Jack Goodman

Theatre Design and Technology

What made you choose Columbia?

Well, I first heard about Columbia my freshman year of high school. One of the seniors that year, Connor Sale, was one of my mentors and had committed to Columbia to study the same thing that I was interested in. I started researching the school and fell in love with it. I have always wanted to live in a city like Chicago or New York so that was already one check on my list. I was also really attracted to Columbia's commitment to making sure each student has potential job opportunities right after graduation. Above all else, I was really looking for a school with a lot of opportunities for me to practice my craft, and not only are there a lot of opportunities in the city itself, Columbia usually houses around 40 productions a year. I traveled to Chicago for Columbia's Admitted Students Day and by the end of the day, I knew this was where I wanted to spend the next four years.

What do you plan on studying during your time here?

I am entering Columbia as a Theatre Design and Technology major, specifically for Lighting Design, and most likely going to minor in Theatre Directing (and Stage Management). Outside of my major, however, I am hoping to get involved in a lot of other activities and learn as much as I can from Columbia, my peers, and the city in general.

What are your career goals at this time?

Down the road I would love to work on Broadway in some capacity, probably as a Lighting Designer or Stage Manager. I'd also like to experience a National Tour and take an original show to Broadway. Somewhere before, after, or in between, I definitely see myself working as an educator/director in K-12 or Higher Education as well.

What do you most look forward to about learning and creating in Chicago?

I am beyond excited to be studying and creating surrounded by so much creativity both at Columbia and in Chicago. I am ready to sit down with my peers and collaborate on all sorts of projects and assignments. I think it will be such a cool experience to just walk outside and look at the city and all of its people, architecture, weather, and art and be inspired. The city is definitely something that will influence my work and I am so ready for it.

How do you see your artistic practice engaging with current events?

Unfortunately, the theatre world is completely shut down for the most part. However, it has been really cool to see all the ways that people have tried to adapt and overcome these current obstacles. I was able to see a performance by a charter school in California where they live streamed a series of clips that were edited together to create a really cool performance piece. I've seen multiple zoom performances as well as just some solo recitals. As unfortunate as our current state is, it has become apparent that creatives will never stop creating, and I think that this pandemic has done an excellent job of showcasing that.