Contemporary Theatre Making Major Eliza Boyanton '25 Produces First Fringe Festival on Campus Student Profile
Photo by Sophie Hosna '24.
Meet Eliza Boyanton '25
- Major/Program
- Contemporary Theatre Making
- College Activities
- Student director/producer/dramaturg, artistic director of Bridges Theatre Company '22-'23, Honors Program
- Hometown
- Atlanta, Ga.
- High School
- DeKalb School of the Arts
- Dream Job
- Commercial theatre producer and director, artistic director of major regional theatre
- Hobbies & Interests
- Cooking, palette knife painting, studying Egyptology, Dungeons & Dragons, journaling
"This program is made for the self-starters, explorers and creators of the theatre to come ... This degree is truly what you make of it and there are so many avenues one could take. Take advantage of the vast array of opportunities available to you."
Why did you choose Point Park University’s B.F.A. contemporary theatre making program?
Eliza Boyanton was a Simpson Egyptology Scholar at
American University in Cairo, Egypt.
When deciding what programs to apply to, I knew I was looking for a conservatory-style education, but did not want to be limited to performance alone. Finding this degree at Point Park felt like the perfect marriage of my passions on- and off-stage while also giving me the freedom to study abroad. There is so much customization and curation built in that's hard to find in other conservatory programs.
Which faculty members and courses have impacted you?
I feel so lucky to have so many amazing professors at Point Park. Applied Theatre with Adil Mansoor and Playwriting with D.T. Burns challenged me to rethink my place within theatre and its potential impact. Sheila McKenna has been an incredible directing mentor over the years inside and outside of the classroom. I have also had the chance to dabble in screenwriting with Emily Thomas in the Department of Film and Animation, which has been a wonderful supplement to the contemporary theatre making degree program.
You are actively involved at Point Park and beyond. Tell us more about that.
I have been involved in a variety of projects on campus this year. Last semester, I was the dramaturg for the Pittsburgh Playhouse production of The Trees by Agnes Borinsky, directed by Adil Mansoor. Having the opportunity to be a part of Playhouse shows as assistant directors or dramaturgs is an excellent way to gain practical experience and work alongside professionals.
Most recently, I was the intimacy coordinator and dramaturg for a production with Bridges Theatre Company — one of three student theatre companies on campus. I am directing my second play for the Raymond Laine Memorial One Acts Festival, a recent Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (KCACTF) Region 2 finalist, Dave and Harold, written by my classmate Nicole Brady.
You produced Point Park’s first Fringe Festival in partnership with Pittsburgh Fringe. Tell us about your involvement with that project.
In high school, I fell in love with the concept of Fringe as a place for free, uncensored theatre. The most famous Fringe Festival takes place in Edinburgh, where the idea originated in esponse to the more curated Edinburgh International Festival in 1947. Theatre companies who were not invited arrived and performed their acts on the fringes of the more official events, eventually growing into the international phenomenon it is today.
The idea of bringing Fringe to Point Park was born during my first year in Robin Walsh’s Creativity class. Since then, I’ve conceptualized and strategized with my peers to bring it to life.
The partnership with Pittsburgh Fringe is only thanks to my friend and classmate Mady Thetard, who volunteers with the organization. She told the head producers, Xela and Sophie (a graduate of the B.F.A. contemporary theatre making program), about my project and helped to arrange a meeting last fall. We discussed what this partnership would look like and how it could benefit both parties. Faculty and staff at Point Park helped to arrange the use of the Boulevard Studios as our venue and iron out the dates.
I ran the marketing for the festival, designing a custom logo and color palette to use in print and social media campaigns while also working behind the scenes to procure and arrange performances. As is the spirit of Fringe, any act that applied was accepted.
We welcomed more than 200 patrons to 10 original shows and events throughout the weekend, all created and performed by Point Park students and alumni. We had everything from workshops to showcases, staged readings, musicals and solo performances.
I hope Point Park Fringe sticks around, as it is an excellent place to experiment and gain insight on in-process work in front of an audience. This process taught me the importance of relying on your network and how theatre truly is a community builder.
None of it would have been possible without my many amazing mentors and collaborators at Point Park, Pittsburgh Fringe and beyond. This project has only reinforced my love for producing and has become a tangible confirmation of my skills and interests as I prepare to enter the professional theatre scene after I graduate.
How are these opportunities preparing you for your career?
One of the things that makes Point Park so unique is the emphasis on experience inside and outside of the classroom. I am prepared to enter the professional world because of the vast number of opportunities I've had to put my skills to the test. It's not just my knowledge and skills as an artist but as a collaborator, leader and advocate that assure me I am ready to start my career after graduation.
What advice do you have for a prospective student?
This program is made for the self-starters, explorers and creators of the theatre to come. Be open to trying anything and everything because you never really know what may click with you. Looking at my peers, not one of our tracks has been the exact same and we are all graduating with unique specialties and perspectives. This degree is truly what you make of it and there are so many avenues one could take. Take advantage of the vast array of opportunities available to you.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
You don’t have to give up your other interests to pursue theatre. Your unique experiences and passions are what make you special and will only contribute positively to your work as an artist and beyond.