F&M Stories

Addressing a wide-eyed audience of students at Franklin & Marshall’s Writers House, Mihika Miranda '18 shared the limitless paths that studying theater can lead to. 

“Theater is a true liberal arts profession because no matter what field you’re interested in, there’s a job for you,” said Miranda, a giving associate at Playwrights Horizons in New York City. 

Physics majors excel at scenic design. Communication savants flourish in fundraising. History lovers delight in dramaturgy. 

“There's an aspect and a place for everybody,” Miranda said. 

She was joined by alumni Matt Barbot '09, Kevin Gallagher '17, Kylie Logan '18, Asia Mateen '17, Molly Minter '19 and Jonny Teklit '20 at a March 1 panel, part of F&M’s Student New Works Festival.

Below, learn how F&M shaped the professional lives of these theater and English majors.

Responses have been edited for length and clarity.

What are your favorite memories at F&M?

"This place became my home."

Kylie Logan '18

Kylie Logan '18

• Health copywriter, playwright, actor 
• Location: New York City
• Joint major: Creative writing and international studies
• Minor: Spanish

"I worked at the Writers House all four years of college. This place became my home. [Directors] Jo Underhill and Kerry Sherin Wright gave me the chance to start an open mic called 'No Filter' with a friend of mine, Sophie Cheston '18."

"It taught me so much about the kind of leader I want to be."

Mihika Miranda '18

Mihika Miranda '18

• Individual giving associate at Playwrights Horizons 
• Location: New York City
• Joint Major: English and theatre, dance & film
• Minor: Anthropology

"I directed 'Legally Blonde,' an F&M Players musical. It turned out to be the best experience I ever had. It taught me so much about the kind of leader I want to be and the kind of people I want to surround myself with. My peers in graduate school didn't have the kind of experiences that we were allowed to have at F&M. The fact that I got to direct a $10,000 budget production in a place like Roschel [Performing Arts Center] is stunning and so rare."

"I got to immerse myself in history and theater by being a dramaturg."

Asia Mateen '17

Asia Mateen '17

• High school history teacher, stage manager and assistant theater director
• Location: Fairfield, Va. 
• Joint Major: History and theatre, dance & film

"I got to immerse myself in history and theater by being a dramaturg [in the stage play 'Arcadia'].  In layman's terms, it’s teaching the cast and crew the history behind a certain time period. It's making sure you’re as historically accurate as possible. Learning about the ’60s, the sexual revolution and the Vietnam War informed how we portray our characters."

Do you have advice for current F&M students?

"Those little things that you don't think matter end up changing your entire college life – and your life in general."

Kevin Gallagher '17

Kevin Gallagher '17

• Theater management; assistant company manager at & Juliet
• Location: New York City
• Major: Theatre, dance & film

"Take chances. Those little things that you don't think matter end up changing your entire college life – and your life in general. I did not do a lot of theater prior to college. I never knew that 'Into the Woods' [musical written by James Lapine '71] my first year would open me up to what I do now professionally."

"It is a huge resource to be at a liberal arts school and have so many options."

Molly Minter '19

Molly Minter '19

• Master of letters and master of fine arts student (Shakespeare and performance) at Mary Baldwin University
• Location: Staunton, Va. 
• Major: Theatre, dance & film

"Take advantage of the option to hone many different crafts and go down many different avenues. It is a huge resource to be at a liberal arts school and have so many options. I took so many different classes. I took screenwriting, photography, ballet... all these things made me a better artist. They made me more holistic as a human being."

What inspires you?

"I'm moved by so many things."

Jonny Teklit '20

Jonny Teklit '20

• Master of fine arts student (poetry) at University of Wisconsin
• Location: Madison, Wis. 
• Joint major: English and psychology
  

"You don't need lofty inspiration. There's no inspiration that's too low. It can be ‘Oh, that image was interesting.’ Or, on the sidewalk near my apartment, there are outlines of leaves because they must have fallen in the wet cement. I'm moved by so many things that are basically the equivalent of popcorn: air and nothing. And that's totally fine. There's no lofty ‘light from heaven,’ necessarily."

"As an artist, it is helpful to hone your curiosity about yourself."

Matt Barbot '09

Matt Barbot '09

• Educator, actor and playwright
• Location: New York City
• Double major: Theatre, dance & film and English

"It’s important to be curious about your own attention. What's interesting to me about this? Why does this stick with me? I'm very nourished by experiencing things. As an artist, it is helpful to hone your curiosity about yourself. Why are things important to me or moving to me? Why does something stick to my ribs a little bit, you know?"