,%20Class%20of%202011.jpg?width=256&name=Ashley%20Ottesen%20(Parker),%20Class%20of%202011.jpg)
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE MOST MEMORABLE AND IMPACTFUL MOMENTS IN THE CONCORDIA THEATRE PROGRAM?
The community I believe was the most memorable. It was so rewarding to be surrounded by like-minded people telling stories. It was my most favorite class.
HOW DID YOUR INVOLVEMENT IN THE THEATRE HELP YOU TO GET WHERE YOU ARE TODAY?
I did theatre in middle school but the high school I attended before Concordia did not have a theatre program so it was Concordia that reintroduced my love of performing. So much so I continue performing today both on stage and on film.
WHAT WERE YOUR FAVORITE MOMENTS/MEMORIES OF THE THEATRE PROGRAM AND WHY?
Performing Macbeth. It was my first ever Shakespeare performance and I have gone on to do many more Shakespeare plays. In fact the majority of my performances have been Shakespeare. It was also in Macbeth I was first introduced to stage combat, later going to Hong Kong with CISS theatre for the stage combat seminar. I’ve since learned quite a bit of stage combat and different weaponry. Due to that knowledge I’ve been fortunate to work as a combat choreographer and stunt coordinator on several stage and film projects.
WHAT WILL YOU DO WITH YOUR THEATRE EXPERIENCE AS YOU GO FORWARD IN LIFE?
Well I went on to earn my BFA in Acting. I’ve chosen acting as a career and it’s all because I did theatre at Concordia.
ARE YOU CREATING/PERFORMING NOW?
Yes. I am currently in two plays. Taming of the Shrew and Arsenic and Old Lace. I am also scheduled to perform in a sitcom this coming April. If you get NBC you may see one of the many Nebraska Furniture Mart commercials I’ve done. I audition and work rather consistently. I’ve also been writing my own scripts for short and full feature films I hope to shoot one day.
CURRENT EMPLOYER OR COURSE OF STUDY.
I am self-employed as an actor. I have an agent here in Dallas helping me find big auditions. Dallas is considered a small market so the opportunities are few but I still manage to find enough to do as well as balancing my two kids.
