they were through goading one another - I surely hoped so. I picked up my glass to take a sip of wine. I had been using this time to pretend to casually, gaze around the room. Myles Laveau caught my eye and smiled a half smile as he raised his glass to his lips. His date, the Baroness Portella, must have seen that his eye was otherwise entertained because she turned to glance over her shoulder at me. I saw the scathing stare she gave me through her thin, lacy veil- much like Boudreaux’s stare, it cuts to the bone. I half expected her to fling her drink into Laveau’s face, she seemed quite angry- but then, he leaned forward and whispered something in her ear and she turned to look at me again; this time, she smiled. I wondered what Myles had said to her for her to smile at me that way. The desire to know what he said was causing me to be anxious, as was the desire to see beneath the veil, but I needed to take care of the situation of my husband and lover goading each other first - I would ask Myles what was said between he and the Baroness the next time I was with him.

“Leadership is a lifestyle.” These were the first words of wisdom Mrs. Fredrickson gave me during my first student council meeting. I never would have thought that over the next four years, I would embrace this statement wholeheartedly. I began my high school years as a very timid and discreet student who had big aspirations, but I always felt that my shyness and anxiousness would hold me back from achieving these goals. However, Mrs. Fredrickson slowly encouraged me out of my shell through student council. She also saw a lot of potential in me, and during my sophomore year, she encouraged me to run for a position on the Central Minnesota Association of Student Councils Executive Board. I was initially uneasy about doing this and questioned

Selected as one of twenty five students to participate in a leadership program that provides high potential students with the skills and confidence to succeed in life

I developed effective communication and interpersonal skills. Open, honest and diplomatic communication helps me to establish relationships with students, parents and co-workers. As an advocate for students, with a special interest in students with disabilities, I have collaborated with families, as well as, school and district special education personnel to provide quality instruction to students with special needs.

I believe one of the most important aspects of an individual’s college experience is their involvement and leadership opportunities they might have. Being the Chair of the Teddi Dance for Love: a 24-hour dance marathon, and my active participation on campus, has given me the skills and leadership qualities to succeed.

The summer of 2015 was spent on doing a play at Kelsey theater and going on vacation with family to Canada, India, Germany and Italy. The theater act was memorable because I had one of my longest lead role which required me to depict emotional ups and down, humor, exasperation and frustration all at the same time. Getting into the character was proving difficult as the personality that I was impersonating was totally different from mine. I spent hours trying to perfect the emotion and dialogues. I recorded myself, watching and improving while taking inputs from others. The play helped me see things from someone else’s point of view. The vacations after this event was a welcome change where I experienced the cultural diaspora, regional food