Meghan Lima Finds Outlet for Theater on Tech Campus

2012 Mar 29

As graduating RIT Players president, Meghan Lima, a fourth-year student studying film/animation and imaging engineering, encourages everyone to see some college theater before they graduate. A creative mind, Lima created her own major through the Center for Multidisciplinary Studies and was the driving force behind "The RIT Players Presents: The Variety Show." With the help of her fellow club members, the production has come to life. "The RIT Players Presents: The Variety Show" will be preformed at 8 p.m. March 30 in Webb Auditorium. Admission is free.

Question: Where are you from?

Answer: I am from Cheshire, Conn.

Q: What brought you to RIT?

A: My top two choices were Virginia Tech and RIT. I chose RIT because of the strong support system they had for female engineers in a normally male-dominated major. My other reason was that I learned English Sign Language in high school and wanted to expand upon that to learn American Sign Language.

Q: What is the RIT Players?

A: RIT Players is the hearing theater club on campus. We perform between four and six shows every year, from a small Twenty-Four Hour Show to large-scale musicals like Little Shop Of Horrors. We have weekly meetings 8 p.m. on Tuesdays in Nathaniel Rochester Hall in room 1250 where we discuss upcoming shows, auditions, fundraisers, club trips to New York City, etc. We invite anyone who is interested in acting, sound design, lighting design, directing, writing, props, costumes or just watching theater to join us. There are many ways to get involved with RIT Players.

Q: What is "RIT Players Present: The Variety Show"?

A: The RIT Players Variety show is a spectacular event occurring 8 p.m. Friday, March 30, in Webb Auditorium where you will see a variety of musical and non-musical acts from today's popular shows. Some of these shows include: A Very Potter Musical, [Title of Show], Annie Get Your Gun, Tick Tick Boom!, Spring Awakening and many more.

Q: Are the RIT Players planning anything else for spring quarter?

A: Dog Sees God is the RIT Players spring show. It is a dark parody on the beloved Peanuts comic strip characters growing up. This show is completely unique because it will be performed in the round-audience on all sides-and projectors on all sides. The audience will get to experience being completely immersed into this scandalous world of the Peanuts characters. Note this show is for adults only.

Q: Do you plan to continue theater after college?

A: My experience with RIT Players and my hodge-podge major involving film/animation, theater arts, business and imaging technology have given me the perfect mix to work in the theater production world. After getting my graduate degree in innovative management, I plan to work in the theater management world-eventually working my way up to artistic director of a small theater company.

Q: What other activities are you involved in on campus?

A: I am also involved in NTID theater as a voice actor and dancer.

Q: What do you like to do in your spare time?

A: Honestly, I don't have a lot of free time...theater is what I consider my free time because I really do love it.

Q: What do you plan to do after graduation?

A: My ultimate goal is to make enough money to give RIT a theater that accommodates the performing arts.

Q: Any advice you would give to other RIT students?

A: I know everyone tells you this but get involved on campus. You need to fully immerse yourself in what you love at RIT, and trust me, you will find something you love. Also, go see more theater. You will be surprised how quickly you love it.

Brittany Remington compiles "Student Spotlights" for University News. Contact her at bjr8272@rit.edu with suggestions.

Rochester Institute of Technology is internationally recognized for academic leadership in computing, engineering, imaging technology, sustainability, and fine and applied arts, in addition to unparalleled support services for deaf and hard-of-hearing students. RIT enrolls 17,000 full- and part-time students in more than 200 career-oriented and professional programs, and its cooperative-education program is one of the oldest and largest in the nation.

For two decades, U.S. News & World Report has ranked RIT among the nation's leading comprehensive universities. RIT is featured in The Princeton Review's 2011 edition of The Best 373 Colleges as well as its Guide to 286 Green Colleges. The Fiske Guide to Colleges 2011 includes RIT among more than 300 of the country's most interesting colleges and universities.

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