By Dave Reale ’09

Taking on the role of Celimene in this semester’s production of The Misanthrope by Moliere, Katie Scheidt’s ’10 senior thesis is a personal look at the production and her growth as an actress during the several weeks of rehearsals and performances. Graduating with a B.F.A., Scheidt’s thesis encompasses the essence of what she will take away from her time at Arcadia.

“My classes really prepared me for this because they helped me to think independently,” says Scheidt. “I can trust the director and my fellow actors to tell me if what I am doing is wrong or is not working, but I more so have to trust myself and know if what I am doing is good or bad in my mind.”

Scheidt’s involvement in theater productions during her Arcadia career includes the roles of Holly Seabe in Anton in Show Business, Sylvia Fowler in The Women, the mother in Princess Rescuers, and a Roustabout in Carnival. She also hass been assistant director for Home and The Physicist, light designer for An Evening of Improv, and light board operator for Hearsay.

Using what she has learned in audition technique workshops, acting for film and television classes as well as a direction class, Scheidt’s plan after graduation is to focus on the film industry. Although she loves the theater, film is where her future lies.

“I plan to stay in Philadelphia for a year to build up my resume before I head out to Los Angeles where I will pursue a career as a film actress.”