Name: Kianna Simmons
Year: Freshman
Hometown: Milwaukie, OR
Major(s): Pre-Planning Public Policy & Management
Her Campus: Describe yourself in three words.
Kianna Simmons: Silly, outgoing, and open-minded.
(By the way, this was super hard for her to widdle down to just three words!)
HC: What extracurriculars do you do on campus?
KS: Theater, and I’m hoping to join Duck TV next term (for acting)! I really want to be more involved in clubs, and find a soup kitchen/homeless shelter to volunteer at.
HC: When did you start acting?
KS: When did I start acting? Technically, freshman year in high school, but I believe I’ve been acting my entire life. My parents always said I would do little shows, plus I also did the whole “mean little sister” act. I would run into my parents’ room and say my brother hit me, when he totally didn’t. I could burst into tears on demand as a kid, too.
HC: Why do you do acting/theatre/shows?
KS: I just love acting. It’s challenging in a way that you wouldn’t think it is. It’s fun to be someone else.
HC: What was your first play/favorite play/favorite role?
First play: Agent #2 in You Can’t Take It With You.
Favorite play: It was a concept album that was a metal rock opera. I was in it in high school.
Favorite play overall: The Last Five Years, which is a musical and The School for Lies, just closed at UO.
HC: Funniest/Most awkward/Embarrassing story from the stage?
(So there were three, and they were all priceless.)
KS: 1. One time, someone left a giant thing of industrial tape on set, and I bumped it, and it fell on my face. No one saw me, but they totally heard it. Thankfully no one actually saw what happened!
2. I had to make out with my fellow actor, [who was] the lead in the play, and my mom was in the audience. My mom said after, “Kianna, you really got into it!”
3. Also, a little kid I knew, actually my boss’ kid, was at one of my shows, and would just say funny comments in the audience.
HC: What are you doing in terms of theatre at the UO?
KS: I just got done with a Pocket Show written by a student, called Writing the Perfect Love Song. I played Louisa, the sexy fling.
HC: Any final thoughts about yourself/theatre?
KS: I’m excited to get a lot more involved! Even though I’m not majoring in theatre, I want it to be a part of my life.