Beckman Spends Memorable Summer at National Theatre Institute

A University of Arkansas at Little Rock student completed a highly competitive six-week summer theater program where participants create new work while training with professionals and emerging artists.

Lance Beckman, a senior theatre arts and English major from Redfield, finished the National Theater Institute's (NTI) Theatermakers Summer Intensive program from June 14 to July 28 at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center in Waterford, Connecticut.

"This program was life changing, 100 percent, and UA Little Rock offered me a great scholarship to go," Beckman said. "You are working 24/7 on theatre. You are taking new classes with new teachers every day. You get feedback that is critical and helpful in building your chops in theatre. I feel like I am 10 times better than I was as an artist, especially when it comes to directing."

During the program, Beckman participated in daily master classes and workshops on topics like screenwriting, composing, African dance, social justice for the performer, film editing, and musical theatre anthems. They were also able to attend the National Puppetry Conference, the National Musical Theatre Conference, and the National Playwrights Conference.

Beckman and the 23 other participants trained with award-winning professionals and emerging artists to produce original work each week. While he participated in the directing intensive program, Beckman also wrote, acted, edited, and filmed works with his fellow participants, who he grew close with over the summer.

"My favorite part of the program was getting to know all of these people, collaborating together, and building connections with theatermakers your own age," Beckman said. "What is fun about my cohort is that Rachel Jett (NTI Artistic Director) told us that we are the most loving cohort that she's ever experienced. We all got along so well. We all left the experience with love and excitement for the future."

After he graduates in May, Beckman plans to work as a high school English teacher while working as a director in the central Arkansas area. He's grateful for the connections he made during NTI, which he feels as really prepared him for the future.

"I have connections at theatres all over the country and at grad schools that I never dreamed of going to before," he said. "Near the end of the program, you workshop what your five-year plan is. They tell you who you should meet and connect with. Theatre is all about networking and knowing people. NTI is like a miniature graduate school program."

Beckman was able to attend NTI through support from the School of Literary and Performing Arts with scholarships from the College of Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences, and Education (CHASSE) Talent Theatre Arts Fund and the Cooper Honors in English Endowment.

"Stacy Pendergraft and I are so pleased that Literary and Performing Arts can support immersive learning experiences like Lance's participation in the summer program at NTI," said Dr. Kris McAbee, co-director of the School of Literary and Performing Arts. "As a double major in English and theatre arts, a Cooper Honors student, and a performer in last year's musical showcase, Lance engages actively with all three of our school's programs. The scholarships we provided are an investment in both Lance's considerable aptitude in the literary and performing arts as well as the school's future endeavors, since he will share his experience with us through collaborative student-driven projects this year."

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