University theater and music major Megan Smith
pursues her primary passion, stage acing
By Jack Clifford
Oregon Daily Emerald
Imagine an empty space.
You must fill this void with your
dreams, your beliefs or maybe your
realities. You must move others with
your insights, you must make a state
ment. Floods of fear might strike if your
thoughts stall or your visions fade.
And the empty space will remain.
Megan Smith appreciates the power of
this image, one that author and playwright
Peter Brook fully dissects in his book “The
Empty Space.” Yet, the University theater
student is confident enough to step into the
spotlight and take her chances.
“It’s a big undertaking to look and say
‘What do I want to say with this space? What
do I want to put on this stage so people who
come and see this piece that I make will go
away with the knowledge that I expressed
some idea?’” speculates the fifth-year senior.
“Theater is not a world for someone who just
kind of likes to do it for a hobby. Theater is for
people who really are passionate about it. ”
Smith’s passion for acting crystallized at
age 16. In a high school play produced en
tirely by students, the California native
played a young Jewish girl who has lost
most of her family in the Holocaust and
then finds her father and sister in New
York City. The Jewish citizens in Smith’s
hometown of Davis came out in strong sup
port for the show’s message, she says.
“Theater enriches the community, and that
was my first lesson in how incredible it is to be
able to put on a production that will enrich
the lives of people in a community,” Smith
stresses. “It’s a cliche, but it’s very true.”
During conversation, Smith
slips in the word “commu
nity” where most people might use “I” or
“me.” Instead of talking about individual
experiences when asked about personal
accomplishments in Eugene and at the
University, she focuses on group projects.
She brings up
The Pocket Play
house, run by
University stu
dents for stu
dents, which
puts on four
shows a term.
Smith laughs
about long nights
of “dorking out”
with her fellow
Absolute Improv
members, doing
shots of tequila
and “just talking
about stupid
sketch comedy,
stuff that would
be really funny to put on stage.”
Smith even talks about the ones who have
made it, those famous actors who inspire
her. She names Judy Densch, who “respects
her art but keeps perspective. She knows
that she’s just another actor.” Densch,
Emma Thompson and Cate Blanchett,
Smith muses, are “women with integrity
who manage to show grace under pressure. ”
Pressure. Yeah, Smith knows pressure.
At age 17, she left home and immersed
herself in school; from day one she has
been a double major in theater and music.
Smith can play the piano and the double
bass, but she also enjoys ballet dancing and
Rising
Stars
A weekly feature
on some of the
University’s
up-and-coming
arts students
TODAY: Theater
May 28: Music
June 4: Art
Turn to SMITH, Page6B
Photos by
Nick Medley
Theater and music
major Megan Smith
plays the lead role in the
University Theatre’s
production of‘Dark of
the Moon.’She is also a
founding member of the
comedy troupe Absolute
Improv.
East 19th Street Cafe
1485 E. 19th Street
342-4025
Brewery & Cafe
1243 High Street
345-4905
McMenamins Pubs & Breweries
Serving Handcrafted Ales & Wnes and Pub Fare
11:00am-l :00amf Monday - Saturday & 12:00-12:00 Sunday
GF.N ADMISSION Th-Sa $6 ★ DISCOUNT SHOWS Su-We S4.50 / Matinees S3 ★ Seniors S3.50 ★ kids 12 A under S2.50 ★
BARGAIN PASSES ON SALE NOW 5 MOVIES FOR 120.00.10 FOR 135 ★ GIFT CERTIFICATES AVAIIABLE!
Hid Over S/21 Hit!
5:00,7:15 & 9:30 Nightly
Sun Mat O 2:45
Kevin Kline
Stanley Tucci
Michelle Pfeiffer
Celiete Flockhert
William Shakespeare’s
A Midsummer
Night's Dream
Soon: Hideous Kinky
Starts Friday S/21 —11:45 Nightly gg
From the director of Swingers
Life Begins at 3AM
Soon: Forces of Nature
Starts Friday S/21
6:30 & 8:45 Nightly
Sun Mat 04 :15
nr
The first American feature film shot
entirely in Vietnam
Three
Seasons
Soon: The Dreamlife of Angels
StartsS/21—11:00 Nightly [~rT
Mel Gibson & James Cobum
i AriAii
Soon: The Matrix
!!! LATENITES NOW ONLY S3 TH-SA & ONLY $2 SU-WE !!!
COME WORK FOR US.
The Oregon Daily Emerald is always looking for young writers who want to learn and grow at a real newspaper.
_ For information on how to freelance for the Emerald call 346-5511.
DANCING
AT DOC’S
WEDNESDAYS S
SATURDAYS!
OF
TECHNO ♦CISCO
ALTERNATIVE
HIP-HOP ♦ TOP HO
DANCE TO THE
GROOVES