B.A. in Theatre and Dance Candidate (with emphasis on Stage Management and Playwriting)
Why did you choose UT Austin for your education?
I never had a dream school in mind, so I turned to the internet and my peers for advice on college. No matter where I looked, one name always came up with glowing reviews: The University of Texas at Austin. I applied, got accepted, and after one semester here, I knew I'd made the right decision for myself.
What inspires you?
I am inspired by transformation. Whether it's the changing of a blank stage into the world of a play, or changes I make to my own writing, seeing such amazing changes inspires me to work harder and change myself for the better.
What is your favorite place to study?
My living room or my bedroom. On campus, I love studying in the stone courtyard to the side of Winship Building. In general, I love studying alone in open spaces with enough room to lay down or dance.
Tell us about a favorite experience in class, on stage, or behind the scenes.
In Playwriting 3, we had to write a "bomb" between two of our characters that would change the status quo of the scene's events. I chose to revamp the reveal of my main character's past and made it more personal. Once finished, we shared our moments one by one. While I was reading my voice started shaking and I found tears on my face. I had never had such a visceral reaction to anything I'd written. It felt like my character was speaking through me, like I finally knew her. It was exhilarating.
What do you love most about being part of the UT Theatre and Dance family?
Even though UT is a massive university, I never feel lost in the sea of people. I know my department knows me. Whether in happiness or crisis, I can count every resident Winship as part of my beloved family, and I wouldn't have it any other way.
About Joshua
Joshua Secor is a third-year B.A. in Theatre and Dance student with an emphasis in stage management and playwriting. Most recently he served as the stage manager for Bodies & Souls with the UT Dance Repertory Theatre, and High School Hamlet / A Midsummer Night's Macbeth with Seattle Children's Theatre. He has held positions in almost every aspect of theatre and has been part of over 40 productions. He loves working on new and unpublished work and seeing how they change over the rehearsal process.