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your independent student newspaper
Tim Kupsick Photographer
Sarah Turnquist is graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree after six years of studying
theater arts and music. Although friends and family members have expressed concern
about her choosing theater arts as a major, Turnquist said being happy is more important
than what she earns.
Making change, not money
Sarah Turnquist is optimistic about her degree in theatre arts,
although she realizes she may be a \starving artist ’
By Sheldon Traver
Freelance Reporter
fter six years, senior Sarah Tum
quist is graduating. Tumquist, a
Jutheater arts major, graduates
this year with a Bachelor of Arts de
gree and a smile. She doesn't have sol
id career plans and has been asked by
non-theater majors why she would
choose a major such as theater.
"I did a lot of theater in high
school," Tumquist said.
She said she knows the job outlook
is grim for those pursuing a career in
theater.
Senior theater arts major Michael
Miranda, who has worked with Tum
quist for three years, agreed that the
ater arts can be a tough degree to have.
"It can be really tough to find
work," Miranda said. "It is one of the
only disciplines where it's OK to
discriminate. You'll hear you're too
young for this part, you're not
pretty enough,' and it can be tough
to swallow."
Tumquist said earning a degree
where she might make more money
but would not be happy was out of
the question.
"It is important to focus on yourself
with a growth and work ethic, but it is
so much more fun to focus on other
people," Tumquist said.
Her love of acting drew her to the
University, although she started in the
School of Music. Her father sings with
the Eugene Opera, and her mother
teaches journalism at Cottage Grove
High School.
"I have over 100 credits of music,
mostly centered around vocal per
formance," Tumquist said, adding
that it wasn't until a favorite vocal in
structor left that she decided to switch
majors. "I realized I didn't want to be
an opera singer."
Her dad was supportive of her ca
reer choice, but her mom has had
more difficulty accepting her decision.
"My mom is very supportive, but
she wonders how I'm going to be able
to support myself," Tumquist said.
Her first theatrical performance was
in a family production of "Oliver!"
when she was 11 years old. While in
high school, she worked on a variety
of productions and was cast in nearly
every play or musical.
"When I first started, I didn't get
cast in anything for a year, which was
really difficult coming out of high
school," Tumquist said.
She took the year and allowed her
self to grow as a person and an actress.
"At first she wasn't finding a lot of
success," Miranda said. "Her self-iden
tity has become stronger."
She said she drew inspiration from
not only her creative parents but also
from Professor John Schmor.
"He really challenges you to stop
relying on your defaults," Turnquist
said.
She also noted one of his favorite
sayings, "Stop being dumb." She said
once she realized she had value as an
artist, things became easier.
She said she hopes to make
changes in her world through her
work. She plans to someday produce
work that will not only educate peo
ple but also create social awareness
and bring political issues to the stage.
Turnquist has written and directed
plays for and worked with children's
theater, and has traveled to London
twice to develop her skills in theater
and to assist others.
"The greatest part of this depart
ment is the family," Turnquist said.
"These are people you travel with,
laugh with and cry with."
Friends said Turnquist is open and
likes to bounce ideas for plays or cre
ative arts off people.
"The stuff she connects to comes
out of left field," junior theater arts
major Danielle Kardum said.
Miranda described her as a high
energy person.
"She's very typical of a theater ma
jor, she's very theatrical," he said,
adding that it is not uncommon to
develop strong bonds because of the
amount of time theater arts students
spend together, which is often seven
or eight hours per day.
After graduating, Turnquist plans to
take some time off school and work.
She will be performing with Mad
Duckling Theatre this summer as well
as acting in Shakespeare in the Park,
which offers free performances for Eu
gene residents.
She plans to attend graduate
school. Although she feels fortunate
to have had many scholarships, in
cluding a presidential scholarship that
paid for her first four years of college,
she knows she will have to repay the
approximately $13,000 she owes for
her last two years' worth of loans.
However, Turnquist said she is not
afraid of financial problems.
"I would rather make change than
money," she said. "I'm OK being a
starving artist."
Sheldon Traver is a freelance
reporter for the Emerald.
w •
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