Theatre & Film Student Ambassadors

Erin Stanphill

Erin Stanphill, a senior BFA Acting for Stage & Screen student from Fulton, appeared in our spring 2021 production of Urinetown and as Elle Woods in our fall 2021 production Legally Blonde; she has also performed with UM Opera Theatre. Erin also directed one of the five original radio dramas the department produced as part of our fall 2020 season. In addition to being SAFD certified in Unarmed Stage Combat, Erin is a yoga instructor who recently earned her 200 hours of Registered Yoga School training.

When and why did you choose your major?
My passion for Theatre and performing outweighed any other path I wanted to pursue.Happiness was my ultimate goal and I could not see myself being happy without performing in my life.

Have you had an experience that made you feel empowered at UM?
Although there have been many triumphs within my time at the university being cast as Elle Woods in the upcoming fall semester's production of Legally Blonde which will be performed at the Gertrude C. Ford Center for the Performing Arts is one that especially empowered me specifically due to a year of no live theatre, all theatre's went completely dark, talk of theatre being"dead" was a huge conversation amongst media and more. The fact that I was able to stick to my intuition, passion, and hard work during such a dark time made me feel as if the universe was repaying me for all my hard work. I saw the light at the end of the tunnel and it has kept me very hopeful and driven for my future career in the arts.

What has been a particularly meaningful way you have engaged in a community - either on or off-campus?
The Ghostlight Repertory Theatre, led completely by students of UM, has been my home away from home for creativity in performance and connection with others. I was also a CA at Luckyday where I made connections to so many special, well-rounded, people. Being a lucky day scholar has also helped me give back to the oxford community in many ways including the Big Event. If it was not for my facilitators -- Dr. Perry and Mrs. Senora I don't know where I would be today.

What do you like to do outside of school?
Yoga! Working out! running! more yoga! and then singing, dancing, and acting but I guess that is kind of what I do in school but STILL!:)

What are you binge watching/reading/listening to?
I'm a huge gangster movie fan...Goodfellas is my favorite and besides that, I spend a lot of time listening to show tunes, Simon and Garfunkel(Lol), Podcasts include Arm Chair expert, Just eat normally, and Unlocking Us with Brene Brown.

What is your facorite place ot eat in Oxford?
TOYO!

What do you want to change about the world?
I want others to see the beauty and strength they have within their hearts and bodies through teaching body positivity, yoga and personal training.

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Taylor Middleton

A member of Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, Taylor is the president of the UM film club, Oxford Reels. She has written and produced her own films, including one with some friends for the 48-Hour Film Festival, which challenges students to create a movie within 48 hours.  

Why did you choose to attend UM?
I decided to attend the University of Mississippi when I took a campus tour. As soon as I stepped onto the campus, I felt like I was at home. Everyone feels like a tight-knit family. It also helped that as a set of quadruplets, my siblings also chose to go to the University.

When and why did you choose your major?
I started at the University as a Biology major. It wasn’t until I took an Introduction to Cinema class the fall of my freshman year, that I realized that I could work in film when I graduated.During this class, I fell in love with cinema and all of the creative decisions that could be made during the production process.

What are your career goals?
I would love to write, direct, and produce films. My goal is to be in the center of the creative decisions that are made. It starts with writing, and continues with directing and producing.

Is there a professor who has been particularly helpful to you?
One of the professors in the film program, Sarah Hennigan, has made my time at the University the best. She gives the best advice in class and really holds the best interest of the students at heart. I really couldn’t imagine the BFA in Film Production without her.

What has been a particularly meaningful way you have engaged in a community?
I really got to know more about the Yoknapatawpha Arts Council in Oxford when making a short documentary style video for them. After helping make the video I felt more connected to the arts community in Oxford. YAC encourages all artists in Oxford to create art and they even help those who want to start small businesses get their feet on the ground.

What do you like to do outside of school?
I love playing music. I play a variety of instruments including but not limited to: the guitar, saxophone, violin, piano, and ukulele. I also really like playing video games. Just a few games I play are: Rainbow Six Siege, Call of Duty, Valorant,and Nintendo games like The Legend of Zelda franchise.

