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MACK CARROLL/Assistant Photo EditorAdding up the time students spend on classes, homework, extracurricular activities and social events, it is difficult to imagine how anybody could take on another responsibility. But Pepperdine has produced many students who can handle such a challenging task. One of these students is junior Christina Ingram. She has learned to incorporate acting among all the other responsibilities she has in her busy schedule.
Anybody who has ever seen a play or a musical can understand the many hours it takes to rehearse, prepare and produce. The dedication it takes to put on a top-notch show is undeniably admirable, and all the effort spent putting it together always shows throughout the polished performance.
Ingram, who has been acting since sixth grade, has taken several acting classes at Pepperdine including Movement for the Performer, Alternative Performance Styles and Role Development. She has acted in many plays and musicals, her favorite being “Godspell” in high school.
Ingram learns more about performing by studying and observing famous actors such as Nathan Lane.
Her experience in musicals and plays can easily enlighten anybody about the dedication of those who love the theater. Hearing from somebody who has so much love for theater may help enlighten those who don’t know as much about it.
Do you enjoy plays or musicals more?
“I love both for different reasons. Musicals are so much fun because the cast is usually huge and the storyline is always bubbly and light. The singing and dancing is always fun too. But plays are fun to do because they usually stretch your skills and they can have interesting and important story lines.”
When was your interest first sparked in theater?
“When I was very young; my father was involved in the theatre so it was something I was introduced to at a very early age.”
How is theater in college different than in high school?
“Theater tends to be much more professional in college than in high school. Rehearsals are more productive, people are more mature, and your choices are challenged. Productions in college are more focused on learning and expanding on your talent.”
Describe your typical week right before a production.
“In a word … hectic. I try to get all my school stuff done the weekend before or during the day because the evening is always devoted to rehearsal and sleep. It’s important to get sleep in the weeks leading up to a show because it’s so easy to get sick.”
How many productions do you act in every semester?
“Most theater majors audition for between two and three department shows a semester, but usually it’s only feasible to be in one. Sometimes the way the shows are scheduled in the spring allows for people to be in two. Then there are also Songfest and Dance in Flight in the Spring.”
Do you want to stick with this interest in the future?
“Yes, I plan on sticking with it. I’d like to pursue acting after graduation in either New York or San Francisco. I don’t think I’d want to stay in LA unless I was presented with an amazing opportunity.”
Which performance that you’ve seen has been most inspirational to you?
“The show that I’m in right now (Laramie Project, opening Jan. 29th) means a lot to me because it has to do with human rights and equality.”
How does acting and being in theater benefit you and others around you?
“It benefits me because it opens me to experiences and new people. Also, as an actress I have the opportunity to influence the world around me by being involved in plays that call for social and political change.”
How has theater shaped who you are today?
“Theatre has helped me develop my outgoing and people-pleasing personality. It has definitely helped me learn how to deal with success and failure, and it has given me confidence in myself.”
Submitted 01-24-2008
MALIBU, CA
