By Michael Nash ’27
Being a theatre major here at Pomona College has been one of the best experiences I could’ve ever asked for. When I was applying to college, I originally wanted to double major in theatre and neuroscience. But let’s be real—trying to do both would’ve been incredibly challenging. So, before even stepping foot on campus, I sat down and asked myself: What do I truly want out of life? What am I most passionate about? The answer was clear—I decided to focus fully on theatre.
My journey started with Orientation Adventure, where I toured the theatre department, participated in a mock class, and watched a performance of Les Misérables. It was exciting—but still, when my first semester officially began, I didn’t take a single theatre class. I was nervous and unsure of what it really meant to commit to the major. But in my second semester, everything changed. I enrolled in Black Theatre, an intro-level class that met for two and a half hours. That class kickstarted my confidence. It opened my eyes not just to theatre history and culture, but also to my own potential. From there, things took off. In the fall of sophomore year, I took Intermediate Acting and Dramaturgy. I loved both. In Intermediate, I got to perform and challenge myself as an actor. In Dramaturgy, I learned what a dramaturg actually does—and I even got to write about my favorite musical of all time: Hamilton by Lin-Manuel Miranda (which, yes, I absolutely love!).
Now, I’ll be honest—the one area I haven’t fully explored yet is performance on a broader scale, even though I plan to concentrate in it. That’s a goal I hope to pursue this semester as I enter my junior year. The beauty of Pomona’s theatre program is that there’s something for everyone—whether you’re here for a fun experience or a serious long-term commitment to the craft. I’ve taken classes I never imagined I’d enroll in, like Theatrical Design (which I wrote about in a previous blog). And last semester, I even performed in the Sandbox Plays, which was such a fun and meaningful experience. It felt like a stepping stone toward bigger productions ahead.
I don’t regret a single choice I’ve made in this department. The faculty are supportive and funny, and my peers have become lifelong friends. The theatre department isn’t just where I take classes—it’s my home on campus. It’s full of people I consider family, and for that, I’m forever grateful.