Hannah Beehler was going to be a chemistry teacher. She planned to work in a lab and teach students how to understand the universe.
Instead, the University of Idaho senior is teaching students how to understand themselves through the mystique of a play.
Beehler, the stage manager of the upcoming performance, “Proof,” said she acted in her first show around the age of six and has loved the performing arts ever since.
Beehler, a theater major with an emphasis in stage management, said she became heavily involved in theater during high school and by her senior year, she was president of the drama club.
When preparing for college, she said that she did not initially consider getting a degree in theater.
Nina Rydalch | Rawr
Hannah Beehler works at her desk during rehearsal of Proof on the evening of Oct. 2 in the Hartung Theatre.
“I was under the impression that [by] getting a degree in a liberal art, I was going to be a poor, destitute kind of person and I was never going to be able to do it,” Beehler said.
However, with the support of her family, she said she decided to pursue her passion for performing arts.
Beehler said this pursuit did not come without its challenges, one of them being that despite her love of performing arts, she did not want to be an actor.
“I don”t want to spend the rest of my life auditioning for a job and getting told no,” Beehler said. “That doesn”t sound fun.”
Beehler said instead of pursuing acting, she chose to become a stage manager, the person who communicates between the actors and the director as well as works with lights and sounds.
Beehler said she has always enjoyed being the person who puts a production together more than being someone upfront on the stage.
She said choosing to study stage management has proven to be one of the best decision she could have made.
In addition to pursuing a career as a stage manager, Beehler said she made the right decision by coming to UI.
Beehler said she had heard good things about the university, and after coming on a tour and talking to the faculty, she said she knew she wanted to come here.
After that trip, Beehler said she knew there was no other option and since then, the university has given her the opportunity to grow and blossom in her field.
Beehler said within the first few weeks of college, she was involved in the 24-hour Theater Festival, and since then has been involved in two to three productions every semester.
“I love teaching in general, so being a stage manager in an educational setting, I get to teach my ASMs [Assistant Stage Managers] because there”s not really a stage management program here,” Beehler said.
Kelly Arteaga, a UI freshman and theater major, is one of Beehler”s ASMs for “Proof.”
Arteaga said Beehler is the go-between for most of the people in the play.
“She knows what she”s doing,” Arteaga said.
As one of Beehler”s last main-stage productions with the university, Beehler said that working on “Proof” has been a new experience for her.
“I have really enjoyed working on this production because productions I have done in the past have been huge casts,” Beehler said.
Beehler said a smaller cast has allowed her to focus on other aspects of stage management, such as technology and props.
After graduating, Beehler said she would love to go with the theater department to Moscow, Russia, for a month-long intensive learning experience.
She said many of the ways theater is taught at UI originally came from Russia, but the cultural experience alone would be incredible.
Beehler said she will also seek an internship as a production assistant or assistant stage manager with a children”s theater in Western Washington.
Beehler said the internship would make it possible for her to be involved in something she loves while working with children and being near her family.
No matter what her future may hold, Beehler said she is looking forward to her career in the performing arts.
Nina Rydalch can be reached at [email protected]