Jangraw '04

Trouble managing your time? Take note. Rebecca Jangraw '04 has mastered this essential art. Even at 9 a.m. when I met her for our interview, she looked calm and polished.

Currently, she is the music director for Tigerlillies, the director for the upcoming production of the musical "Guys and Dolls" for the Princeton University Players (PUPs), a member of Tower Club and a chemical engineering major.

Her diverse experiences at Princeton, while time-consuming, have helped her to meet a wide variety of people and to make the most of her college experience. "It's like Mission Impossible," she said, "I have all these identities."

Before coming to Princeton, Jangraw acted, played the French horn and sang in her hometown of Longmeadow, Mass. She participated in a drama program at her high school, playing Adeleide in their production of "Guys and Dolls," but gained most of her experience on the stage at a local community theater, St. Martha's Players.

Her first roll came almost by accident. Her brother, David '07, was acting in their production of "Oliver" when the person playing the character Bett became ill. Jangraw filled the part and later did two other productions, "The King and I" and another performance of "Guys and Dolls," with the same theater.

Jangraw has continued to be involved in drama at Princeton, acting in a variety of performances during her time here. Asked to choose a favorite, she hesitated, recalling many of them fondly. "West Side Story" was her best choreographic experience, while "The Fix," directed by current PUPs president, Rachel Timminsky, '07, was her best directorial experience. "Chicago" was, as would be expected, all around fun.

In order to direct "Guys and Dolls" this winter, Jangraw began an extensive proposal process last spring. Although she has not had a great deal of directing experience, her participation in two previous productions of "Guys and Dolls" has helped her to know the musical and all it requires inside and out.

Although directing demands many hours of work, the effort is entirely worthwhile; she describes her cast as "spectacular" and is pleased with their progress in rehearsals. She expects the musical, which is the largest show on campus this year, to be well received. It will run from February 26 to March 1.

Since most of Princeton's artistic venues are entirely student-run, Jangraw feels that students can more fully experience and understand the process of producing a dramatic performance. She testifies to a huge improvement in the arts at Princeton during her college career.

"The Berlind Theater is the best thing to happen" to the arts at Princeton, she said. The recent productions of "Big Love" and "Titus," her two favorite recent productions at Princeton, are both proof of this progress.

Jangraw has also been involved in Tigerlillies since her freshman year and currently sings as a second soprano. Upon her arrival at Princeton, she originally wanted to be in a coed a capella group, but she has certainly enjoyed her experience with her fellow female singers. Asked how an all-female a capella group differs from a coed one, she said, "I think we have more fun." As the music director for the group; Jangraw runs rehearsal, conducts and gives musical comments to her fellow 'Lils. She also decides what music to rehearse and what to sing at arches.

Jangraw hopes to finish her Princeton career by putting on an amazing musical, having fun with her friends, taking classes that she always wanted to take, but never did and finishing her thesis.

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Even though she has so much on her plate, she regrets that she did not have more time to participate in other aspects of Princeton life.

Her comment on directing "Guys and Dolls" could apply to her whole college career: "It's going to be a really great experience, but I might be crazy by the end of it."