To continue our series of introductory interviews with MFA Cohort V, today we are happy to present Faith, Rex and Margherita! Read on to hear what they have to say!

Faith Sullivan

Where are you from?

I’m from Maryland and I went to Salisbury University, where I got a degree in Theatre as well as English.

What was your decision process that led you to choose the Accademia’s MFA in Physical Theatre?

I was back and forth for a long time on the decision, mainly because it seemed like such a huge, scary, impossible thing to do. But after some time I realized that the only thing that was really keeping me from going was fear, and that’s not a good reason at all. I also wanted to seize the opportunity to travel and broaden my horizons. I felt that, compared to peers that get an MFA in Acting, I would stand out with an MFA in Physical Theatre and have a more unique perspective, education and skills set to contribute.

What are your expectations for living in another country for 2-plus years?

I expect it to be pretty strange at first, but ultimately I think it’s a thing everyone should do at some point in their lives! I’m excited to see how I’ve changed at the end of it.

What are your plans for after you complete the program? How do you expect the training and experience from the Accademia’s MFA in Physical Theatre to complement this?

I would love to be in a rep company or be a part of a company where I can create and perform. I’m interested in a dabbling in a little bit of everything honestly! I also grew up watching Cirque du Soleil and have always had this crazy dream of being a part of that.

Rex Hughes

Where are you from?  

I come from the wonderful city of Columbus, Ohio, but I was born in California and have traveled to various parts of the world. I received my Bachelor’s in English Literature and Religion from Capital University, with a concentration on Shakespeare and Theatre Studies. I was constantly involved in the Capital Cabaret as an actor and stage manager. After my undergraduate studies, I attended the Kent State University School of Library and Information Science.

What was your decision process that led you to choose the Accademia’s MFA in Physical Theatre?

Once I received my MLIS degree, I began a three year library assistant position at the Ohio State University’s Special Collections and Theatre Research Institute. I immersed myself in the theatre archives, which include scene models, correspondence between performers, and original teleplays. My work in the Theatre Research Institute encouraged me to audition for professional theatre companies in Columbus, and my love for acting grew as I performed for the Columbus Civic Theater and the Actors’ Theatre of Columbus. I knew that I wanted to expand upon my understanding of theatre as an actor and archivist, so I began to research universities in the subject area. Accademia dell’Arte stood out as a school that focused on everything I loved about theatre history and performance, including Shakespeare’s commedia roots and European theatre.

What do you hope to accomplish during your time in the MFA program? What are your plans for after you complete the program?

I hope to develop an awareness of my physicality as an actor that would be difficult to receive from unstructured study. The devising portion of the program also stood out to me as a vital aspect of my future career. While continuing my work as a theatre librarian in the future, I hope to engage in workshops to adapt classic science fiction stories for the stage as well as folklore from my Native American heritage. New works involve a measure of improvisation and experimentation in the beginning stages, and I believe the Accademia’s focus on devised theatre will help me adapt stories for the stage.

Margherita Gravagna

Where are you from?

I am Italian. I come from Catania, a beautiful city on the coast of Sicily, but I moved to Siena (Toscana) in 2007 to attend university.
I studied philology and criticism of Italian literature and I took the Master degree in 2014. Meanwhile I studied acting and I started working for a theater company.

What does “Physical Theatre” mean to you?

I believe that Theater is a space of great creative freedom, where the actor can use and mix many different communicative and performative tools. I pursue an artistic ideal of versatility and mindfulness of the actor who utilizes his entire being – physical, emotional, and vocal – when performing. The Physical Theatre, which explores and highlights the potential of actor’s body and emphasizes its power of suggestion on the public, focuses on the importance of presence and gesture, on the expressive power that words take on if they’re linked to movement, and on the profound universality of theatrical rite.

What was your decision process that led you to choose the Accademia’s MFA in Physical Theatre?

Although I am already a part of the acting circuit, I would like to further my training even more and specialize in physical theatre. The Accademia’s MFA mirrors the kind of work and research that I intend to continue developing, combining the necessary analysis of the practical disciplines of acting, movement, music, vocal training, and improvisation with a more theoretical study of history and aesthetics, enabling me to then perform with a more informed and conscientious approach.

What do you hope to accomplish during your time in the MFA program?

I am excited about the program, one that constitutes an opportunity for research and intensive study for both professional and personal enrichment with professors I hold in high esteem. I greatly respect Fabio Mangolini’s work on physical theatre and masks, and Giorgio Rossi’s “poetic theatre of movement” have impacted my approach to the stage. Such an educational environment will provide a setting for intellectual and artistic exchanges with diverse actors with whom, despite our training and backgrounds, a passion for this profession is shared.