Get Career-Ready with: Mady Thetard '25, Theatre Arts Major, Creative Writing Minor Student Profile
Meet Mady Thetard '25
- Major/Program
- Theatre Arts
- Minor
- Creative Writing
- College Activities
- Student director/playwright, Community Engagement coordinator, Theatre Arts apprentice, Wenches sketch comedy troupe and Honors Program member
- Hometown
- Canton, Mich.
- High School
- Canton High School
- Dream Job
- Freelance director and writer, founder of an artist residency
- Hobbies & Interests
- Cooking, reading, watching new movies and learning random skills like stamp making and farming
"I chose the B.F.A. theatre arts because I wanted to acquire a wide range of theatre skills and Point Park’s program would allow me to have hands-on experience running a rehearsal room and putting up a script that I wrote. I also loved how close Point Park is to so many regional theaters doing incredible work."
Why did you choose Point Park University’s B.F.A. theatre arts program?
I chose this major because I wanted to acquire a wide range of theatre skills and Point Park’s program would allow me to have hands-on experience running a rehearsal room and putting up a script that I wrote. I also loved how close Point Park is to so many regional theaters doing incredible work.
Which faculty members and courses have had a significant impact on you?
Aren't I lucky that I have too many to name? Some of my biggest mentors during my time here have included D.T. Burns, Adil Mansoor, Sheila McKenna and April Daras. They have all worked tirelessly to provide us with professional opportunities and make themselves available when we need help. Some of my favorite courses have been Queer Studies in Playwriting, Poetry Workshop I and Eco-Drama, which I was able to take at Carnegie Mellon University through our cross-registration program.
You are actively involved at Point Park. Briefly highlight what you are up to on and off campus.
On campus, I am a theatre arts apprentice and the community engagement coordinator for the Pittsburgh Playhouse, made possible by Point Park’s co-op program. These opportunities give me awesome hands-on experience coming up with events that benefit students at Point Park and in the community, like helping with the Spring into Theatre Festival, which allowed high school students in the area to participate in faculty-led workshops. I also work with the student theatre companies often and I am currently directing an original one act for the upcoming Raymond Laine Memorial One Acts Festival.
How are these opportunities enriching your college experience to prepare you for your career?
I’ve already been able to practice so many skills that I will utilize outside of college, whether that’s event planning, team management, problem solving or any of the other soft skills I’ve developed over the years. Plus, I think that all these experiences make me a more interesting person, and that is my ultimate goal!
@pointparku Follow along with Mady Thetard '25 as she gets career-ready as a theatre arts major and creative writing minor at Point Park! 🎭✍️🤩 See what its like to acquire a wide range of theatre and writing skills and then put them to the test in real life. #PointParkU #PointParkUniversity #DowntownPittsburgh #GetCareerReady #TheatreArts #TheatreArtsMajor ♬ original sound - Point Park University
What’s it like living in learning in Downtown Pittsburgh?
There is so much art and culture in Downtown Pittsburgh; I love the opportunity to see professional theater, including both new work and well-known classics. Some of my favorite downtown activities are picking up a latte from Corner Mercantile (shoutout to the student discount!), seeing a show at the Pittsburgh Public Theater and listening to jazz at Con Alma.
What are your career goals?
I have a lot of interests, including directing, devising, literary management, and writing plays, poetry and arts journalism. My goal is to make all those dreams come true by finding innovative ways to combine those passions.
What advice do you have for a prospective student considering the B.F.A. theatre arts program?
If you are a go-getter interested in all the creative aspects of theatre, this is the program for you. The B.F.A. theatre arts program at Point Park is unique. You will have constant opportunities to create your own work, build connections with working artists, and receive one-on-one mentorship from faculty members who know the industry because they’re building the industry.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Get involved. If you wish that something existed at Point Park, make it happen. The world is yours for the taking!