Everyone has to make big decisions every single day including the one where you decide on what you plan to do with the rest of your life. Are you going to be a doctor, where you see yourself helping the sick members of our community? Are you going to be a teacher, where you can impart knowledge on the citizens of the world? Are you going to be an architect, an engineer, a phycologist, a psychiatrist or like me an actress? In order to get to where you want to go you have to put some skills and extra learning in order to gain your significant outcome.
Struggling with wondering where your full extent of passion lies is something that we battle every day. However sitting in the Centre for Art and Theatre continues to make the decision of being a part of Theatre more meaningful and reminds me that I have made the right decision to be a Theatre Major. The CAT as it is commonly called, is home to people who share a passion for Theatre, whether it be backstage, or on stage, or whether you like to learn the technicality of lighting, or the intricate design patterns of clothing, or even the public relations side of the Theatre world. If you want to learn the best ways to improve your acting style, learn a new accent or be a part of a production where you build a family the CAT is the place to be. The CAT is a gentle reminder of the smell of Grandma’s cookies (Well this is true as Dr McCarroll has baked us the best cookies that Grandma wished she could bake). The CAT also makes you enjoy the large scale small feel that we at GSU pride ourselves on.
Every member of the Theatre department is unique and talented. We learn from each other and we learn from our professors. The professors engage you in hands-on experiences and quite frankly these professors treat you way better than you ever expected. You learn too much and because of that after school you are equipped with all the tools necessary to charter your course. Not only is the CAT known for their great professors and students, the CAT is also known for the Blackbox space.
The Blackbox is a type of theatre space where the seating arrangement can shift according to the type of set the play asks for. For example in September 2014, the show “Race: a play” by David Mamet required the seating to be in the form of a proscenium where we as audience members looked at the play as if we were in a cinema. The seating style can change again to face a different direction as well for any other plays.
Also, the season of shows put on by the Centre for Art and Theatre is great every single year. The plays that are done at the CAT can fall under the genres of musicals, dramas, comedies or a risqué version of any of the aforementioned. Thus, if you have not been to a show as yet, now is the time. The upcoming show, “The Government Inspector” which I am so proud to say that I am a part of runs from November 12th to the 19th at 7:30PM. The tickets are only $5.00 if you are a student and that is the cheapest for any show anywhere on campus or Statesboro in general. To be honest $5.00 is too little for the quality of shows that are done at the CAT.
The CAT has given me the opportunity to know that I have a voice, even if I do not feel as though I am important, I have a voice. I am great and I can catch my dream of going on the stage and evoke emotions from the audience. I enjoy those moments and I would not have gotten it if I went any place else. The CAT is my home.