Mitchell Weindorf

Mitchell Weindorf ’13, fell in love with acting his junior year of high school while playing the character Fagan in his school’s production of Oliver! He will never forget the sensation of epiphany that he felt while on stage.

“I had the feeling that I was able to help them forget about their troubles and their worries for the evening, and enjoy what I was doing,” Mitchell said. “You don’t get that feeling anywhere else. At that point, I knew I had to delve deeper into this field.”

And so, he did. Mitchell toured and auditioned at multiple schools but found that Carthage had the “it factor” that the rest were missing.

“The moment I arrived on the campus, I felt as if I was in a different world,” Mitchell said. “The location on the lake and the beauty of the nature all around drew me in and gave me the feeling that this place was different.”

Besides its beautiful campus, Carthage’s Theatre Department made him feel welcomed starting at his first audition. He never felt as though he was being rushed through the audition process, and he could tell that the professors that he was meeting with had a genuine interest in his goals and accomplishments.

Now that he is a student, Mitchell has cultivated relationships with these same professors.

“I have built strong, lasting relationships with my professors within the department that I know will last a lifetime,” he said. “These relationships are at a personal level. The professors care about me as a student, but mainly as a person. If one of them notices that I am in a funk or a weird mood, they show genuine concern. I have sought out help from the faculty outside of class and they were more than happy to help me on their own free time.”

Outside of seeking guidance from Carthage faculty, Mitchell has seized many other opportunities that have been presented to him through the theatre department. He has had the chance to work with guest artists – including a monologue workshop with a Chicago casting director, a stage combat clinic with professional choreographers and critiques on scene design from industry set designers.

In January, Mitchell will be part of the Carthage contingent that participates in the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts American College Theatre Festival. Then, in summer 2012, Mitchell with travel to New York City for a study tour to see performances on Broadway, learn about American art and architecture, and experience the culture of New York City.

But to Mitchell, the greatest opportunity has been the diversity of his education. Although he is studying theatre performance, he has taken classes in scenic carpentry, stage management, lighting, directing, design and other areas of theatre production.

“In my short time here, I have learned about and had the opportunity to participate in all aspects of theater,” he said. “These skills make me more valuable in the professional world and have already opened up a variety of doors for me. The opportunities constantly present themselves to students in the department, all they have to do is reach out and take them.”