Nadav Hirsh knew in middle school that he wanted a professional career in theater.
My dad has been taking me to the theater my entire life, Hirsh said. Weve been going to the theater since before I can remember.
Hirsh chose Tufts in part for its drama department. Beyond four years working toward a major in drama and a minor in linguistics, Hirsch has also been a part of at least 15 productions with several different theater groups, taking on a variety of roles.
My first show was Kiss Me Kate. Then I started doing student theater through 3Ps and Torn Ticket [II], Hirsh said. I mostly did a lot with Torn Ticket during my first year, which is musical theater, because I love that. I came in knowing I wanted to do acting, but I worked my way into lighting and design.
After taking several courses that focus on the technical aspects of theater, as well as on directing, Hirsh was able to take on leadership roles in more productions. His involvement later extended into other student groups.
Sophomore year, I got into HYPE! Mime Troupe, which is, were pretty sure, the only collegiate mime troupe in New England, he said. Its great; its all collaborative, and we write our own stuff. This year was our 15th anniversary.
Some of Hirshs favorite past shows include Over the Rainbow, a production that has been performed each year that he has been here, and Alice in Wonderland, for which he took on his most recent role as director.
[Over the Rainbow] is a benefit that is co-produced by Torn Ticket and 3Ps, the Department of Drama and Dance and a couple of other people, which benefits Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, Hirsh said. [During] its second year, I was a freshman ... in it. The year after that, I was in a couple of the songs and also assistant-directed it. Then I directed it my junior year.
Alice in Wonderland was part of the second half of Hirshs senior capstone project the first part was lighting design for Torn Ticket IIs A Man of No Importance last semester. Alice in Wonderland was an opportunity for Hirsh to finish off his senior year with something that he had always envisioned doing at Tufts.
I had directed smaller shows ... but this was the first and only really full, huge, mainstage production that I got to do, which was a nice ending to everything.
Although the script for Alice in Wonderland was written for a cast of 40, Hirsh performed it with a cast of 10.
It ended up being a really, really strong ensemble. It really did open a lot of doors for being creative, Hirsh said. Its the kind of show that you can really go any direction with. I wanted to give actors and designers stuff to play with rather than say This is this play, lets get it right. We were able to get it right but do it however we wanted.
This creative, collaborative aspect of theater that Hirsh was able to focus on in Alice in Wonderland is part of what he loves about theater as a whole.
I always get excited when I go into a theater ... [Its] collaborative. So many people have something to say, he said. It means its not just one persons perspective. Therefore, its more accessible to more people ... And its live, which is nice. You get to feel it for two hours, but all you can do is remember how it felt.
After premiering Alice in Wonderland on March 7, Hirsh has been gearing up to graduate and move across the country to continue pursuing work in the performing arts. His future plans remain open to different opportunities.
I know where Ill be, but I dont know what Ill be doing, Hirsh said, remarking on his future move to Portland, Ore. He hopes to work in Portlands smaller, tight-knit theater community, as well as the citys independent TV and film projects.
I will be looking for work in the arts once I get there ... I want to try it all, especially because in Portland film, TV and theater all overlap, he said. If I could do everything I wanted, I would be an actor, a lighting designer and voice actor. Well see how that works out. I may have to pick just two.