What are you binge watching /reading/listening to?
I always highly recommend any shows based on Harlan Coben novels. A lot of them are on Netflix. Right now, I’m finishing up Mare of Easttown on HBO.How to Get Away with Murder,and The Office are more of my favorites to watch.I also binge a lot of Hell’s Kitchen. It’s one of the best shows to binge watch.

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Christian Carew

Senior BFA Acting for Stage & Screen student Christian Carew has served as the Special Events Manager for Ghostlight Repertory Theatre and a sponsor and President of the University of Mississippi Gay-Straight Alliance and has logged hundreds of hours of community service. He was last seen in our original production Near/Far, which premiered in fall of 2020, and will appear in numerous roles in our fall 2021 production of Legally Blonde.

Why did you choose to attend UM?
I chose to come to UM because it was a good distance from home but still close enough that I could come and visit without it being a hassle. It also had a great Theatre program that I had heard about, so I drove up here never having visited and trusted that it was the right school, and it was!

When and why did you choose your major?
I started acting in middle school and then really fell in love with it in high school, I was an active member of my theatre and community theatres, so when it came time to decide what I wanted to go to college for after some thought I realized that theatre is and will always be my passion so I wanted higher education in it.

What are your career goals?
My career goals right now honestly are up in the air because of how I am redefining what success means, I have realized success to me will be when I feel stable and happy doing what I love. Career goals I would say thought to live n a big city where I’m consistently working and also exploring other avenues like being in films, tv shows, plays and also directing and designing.

Is there a professor who has been particularly helpful to you?
Micah-Shane Brewer And Lauren Bone-Noble have been incredible professors who have helped me see my potential, gave me praise when I needed it and weren’t afraid to give constructive criticism that helped my craft. They are both professors who make a safe environment to fail in,and that was the hardest lesson to learn, that failing is a part of growing.

What has been a particularly meaningful way you have engaged in a community?
I have been a very active member of Ghostlight Repertory Theatre and APO which are two of our student theatre organizations on campus. Ghostlight has allowed me to find my other passions in the theatre world like directing and scenic design, and APO has let me be a part of a group that loves and appreciates the art of theatre.

What do you like to do outside of school?
I love to draw, cook and binge watch shows. I alsolike playing Pokémon lol.

What are you binge watching /reading/listening to?
I just binged Manifest and it was incredible, and right now I’m nonstop streaming Billie's new album.

What is your favorite place to eat in Oxford?
Canteen! Literally have the best impossible burgers I’ve ever had. And the juices are so good. Aloha is my other fave place, gotta pay homage to my heritage.

What do you want to change about the world?
I want Inclusivity and accessibility to be on the forefront of planning and development of the new and changing world.

What are some dream travel destinations (and why)?
Italy!!!!!! Literally such a beautiful country and I want to live my fantasy of falling in love with a mysterious Italian man who takes me on a trip across the country.

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Reese Overstreet

Jackson native Reese Overstreet, a junior in our BFA Acting for Stage & Screen program, is an award-winning performer who has appeared on stages across Mississippi, including the New Stage Theater and Fondren Theatre, in addition to productions within the department and with Ghostlight Repertory Theatre. The recipient of numerous scholarships and honors, Reese is the current First Vice President of Alpha Psi Omega and a member of both the Mississippi Theater Association and Ghostlight Repertory Theatre.

Why did you choose to attend UM?
Actually, it’s a funny story. I was determined to go out of state. I applied to the University of Mississippi because I was required to apply to at least one in-state school. The first time I ever came to Oxford or the University was on my audition/tour weekend. In less than 24 hours, I fell in love with this campus and this program. The community was exactly what I was looking for, and I felt like I was home. The professors and studentswere so kind and accepting. There was no doubt in my mind that this is where I belonged. It started as a safety school and became one of my favorite places on Earth.

When and why did you choose your major?
I auditioned for the BFA Acting program, so I was committed to it around April of my senior year of high school. I chose this major (BFA in Theatre Arts with an emphasis in Acting for Stage and Screen) because the program was exactly what I wanted from a theatre program. The atmosphere was sofamilial, the class size was smaller, and the professors care so much about their students and their student’s growth.

