Q&A with Professor Brianne Beatrice
Recently, the NECC Observer had a chance to chat with Theater Program Coordinator Brianne Beatrice. We talked a lot about the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival, as well as NECC Theater as a whole. Follow the program on Instagram @necctheater and check out the interview below!
Shaun Hood: How was the theater festival this year?
Brianne Beatrice: It was incredible. We participated in the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship competition. We had Mirrorajah Metcalfe, who is a student at the college, partnered with Ana Barrera team up and do a monologue and a scene where they compete in the Irene Ryans for a series of competitions, from prelims to semifinals, to finals, starting with about 200, over 220 students. Semifinals is 36 students, and then the final round is 16 of the top students in the region, region one, which is where we are here in Massachusetts.
SH: What is it like for the cast of “Hurricane Diane” to keep getting so much recognition from the Northern Essex community and beyond?
BB: It’s great. I’d love the Boston Globe to get a hold of it. I think it’s just such an unbelievable story. This production of “Hurricane Diane” has been done four times. It has been performed at festival.
The production as a whole, won 13 national awards from the Kennedy Center. Both of the students were nominated, and then they participated this year in the Irene Ryans. I think that it’s a wonderful pathway for the students, in regards to booking other work, finishing their degree, getting recognized, and helping them in the audition process as they move forward.
We also get to put NECC on the map. When I was at festival this year, they named the top three schools for the Irene Ryans as Salem State, Fitchburg, and Northern Essex. It’s huge, it’s huge for Northern Essex to be able to be so fully recognized by participants and people that were at festivals.
At festival, I ended up running into one of the co-chairs of the region, Emmett, who ended up telling me that Missy Thibodeaux-Thomspon, who saw “Hurricane Diane” at festival last year, was so inspired, and said the show was life-changing, and so she decided to produce the show this past semester at the University of Illinois. It goes country-wide; the success is country-wide for our students!
They’ve been recognized by Gregg Henry, who’s the chair of the entire festival in Washington DC, and Julie Muehlenkamp, and really amazing prolific artists that are seeing our students, that they would not be seen or recognized otherwise, other than being a part of this festival both years. And to have received 15 awards from the American College Theater Festival in two years is a tremendous feat.
SH: You’ve referenced “Wicked” on the NECC Theater Instagram. Have you seen “Wicked?” What do you have to say about the “Wicked” movie and the phenomenon that it has been?
BB: I have seen it, and I love it. I know that Mirrorajah and Ana feel the same way as I do, in regards to “Wicked” being so inspiring. And what the message is saying is so inspiring. I mean, Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande are a sensation in the film, not only their singing, but their acting.
I think that piece specifically is revolutionary in addressing the outcast of a room, or a person who’s not accepted, or where we’re going in society in regards to inclusivity. I think that “Wicked” is so powerful. It’s been around for so long. And I know that Ana, and Mirrorajah, and I were very inspired by the music, and by the soundtrack, and by the singing when we were at festival, and it gave us that extra pep in our step to get in there and say, “Hey, I want to show off my gifts, and share it with the region, and share it with all of these people,” similarly to Ariana, and Cynthia, and that whole cast actually as a whole. I love “Wicked,” as you can tell, I’m passionate about “Wicked.”
SH: Is there anything else at NECC Theater that we haven’t discussed yet that you’d like to promote?
BB: I think that NECC Theater is thriving. For a school that does not have an actual program for theater, I think it is a tremendous feat. I’m the only theater faculty member. I think that it is a testament to the love and passion that goes into this art form, for myself and my students. And the dedication that we put into learning the craft, and understanding the method, and understanding the execution.
And then finding the grit and the stamina to perform it here, to travel to festival, to do it for all eight regions, and then to be so heavily awarded. And we were in Washington, now we’re back at the next festival the next year. And everywhere we went, so many people wanted to recruit the actors, and bring them to their four-year university, or talk about what the process here is.
The accomplishments, by no means – for our students’ success – should go unnoticed by the community, because our students are so incredibly successful in theater and beyond. And I think that the more we can talk about it, the better. The more exposition, the better, in regards to what is cultivated here at NECC, and the opportunities that these students are given. I am so proud that they have these two years, and their associate’s degree, to say, “Do I want to be an actor? How does this feel? What does it mean getting up on stage six days a week? Do I have what it takes to pursue this career? Do I want this career?”
Having that exploration at NECC, and taking these classes … I offer multiple theater classes a year, auditioning, and directing, and improv, and acting theory, and acting scene study. I think that anyone that’s interested in theater would greatly benefit from coming here and studying with me. I wish I could say my whole faculty, but, just with me, for now.
It’s great to get the opportunity to explore the world of theater, and see if it’s the right fit and start the process of building a reputation in this business, and start the process of building a career, and learning, and meeting the people that are working at the Lyric stage, or working at Greater Boston stage, or whatever that might be and allowing yourself the opportunity to explore theater, so that you can understand what it’s like.
Even if it’s just for enjoyment. Right? That’s the great thing about NECC theater, even if it’s just for enjoyment. I think there’s a lot of benefits for students, and for our audiences to come and support local theater, local artists. That is such a big thing.
We have a pretty up-and-coming, more thriving Boston theater scene, and now up-and-coming film scene, right? There’s so much to explore in this area, at this time. I think that people coming out to support NECC Theater is exciting.
This interview has been edited for clarity and readability.
