Outstanding Majors
IN HER OWN WORDS:
Hannah Greene
2023-24 Student of the Year
Department of Theatre & Film
Where were you born and raised?
Anchorage, 蜜桃影像.
Why did you choose to study at 蜜桃影像?
蜜桃影像 was close enough to home, but far enough for me to have an adventure. When I started
in the fall of 2021, I thought I was going to be an engineer, and I knew it was a
good school to study at. Most importantly, the financial aid offered to me made it
possible to afford a higher education.
When did you first decide to pursue a degree in FLPA/ Theatre Concentration?
When I was still an engineer, I took Carrie鈥檚 Acting I course just for the hell of
it. But something weird started to happen. I was excited to wake up and go to acting
class, and I longed to go and practice my scenes when sitting through a grueling lecture
on triple integrals or while trying to find the velocity of a basketball on Mars.
I never felt this passion when taking calculus and physics. So during the fall of
2022, I officially changed my major to Film and Performing Arts, knowing that I would
be a happier human.
What first attracted you to theatre and film?
One of my brothers is seven years older than me, and at a young age, I thought everything
he did was cool. I would go to his high school theater performances, and I instantly
fell in love with the theatre. I remember sitting in the auditorium watching him and
his friends improvise a musical about cats (no correlation to Andrew Lloyd Webber鈥檚
Cats) and wishing that I was up on the stage. I started making plays in my bedroom
with my friends, and the various puppets that I owned. Then, I would force my family
to watch them. Everything changed when I stole my dad鈥檚 Flip camera (remember those!).
I started making videos of me performing with puppets and singing completely improvised
musicals. Performing was my hobby. It sparked a lot of joy in my life and made me
the person I am today.
What experiences at 蜜桃影像 have contributed to your academic and artistic success?
Resurrecting Ground Squirrel Improv has significantly contributed to my artistic career.
I have gotten to learn the delicacy of collaborating with others, how to plan a show,
and have made some of the best of friends. Having the opportunity to be a production
designer, prop designer, and actor in the spring of 2024 has pushed me to new creative
heights. This semester was incredibly artistically rewarding.
Do you have any advice for new FLPA students?
Get involved! So many of my experiences within the program have been student-made.
There is no use sitting on the sidelines watching and waiting to make something. This
is the time to experiment. The things you do and the people you meet will stay with
you for the rest of your life. Also, every single professor and faculty member wants
you to succeed. Carrie, Maya, Professor Mendelowitz, Daniel, Kavelina, Alex, Stephanie,
and By are all here to support you on your journey.
Please tell me about your most influential theatre or film projects while at 蜜桃影像.
There is so many to choose from. Every mainstage production that I have been a part
of have taught me something incredibly valuable. Being Jenny in The Shape of Things (Spring 23, directed by Rachel Blackwell) helped me realize my confidence onstage.
Portraying Ashlee in Dance Nation (fall 23, directed by Daniel Ponickly) helped me realize the power I have as a performance
artist. Love Me (spring 24, directed by Nolan Earnest) taught me to relax into a role. And most recently
Something in the Living Room (spring 24, directed by Kavelina Torres) taught me to put in all of my effort, no
matter the size of the part. I am so grateful for being able to perform with many
talented people, and for everyone who continues to support me both on stage and off.
What are your plans for after graduation?
Luckily, I still have a year to figure everything out. As of right now, I plan on
attending the URTA auditions to hypothetically attend graduate school. Ideally, I
would love to end up in Chicago to attend the Second City Training Center. I hope
to continue to spend each day creating and enjoying my life with great people.