Theatre major Olivia Khoshatefeh’s last role at URI was the feisty, witty Beatrice in Shakespeare’s Much Ado about Nothing. Her next one: a rigorous three-year MFA program in acting at the Brown University/Trinity Repertory Consortium. Only 14 of 700 applicants were accepted into this prestigious theatre program—and along with Olivia’s acceptance came a generous scholarship.
The August 2013 URI grad has long had a passion for performing—from putting on shows in her family’s basement, where she always furnished the popcorn, to taking on the title role in her high school’s production of Antigone. But it was at URI that she became an actor.
I learned more about what it is to work on your craft. Talent is such a small part of being an actor.
“I became more comfortable with myself and my body,” she says. “I learned more about what it is to work on your craft. Talent is such a small part of being an actor. A lot of it is hard work, ambition, and education. We’re storytellers. It’s important for us to know about history, philosophy, politics, and psychology.’’
URI’s theatre program was a perfect fit for Olivia. She thrived in the small classes with inspiring and accessible teachers, and loved participating in a variety of productions, taking on many different roles. And although her concentration was acting, she appreciated the opportunity to take courses in all aspects of drama, from set and costume design to theater management.
The Brown/Trinity program will be a homecoming of sorts for Olivia. For the last several years, she’s taught at Trinity’s children’s summer camp for budding actors. But she’s now eager to begin the next exciting phase of her life. “I love acting,’’ she says. “I love being the one telling a story. I love being on stage. It’s called ‘suspension of disbelief.’ You stand in front of an audience and say we are in Scotland and the audience believes you for two hours. It’s exhilarating.”
Olivia’s dream is to follow her passion and become a professional theater actor, but she says she’s trying not to plan too far ahead.
“You can’t really have a five-year plan if you’re an actor,’’ she says. “It’s a scary way to live, but it’s also exciting.’’