Theatre and Dance | Wake Forest College

Theatre Student Profile: Brittni Shambaugh

Background/ Personal Information:
Name: Brittni Shambaug
Hometown: Sneads Ferry, NC
Major/minor: Theatre
Scholarships: Presidential, Poteat, Hankins
Expected graduation year: 2010
Clubs and organizations: Living Parables Christian Drama Troupe: Artistic Director, Anthony Aston Players, Young Americans for Liberty: Secretary

Tell us about yourself:
I am from the two stoplight town of Sneads Ferry North Carolina (home of the Shrimp Festival). I am obsessed with the beach, allergic to basically anything with fur, and pretty sure I could live off of Subway for the rest of my life.

Why did you choose Wake Forest?
I chose Wake Forest because I liked the size and the family-like atmosphere. I also knew that I would be challenged academically, which was very important to me. I don’t think that I could have found a better fit, especially in the theatre department. The entire faculty is incredibly supportive and encouraging and genuinely cares about my success, not only as a student, but also as a person. I have also made some of the most amazing friends thanks to WF.

What have you had a chance to do at Wake Forest that it’s unlikely you could have done at a larger/different school?
Last semester I had the opportunity to direct Ariel Dorfman’s Death and the Maiden for the student theatre service organization The Anthony Aston Players. As part of this production I was able to work with a number of different departments, including Theatre, WGS, Music, and Romance Languages, as well as meet Chilean film maker Hector Salgado. It was an amazing collaborative project which I think truly exemplified the value of a Liberal Arts education, and it was an experience that I will never forget.

What did you plan on majoring in initially and how has that changed? What is it that most interests and excites you about the major you’re pursuing?
I knew upon arrival at Wake Forest that I would major in Theatre. As part of the interview process for the Presidential Scholarship in the spring of my senior year of high school, I was able to spend a weekend on campus getting to know the theatre faculty and students, and it was during that weekend that I fell in love with WF. After that visit I knew that Wake Forest was the school for me and that the theatre department would become my new home away from home.

What are you planning to do after graduating? How do you think your time here will prepare you to meet your goals?
After I graduate I hope to get an internship or apprenticeship with a professional theatre company somewhere, so that I can continue to develop my skills and learn about the industry. Eventually, I would like to open and run my own children’s theatre in order to give young people a safe and creative outlet.

The WFU theatre department is amazing about making sure that its students know when and where there are opportunities. We travel to theatre conferences where professional companies interview and audition potential members, and the faculty do all they can to prepare us to get a job in the theatre world, by training us to be the most well rounded theatre practitioners possible. We take classes in all areas of theatre, including acting, directing, design, and history, so that we don’t leave the school “one trick ponies”… we really know what we are doing, and that makes us desirable in the professional world.

What’s been your favorite class and/or professor?
It would be impossible for me to pick a favorite class or professor in the theatre department, because honestly they are all incredible. Even classes that I struggled with, for example: Scene Design, taught me amazing lessons in the end and I know that I am a better theatre practitioner having taken them.

Outside the theatre department, I really loved Moral and Political Philosophy with Dr. Bardon. This class challenged me to truly consider why I believe the things I believe and, in the end, completely solidified my stance on a number of issues.

Have you studied or volunteered abroad?
During the spring of my sophomore year, I was fortunate enough to spend a semester with the art department at the Worrell House in London, England. That experience more than changed my life. Not only was I able to learn a tremendous amount about art, theatre, and the amazing city of London, but I was also able to learn a lot about myself. While abroad I was given the opportunity to travel to a number of different places, including Italy, France, Scotland, Ireland, Holland, and Morocco, and the experiences I encountered could not possibly be put into words. All I can say is that it was a once in a lifetime kind of thing, and I am so grateful having been able to do it.

What has been your most meaningful extra-curricular experience?
I am entering into my fourth year as a member of The Living Parables Christian Drama Troupe. We are a group of around 10 students who write Biblically based shows and perform them around the community. We travel to local churches, drug rehabilitation centers, homeless shelters, and children’s homes, as well as performing on campus. I can’t even begin to describe what being a member of this troupe has meant to me. I have met amazing people, learned incredible lessons, and formed life-long friendships. I know that had I not found this group I would not be the person I am today, and my college experience would not be nearly as full or fulfilling. I love the other members like my family.

How have you changed in college?
I have grown a tremendous amount since coming to college. I have learned that I am capable of a lot of things that I never thought possible, but I have also learned my limits- I don’t have to be the best at everything- I just need to be the best I can be. I have gained confidence and independence, but I have also really realized the value of friendship and the importance of being able to ask for help when needed.

Top five experiences in college:
Studying abroad, Directing Death and the Maiden, Becoming a member of Living Parables, Helping the Young American’s For Liberty bring Ron Paul to campus, Getting cast in my first Mainstage University production

Advice for new students:
Tip about studying: Well… actually do it… they don’t call it “Work Forest” for nothing.
Tip about making friends: Be as friendly as possible… you will be surprised who you end up clicking with.
Tip about choosing a major: Do something you love… you don’t want to be miserable for the rest of your life because you chose something to make a lot of money or please your parents.
Tip about Winston-Salem: Allow yourself to take breaks and get off campus… Wake is beautiful but sometimes you need a “breather”.

Favorites:
Wake Forest tradition: Hit the Bricks, Shag on the Mag
Study location on campus or off campus: There is a great climbing tree outside of the Scales Fine Arts Center- I like to climb it and read. :
Book(s): Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, Rebecca, Green Dolphin Street
Movie(s): The Fisher King, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Edward Scissorhands, The Rocky Horror Picture Show