Matthew Garcia (he/him/his)
BFA Musical Theatre, Class of 2024

mtggarcia1@gmail.com

Okay. One sentence to describe a typical day in your program. GO!

The program is fast-paced, surprising, and super exciting!

What is your FAVORITE thing about your program?

The faculty have this amazing balance between acknowledging our growth and progress while giving us the tools and critiques we need to improve.

What’s something you would change about your program? Why?

Due to the covid 19 pandemic we had less large scale productions this year. While this was disappointing at first, it actually gave students more opportunities to practice making their own work. For example, one student was able to get a small team together to direct and edit a short film. In the future, I think it would be beneficial to explore more of these student-run projects so that we can practice making our own art as opposed to always relying on someone else to give us something to create

How would you describe the overall vibe of your program? Competitive? Supportive? A bit of both? Something else?!

SUPER SUPPORTIVE! I feel really close with my Musical Theatre class and it’s just really nice to have that consistent support system especially in the performing arts which is known for its competitive nature. I think people get a little tense around auditions but we’re all friends and we know how to support each other at the end of the day.

What was the biggest surprise about your program that you didn’t anticipate as an incoming freshman?

I knew that Musical Theatre was a demanding major but I don’t think I anticipated how soon the workload/schedule would pick up. From day one there is a long list of material to prepare and work that needs attention. The work is all super fulfilling and interesting but it’s a bit of an awakening compared to high school.

What’s something that you think makes your program unique?

Ohio Northern is located in Ada, Ohio which is basically corn field land. So, I think what makes the program unique is the ability of the faculty to bring in all of these guest artists from different aspects of the theatre industry to give career advice and really any helpful information for young actors.

Real talk: How do the audition & casting processes function at your program?

Anyone can audition for a show regardless of year(freshman can audition for the same things as seniors) or major(psychology majors can audition for the same things as MT). There are exceptions but that is the general rule. Auditions are pretty casual from my experience. Everyone knows everyone in the department and they don’t pretend like they don’t know you to make the audition more like the real world or anything. It’s the traditional audition/callback process. There will always be one or two people in each class who get named roles consistently and this can be frustrating at times but the small size of the program allows for more opportunities anyway so do with that information what you will.

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?

While there is not much to do in the town of Ada itself, theatre students are totally encouraged to participate in extracurriculars, greek life, etc. It’s a liberal arts curriculum so the way I describe that is: I HAVE to take Writing Seminar which I’m not super stoked about but I GET to take Psychology and now I’m pursuing a minor in it. I have a friend who is a double major in Musical Theatre and Engineering so while he doesn’t sleep too much he is allowed and encouraged to do that.

Can you travel abroad if desired?

Technically yes however it is encouraged that you do so during J-term or summer and not during a regular semester.

Are there any opportunities and/or resources that you feel are lacking in your program?

I wish there were more resources on kinesthesia or body mapping within the program. The notes I get on vocal technique are really helpful but I miss the more physical approach to singing as a form of movement from the body.

What’s the dynamic like between students and faculty?

I would say the dynamic between student and faculty depends on which faculty we are referring to. We are on a first name basis with most of the faculty but there are a few who are more formal. The department in general has a casual vibe so that’s how I’d describe the dynamic between students and faculty overall.

Can you tell us about some of the faculty you train with who really inspire you? 

My acting teacher James definitely inspires me. First of all, he’s just a really great acting instructor. On top of that, he has a lot of great advice about the business side of theatre and I feel like he has participated in so many different aspects of the theatre arts that he would be a great person to talk to about life in general.

Liz(Elizabeth) Cozad was the first dance faculty that I worked with at ONU and I’m so happy that was the case. I feel like she genuinely believed in my abilities from day one despite my lack of training and she always pushes me to continue dancing despite any self doubt that I may be experiencing. I would not be at the level of dance that I am right now without her guidance and support. She is truly one of if not the greatest dance instructor I have ever trained with.

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?

Every instructor operates in a different way. Generally, You receive feedback on your performance either through your physical mailbox within the performing arts center, in the classroom, or through our online grading website.

For students, we have the course evaluations. These are basically online forms that you fill out at the end of the semester to say what you liked and disliked about a course and how well you feel the course was taught.

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? 

I know that many of the faculty are concerned about the lack of representation within the department and are currently working on ways to make the program more inviting and inclusive. Instructors encourage myself and other students to educate ourselves on the causes of racism throughout the country as a whole but also in the theatre industry specifically. The department has also been fortunate to host a variety of guest artists who specialize in equality within the arts. Through their wisdom, we have been able to gain a better understanding of the history behind racism in the performing arts and the flawed structure that the American theatre industry currently rests on. I am hopeful that these educational experiences will allow our program to become more actively inclusive in the future.

What types of resources does your school encourage/make available for students in regards to mental, physical, and emotional health?

All Ohio Northern students have access to the King Horn Sports Center workout spaces along with the Student Health Center which offers counseling and other mental health services. Students are also encouraged to schedule private sessions with faculty members if there are any concerns about progress in a course or if they just need to chat. These sessions are offered mostly virtually; however, most faculty will meet in person in a socially distanced environment if needed. I definitely took advantage of the private sessions as a way of grounding myself throughout the year and I have heard great things about the Students Health Center and King Horn.

What were you most worried about as an incoming freshman that you TOTALLY didn’t need to be worried about?

Comparison culture. I was worried that my freshman MT class was going to split off in fifty different ways and there was going to be a lot of drama and “Oh, I gotta beat this person out for this role” when in reality none of that happens at least not in this program. We are all so talented in specific, individual ways we don’t really feel the need to compare ourselves to other people in our class or the department.

How did you know that this was the right place for you?

It was a lot of little things. I got lost during my visit to campus and a stranger stopped and helped me find where I needed to be. I was allowed to sit in on a rehearsal and I saw the encouraging environment of the space and felt that I could be really happy here. The way that the students and faculty joked with each other while creating quality art was inspiring and the fact that the whole campus looks like a gorgeous park doesn’t hurt either. So many people will tell you that “You just know when it’s the right place” and that is super annoying to hear over and over again but you really do find the place that vibes with you the best and go there.