Meet Stacey Alexandra Picard, Assistant Professor of Theatre
Stacey Alexandra Picard may be a newer Theatre faculty member here at New England College, but she’s a familiar face. She graduated Summa cum Laude from NEC back in 1997. Full of a vivacious glow, she shared a very special story one day; how it is that she came “home.”
Alex had been a shy little girl who found her voice performing in school plays back in first grade. It was an early addiction to self-expression and an opportunity to share her love of life through the art of theatre that helped steer her to where she is today. Of course, it only sought to further encourage her pursuance of the craft that she had an incredibly supportive family.
“If I didn’t know I was supposed to be an actor, my mother knew she was supposed to be a stage mom.” said Alex of her mom, “she wanted me to “Live the Artist’s life,” only I chose practicality and got a degree.”
For as long as she’s wanted to be on stage, she’s wanted to teach, feeling they go hand in hand for her. “It’s important to practice what you preach- It keeps me honest- acting with the eye of a student, teaching with the experience of the actor.” She feels this philosophy is rooted in her as a result of transferring to NEC to pursue her Degree in Education with a concentration in Theatre.
Alex insists she wouldn’t be where she is today were it not for transferring in to NEC. After a rather discouraging attempt to find her voice at an all Women’s College, she took her NEC Alumni Uncle Jim Ferro’s advice to come to NEC and experience first-hand what it meant to be a part of the New England College community. Naturally, she joined the Theatre Department here, “I felt like I was good at something- the process was so important and I was a valued member, we all were. We all invested so much more of ourselves because of the stressed value in the process of producing theatre.” She felt encouraged by her professors to pursue her love for both Education as well as Theatre and found them to be incredibly flexible in their interdepartmental cooperation in enabling her to be on stage as well as do student teaching.
After having graduated, Alex took the advice of her Theatre professors and attended the cattle-call for the theatrically inclined in New York City: URTA. The University/Resident Theatre Association (http://urta.com/index.php) provides an opportunity for actors armed with 2 monologues, to have a 2 minute audition with two Industry Professionals to see if they have that “spark” to land them a graduate school experience. Alex passed through several rounds of auditions and wound up with an offer from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign for a 3 year Graduate Assistantship in their Actor Training Program to receive an MFA in Acting, which also provided her an opportunity to teach for the program. (http://theatre.uiuc.edu/) She took it. And the kicker? It was all completely paid for.
So, here’s Alex, 24 with a terminal degree in Theatre and a Teaching certificate under her belt, ready to make her mark on the world. Upon returning to the east coast, she received a phone call regarding an immediate opening to teach Theatre at Belmont High School. The phone call came just before noon that day. She went for the interview, was teaching class at 1pm and stayed for 3 years. Her next endeavor to teach was at Cambridge Rindge and Latin High school.
Simultaneous to teaching in Cambridge, she submitted her resume to the Devanaughn Theatre in an effort to continue to satiate her thirst for acting. After noticing the references on her resume included New England College, The producing director commented, “If you went to NEC then you must be well trained!” Needless to say, Alex became the third party in the “triumvirate” of Devanaughn Theatre as Managing Director, doing some producing, hiring, and stage management as well as acting.
So how did she wind up here at NEC? Since NEC led her to that NYC audition and helped give her the boost of confidence she needed, this fall Alex decided she’d followed the path back “home.” Little did she know she’d be fortunate enough to work along-side the very same individuals who’d helped nurture the ideals to which she clings. “I’m a composite of every good teacher I ever had! I’m my own person, but certainly I stole from the best.”
Of her teaching philosophy she said “If you’re not laughing, you’re not learning.” She uses humor as an almost pneumonic devise to help her students grasp the history, irony, and richness that circumnavigates where theatre has been, where it’s going, and ultimately, where it’s taking her students. It’s so important to her that her students have the same sense of what ENSEMBLE really means- to fully understand what it’s like to be a valued member in the process and embrace that kind of responsibility. “I belong to the “Church” of theatre. That’s where I choose to find my community.”
Alex identifies with the college’s mission statement:
“New England College is a creative and supportive learning community that challenges individuals to transform themselves and their world.”
Saying, “You also have to let your world transform you- .”
Alex’s ambitions are not for the faint of heart. She hopes to invigorate a new generation of theatre goers, to help students realize that as artists they have an obligation to reinvent the craft of theatre and keep it moving forward. She seeks to uphold the very ideals which have proven to build the self- confidence, sense of responsibility and universal respect that follows the Theatre graduates of New England College.
Coming to NEC was “the best move I ever made!” says Alex. The circumstances which have lead her back here are a result of “hard work meets opportunity.” As a student in theatre here, she was encouraged to take risks, to grow as an individual, to establish her own voice and to be a part of the process, so it’s only fitting that she would be back at NEC helping to nurture the next generation of successful students. “Success in theatre isn’t just about being on Broadway or being in movies- it’s about being truthful and telling an honest story to an audience that’s thirsty for it. That’s success in theatre.”
And in parting, when asked what she’d like her students to know most about her, she humbly offered a most sincere phrase, “ There’s no place on earth I would rather be than right here, with all of you.” Alex Picard echoes inspiration with a passion like so many faculty here at New England College, and is a prime example of the kind of people New England College Graduates are apt to exemplify; genuine.
