Name: Trevor Pierce Year: College 2014 Hometown: Canton, CT Major: Theatre Arts with a Music/History Minor Website: www.trevorpierce.weebly.com
Street: Describe your artistic pursuits. Trevor Pierce: I’m kind of a jack–of–all–trades. I started as a singer in my school chorus and eventually got myself into acting (and, obviously, musical theatre was the natural progression). I play several instruments (piano, clarinet, bassoon…), and I have played in bands all my life. In college, I got into direction, rehearsing/conducting pit orchestras, teaching music to actors, shaping the overall music in a show, etc. I love children’s theatre, I dabble in sound engineering and I have costumed roughly a dozen productions (mostly at Penn). My friends have this joke… they call me Trevor M. Pierce: Actor/Singer/Musician/Director/Composer/Costumer/Thrower of Kikis… you get the idea.
Street: How did you first get into theater? TP: In eighth grade, I got cast as the Cowardly Lion in a janky “Wizard of Oz” spinoff called “Oz!” My mom says I got bitten by the theatrical bug then and never looked back, bending over backwards to do as much theatre as I could. My freshman year of high school, she wouldn’t let me go out for the school play because she didn’t think I would be able to manage my time, so instead, I signed up to be the pianist’s page turner. Yes… I was that desperate to be involved.
Street: How has being at Penn caused you to grow as an artist? TP: Penn has this fantastic ability to bring together so many factions of performing arts into one neat little package. You have a thriving Theatre Arts department, which provides quality instruction (both theoretical and practical) by some incredibly knowledgable professors and staff members. You have the dynamic student arts community, which produces upwards of 40 productions per semester (many of which are professionally directed). You have all the resources of the vibrant Philly arts scene at your fingertips. And, if you play your cards right, you can pick and choose the best of all of these opportunities and apply them to your own growth.
Street: You’ve been involved in the Philadelphia theater community outside of Penn. How did you enter that world? TP: My sophomore year, I got cast as Dr. Frank–N–Furter in the Penn Players production of “The Rocky Horror Show.” I instantly clicked with both our Director and Music Director, learning so much about really pursuing a career in the arts (while simultaneously learning how to pole dance and strut around in five–inch platform heels). I ended up going on to do several collaborations outside of Penn with both of them, as well as with directors I had junior year. People don’t lie when they say artistic careers depend on who you know—these few directors have connected me with most of the major theater companies in the Philadelphia area, providing countless opportunities that have helped me grow as an artist.
Street: What’s it been like to work with professionals, as opposed to other students? TP: In the real world, you’re hired to do a job, and you must cash in on that job. No one cares if you’re stressed with work, or if the music is hard or if you have a cold. They want quality work 100% of the time, and your reputation as an artist depends on it. For me, this has been exhilarating. I happen to be the type of person who functions at 120% every single moment of every day, and I love being surrounded by people who are on that same page. At school, sometimes your colleagues have less than desirable work ethics. In professional theatre… those people get fired. It might be vengeful and vindictive, but I love it. I love the feeling that everyone is putting their entire life into a specific project. To me, that’s what makes theatre so unbelievably magical.
Street: What’s your favorite production you’ve been involved in at Penn? TP: Last fall I was given the opportunity to music direct the Penn Singers production of “Legally Blonde: The Musical.” It was unbelievably stressful, and I often felt like I was just going to crack under the strain and pressure, but when I took my place as conductor in the pit each night (which, by the way, was sitting on a 10–foot high platform in the center of the stage, in full view of our sold–out audiences), this indescribable feeling came over me. I knew I was exactly where I should be, doing exactly what I should be doing. Sometimes I joke that music and theatre flow through my veins, but it’s moments like that when I truly believe it. I’ve never been so happy or felt so accomplished, and I can’t wait to have myriad more of these experiences over the rest of my life.
Street: When you’re not working on something theater—or music—related, what do you like to do on campus? TP: Not doing something theater or music related? What?? When not in rehearsal, or memorizing material or arranging music, I work in the admissions office! I give tours, answer phones, talk to perspective families… it’s a good time. I also teach swim lessons to people at Pottruck… everybody from babies to senior citizens. And I happen to love chick flicks, pinot grigio and nachos… so most nights you can find me on my couch watching TV, snuggling with friends and my housemate’s kitties.
Street: Where do you see your work taking you in the future? TP: I can barely bring myself to think about what I’m eating for dinner, much less where my life is going to go. I’m hoping to snag a Summer Stock gig for this summer (where the theatre will produce something like 10 musicals in three months), and then maybe a music direction apprenticeship the following year? A small sliver of job security before I embark on a lifetime of bouncing from one gig to the next. Music direction really seems to be my calling, so I’m planning on going down that path… and maybe throw in some performing on the side. Who knows. Whatever I need to do to avoid living on the street in a cardboard box.
