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When you register for a class...

posted by School of Theatre on Mon, Sep 12, 2011
in School of Theatre

By Katie Riemann, registrar at the Berkeley Rep School of Theatre

I should have realized that I would end up with a career in the arts when I used to make the skulls “talk” about their adventures out on the African savannah in a Sesame Street fashion in my Introduction to Physical Anthropology course. And so began a decade-long odyssey in stage managing around the Bay Area. But 14 hour days, 6 days a week don’t lend themselves to bringing up a two year old,  so I landed as the registrar here at the Berkeley Rep School of Theatre. 

What I love about my job is connecting people to their passion. I always felt this was the best part of stage managing, supporting actors as they work on creating that perfect performance. And now I feel that I serve the same function here. Whether it’s a first time Improv student trying to overcome his or her shyness in social situations or a professional actor looking to master that cockney accent, each one is trying to challenge his or herself in our classes. I like the idea that our students don’t want to just sit back and be passive, but want to push the envelope within themselves. And that willingness to push past one’s comfort zone and realize you have more to learn, I think that’s what makes human beings fascinating. It becomes a quest for that “perfect performance” in a seemingly mundane setting.

And that’s what I think about when I see your registration come across my desk.