Jackie Theoharis ’14, who performed in Urinetown and Fuddy Meers this past academic year is making her mark on Brandeis theater.
Theoharis, who was hooked on the idea of theater from the age of four said that as a child she loved singing and dancing.
“[My] aunt and cousins were extremely involved in theater, and I remember seeing their shows and wanting to perform in them so badly,” she said in an interview.
Theoharis played her first on-stage role at the age of four, as Nana in Peter Pan and has not stopped acting since. Before coming to Brandeis, she performed in productions only occasionally. After beginning college and having more theatrical experience, Theoharis realized that theater was something she truly wanted to pursue.
Now a junior, with majors in theater and psychology and a minor in education, Theoharis has had many experiences in productions at Brandeis. When she arrived on campus as a midyear, Theoharis wanted to get involved immediately. As her first role in an on-campus production she played Philia in A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum. Since then she has performed in many shows, including those at Brandeis as well as  in the Greater Boston area.
“Brandeis UTC shows are always so much fun. I love being able to perform with my friends and experiencing how students can create wonderful pieces of art,” she said.
Theoharis also spoke highly of her experience performing with the Brandeis Theater Company, “I love being able to work with admirable, well-known professionals in the theater world.”
Theoharis has worked backstage for a department show of Practicum but says that she “definitely prefers to be onstage.” When asked about her favorite Brandeis theater experiences, Theoharis answered, “A favorite Brandeis production that I performed in was Elegies: A Song Cycle this past spring, as part of the Senior Thesis Festival. This is one of my favorite shows with absolutely gorgeous music. There was a wide range of theatrical involvement from the cast and creative team, and everyone involved in that production was brilliant.”
Theoharis knows that any Brandeis experience she has had can be applied to any theatrical work that she does. “At Brandeis, we are also very privileged to have such brilliant professors who are very respected in the theater world. I am excited to take what I have learned and bring it into my work as an actor.”
Theoharis will participate in a Fringe Competition with a mini-musical about art expression, on Sept. 6-7 in various locations.
She will also be playing the Witch in Into The Woods and Janet in Rocky Horror Picture Show at the Emerson Umbrella Center for the Arts. Additionally, she will be performing the role Natalie in Next To Normal as well as choreographing for Urinetown, both to be held in Concord, Mass.
Theoharis says, “People can expect a sense of truth from me in my work on the stage. That’s the most important part of being an actor that a lot of people unfortunately overlook.”