Maurie Moore (she/her/hers)
Acting, Class of 2023
mauriemmoore@gmail.com
IG: mauriemmoore
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Okay. One sentence to describe a typical day in your program. GO!
A typical day at BU is creative chaos that will leave you feeling extremely fulfilled as an artist by the time your head hits the pillow at night.
What is your FAVORITE thing about your program?
THERE ARE SO MANY, but my favorite thing about School of Theatre is the community. I have never been in such a loving and accepting environment and I can honestly say that we are a family. The students always look out for each other and lift each other up which I think is a really special thing in a BFA program.
What’s something you would change about your program? Why?
There’s a class called Locals you take in your first year that serves as a sort of open-mic type class where students can get up and share whatever they want. I would have that be a four year class instead of just one year because with the crazy schedule, it’s just nice to be with your class as a whole and celebrate everyone’s work.
How would you describe the overall vibe of your program? Competitive? Supportive? A bit of both? Something else?!
Unbelievably supportive. Your peers want you to do your best so there’s a bit of healthy motivation but I always feel comfortable and safe in every space I walk into.
What was the biggest surprise about your program that you didn’t anticipate as an incoming freshman?
How close knit everyone is. I expected the seniors to not know anything about us when I was a first year, but on the first day I had seniors running up to me, calling me by name and telling me how happy they were that we were there.
What’s something that you think makes your program unique?
Guaranteed casting is a huge thing that makes BU unique. I think it takes away the unnecessary toxicity that can sometimes surround casting. Everyone has their turn and everyone gets to experience several types of roles.
Real talk: How do the audition & casting processes function at your program?
Auditions are super low-key. I was incredibly nervous when I did my first audition for casting but the faculty and staff made the experience so low stress and loving that it ended up being one of my favorite memories of this past year. Callbacks are SO FUN. Callbacks are a workout. Don’t get me wrong, they’re so fun but you’re exhausted by the end of the day. Like I said, guaranteed casting is a real big part of the program so you’re never stressed about not getting cast or anything along those lines. You know that you have a place so it takes away any added anxiety.
What’s it like outside of performance classes? Is it possible to participate in extracurriculars? Greek life? Are students encouraged to create their own work? Double majors? Minors?
If you look for it,YES! I’m in Greek Life and while I’m sometimes in rehearsal while my sisters are out at dinner, I know that on the weekends I can spend time with them. Double majors aren’t impossible if you’re an acting major but they’re definitely hard. Same thing for minors. If you’re a Theatre Arts major, you have a little more wiggle room for double majors and minors because you get to arrange your schedule.
Can you travel abroad if desired?
Travel Abroad is EXTREMELY important at BU. Spring semester of your third year, virtually all on-campus classes are suspended so that you’re able to study abroad. And you don’t have to choose a performance based abroad program if you don’t want to. You have the ability to do anything you’re interested in!
Are there any opportunities and/or resources that you feel are lacking in your program?
This isn’t necessarily a resource, but I think there could be more connection between the Theatre Arts major and the Acting major. We’re all in shows together and some of us take classes together, but like I said earlier I think it would be nice to have a class like Locals for all four years that would just let us all come together as a class at least once a week in the middle of our separate schedules.
What’s the dynamic like between students and faculty?
Incredible. My favorite thing about the faculty is that they don’t try and enforce some hierarchy within the school. Our teachers often say that while they are conducting class, we, the students, are the ones who are really teaching them. It’s a very collaborative environment and our teachers let us explore different ways to produce our most honest work. The classes are also at a size where everyone gets equal individual attention.
Can you tell us about some of the faculty you train with who really inspire you?
Elaine Vaan Hogue absolutely blew my mind this year with her Physical Acting class. I don’t want to give too many surprises away about coursework, but she is a genius in the way she views performance. She’s gentle and understanding in her teaching.
Christine Hamel is one of the most passionate professors I’ve ever worked with. You can tell that when you speak, she’s really listening to you. Her class was so transformative that even though we were on Zoom, I felt like I was in person with her.
Kirsten Greenidge is the head of the Theatre Arts major, a published playwright and an absolute star. I wish I had more opportunities to work with her but whenever I do, she always makes me feel seen and heard as an artist and a student.
What types of structures are in place for students to receive feedback inside and outside of the classroom? How about for students to give feedback?
At the end of essentially every single class, we have time to sit and share what we learned from the lesson. We respond with what we found new and interesting and if we’re performing a monologue or scene on a given day in class, our classmates have time to get us feedback on what they witnessed as well. Working one on one with teachers in class is one of my favorite things to do because of the specificity fo the feedback the professors provide. Office hours are also a great way to either work or just chat one on one with professors.
What steps has your school taken/is your school currently taking to promote greater representation for minority communities and to ensure greater equity, diversity, and inclusion in all aspects of the educational environment?
This year and last year we had several DEI training sessions where an outside moderator came in and the entire School of Theatre was welcome to share their experiences candidly without any teachers or faculty present. SARSI (School of Theatre Anti-Racist Student Initiative) came about May of 2020 and has been an ongoing process and beacon of light for the school. Fundraisers, meet and greets and testimonials have all been included in SARSI and while there is definitely still a lot of work to be done, resources are becoming more available even in the two years I’ve been there.
What were you most worried about as an incoming freshman that you TOTALLY didn’t need to be worried about?
So, SO many things that I honestly can’t even remember now. I was really worried about making friends as everyone is at a new school. I was worried about bonding with people if our schedules were so crazy. I was worried at one point if I would be able to handle the rigor of the program. All I have to say about those worries if yours are similar is YOU ARE NOT ALONE. Things just kind of fall into place and rhythm. We are a family at BU and everyone is in the same boat as a first year. Faculty and upperclassmen are there for you if you ever get overwhelmed. Help is always available to those who ask for it.
How did you know that this was the right place for you?
I feel like I was one of those cliche cases where I stepped onto campus when I was touring colleges and just fell in love. It was this gut feeling I got that I can’t even really describe to this day. But if you don’t get that gut feeling, that’s okay too! BU has just always felt like home, and I can truly from the bottom of my heart say that it has been a dream come true.