Many of you may fondly remember childhood days spent reading and rereading "The Velveteen Rabbit," by Margery Williams. For Alexis Schulman '04, the work holds even greater significance.
At the age of 7, Schulman's first grade class staged a production of the book, and she and her best friend were chosen to split the starring role. The experience was thrilling for her — it wasn't just any ordinary school play.
The performance was at the YMCA, and the play featured original music, written especially for her class by Schulman's music teacher. The play was a hit, and a spark was lit in Schulman's mind.
Four years later, the Arden Theatre in Philadelphia was staging a production of "Ellen Foster," by Kaye Gibbons. The director wished to use a group of students in the show, which tells the story of a young girl's life from the vantage point of an older woman's memory.
By chance, the director solicited Schulman's school; "It was all so lucky," she said. "What were the odds of my school being selected? And of me getting to be in the group that my music teacher chose to go and audition?" The selection process may have been fortuitous for Schulman, but it was her skill that helped her become a part of the group of students cast in the play.
Unfortunately, right after her audition, things went awry. After a year, when Schulman had heard nothing further about the production, it seemed as though it would not take place. "I was already attending another school, and had almost forgotten about the play. But when I heard about it again, I was so excited, and I really wanted to do it."
Schulman's parents were less than excited; in fact, her mother went so far as to call acting "the kiss of death," as no good could come of a career in the theatre. Fighting against her parents' will, Schulman persevered and was allowed to accept her role in the show. She remained in close contact with the female lead of the show long after the play had closed, as she had become a role model for her. "One day, I called her up, and she told me that she was living in New York and working as a waitress. I was shocked, because I remembered how amazing she had been."
For Schulman, her experience in "Ellen Foster" solidified two ideas in her mind. The first was that acting was an amazing experience; the second was that, given the fate of the show's leading lady, it was not possible to make a career out of this passionate activity.
In fact, "Ellen Foster" was Schulman's last foray into the world of professional theater. She nurtured her talent, participating in middle school and high school plays; though her experience in "Ellen Foster" still stands out in her mind as one of her favorite dramatic experiences, she has never since sought to duplicate it in the professional realm of theatre.
Upon her arrival at Princeton, Schulman shied away from the campus' theatre groups and classes. She was intimidated by the tight-knit student groups, which seemed to her "cliquey, and a bit too incestuous," and feared that drama instructors at Princeton might be snobs, although she has since met several of the [lowercase p] professors, and has been satisfied that this is not the case.
She did participate in the her class' "Freshman One Acts," and played a role in the "Vagina Monologues" in her sophomore year, which was "a great experience and an incredible show." For the most part, however, Schulman focused on other areas of campus life, not least of which is the rigorous workload of her Civil and Electrical Engineering major.
Schulman explains that her dramatic reticence was due to a lack of comfort. "It took time to get confidence, make friends, and really feel comfortable," she said. In her senior year, Schulman seems to have achieved that comfort. She is preparing to take on one of the starring roles in Charles M. Lee's "Big Love," a retelling of Escalus' story of 50 suppliant women, fleeing a forced marriage to their 50 cousins. In Mee's version, three sisters are used to represent the fleeing women; Schulman will portray one of those sisters.
The role is a very exciting one, particularly since Schulman is inspired by her director, Davis McCallum, whose instructions, Schulman said, gave her "seeds of ideas that completely open up scenes for her."
Sadly, Schulman has no current plans to continue in the arts after graduation, though she does hope to work for a year in a nonprofit organization, before settling down to a nine-to-five job, if those even still exist. Regarding this choice, Schulman says, "In an ideal world, maybe it [drama] would be something to do for the rest of my life. It makes me feel so happy, and even though it demands so much energy, it leaves me feeling energized. I would love to incorporate theatre into my life, but how do I do it?"
With that question still unanswered, Big Love stands to be Schulman's last starring role. Her last words to Princeton audiences: "See Big Love. It should be incredible!"
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