What are your career goals?
My career goals are all associated with theater. In the future, I would love to act, direct, write, and teach theatre. In the theatre world, you are encouraged to find joy in multiple facets of theatre. I feel lucky that I have been able to dip my toe into each of these passions. I want to make theatre that means something to people and that gets people engaged and excited about the arts. The arts changed my life, so I want everyone to have that same opportunity.

Is there a professor who has been particularly helpful to you?
Lauren Bone Noble is a professor that has made my college experience an incredible one. She directed me in my first UM production called Near/Far, which was created by her, the production team, and the performers involved. This experience opened my eyes to a side of theater that I had never experienced. Additionally, she taught a Comedia dell’arte class, which is one of my favorite classes I have ever taken. Throughout my time as a student here, I have struggled with letting go and being silly on stage. This class required you to be silly and ridiculous. She was the perfect professor to teach this class. She made a safe, fun, and educational space for everyone. I grew so much as an actor in that class. On top of that, she is a wonderful mentor. I can go to her with any problems I am having. She is such a supportive and caring person. It has been an honor to learn from her and know her.

What has been a particularly meaningful way you have engaged in a community?
I believe that theatre of any kind creates community. In most rehearsal rooms, the cast is referred to as an ensemble. The definition of an ensemble is “a group of items viewed as a whole rather than individually.” A good play or musical consists of a strong ensemble. Any production I have been a part of has been a very meaningful experience. Through student organizations such as Ghostlight Repertory Theatre or Alpha Psi Omega, I have found community. The experiences I have had within these organizations are some of my favorite experiences in my life. Whether I was workingon a show, planning an event, or participating in a workshop, I felt like I belonged to an amazing community at this university.

What do you like to do outside of school?
I love to go for a run at Whirlpool Trails or outside my apartment complex. I also enjoy reading. I am a big fan of thrillers and mysteries. Harlan Coben is one of my favorites. In my free time, I really enjoy hanging out in my living room with my roommates. Nothing is better than living with your best friends!

What are you binge watching /reading/listening to?
I am always binge-watching any iteration of Rupaul’s Drag Race or Downton Abbey. I am also a huge fan of Harlan Coben, so I am always reading one of his books. My taste in music is a strange mixture of things. I love anything musical theatre, Elton John, and Sammy Rae.

What is your favorite place to eat in Oxford?
Volta.

What do you want to change about the world?
As someone that is going into the world of theatre, some things need to be changed. I would love to see steps towards the inclusion of all races, genders, and sexual orientations. That is what is holding theatre and the world back. Progression towards a “better future” is impossible without the inclusion and acceptance of all people.

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Jackson Strickland

Jackson Strickland is a sophomore in our BFA Film Production program who came to us after receiving his Associate’s Degree in general studies with an emphasis in communications from Northeast Mississippi Community College. Jackson was honored with an Excellence in Theatre & Film award as a freshman and in the spring of 2021 directed a short promotional film for the Yoknapatawpha Arts Council.

Why did you choose to attend UM?
I chose to attend the University of Mississippi because of their film program. They teach students how to become artists instead of just the technical side of filmmaking. From the first meeting I had with the professors, I could already see their passion for teaching and filmmaking. It was a dream to attend a school in Mississippi that treated filmmaking like an art, and I’m very happy to be living that dream.

When and why did you choose your major?
In high school, I took a photography and video-editing class and I discovered a passion for films. I started going to a community college when a friend from high school told me about the University of Mississippi’s new film program. I looked into the film program and realized that it was the next step for me.

What are your career goals?
I want to take what I learn here at UM and move to Atlanta, Georgia. From there, I want to start as a Production Assistant and work my way up through the ranks until I can direct my own big-budget production. I want to make a name for myself in Atlanta, and work an above-the-line position on a film that will be remembered for decades, like The Prestige and Zodiac.

Have you had an experience that made you feel empowered at UM?
In just one year, I had worked on fourteen different sets, from documentary non-fiction to drama-filled fiction. I’ve had several opportunities to work as Director, Assistant Director, and Director of Photography, some of the highest ranking roles on a set, and I feel empowered by having those opportunities and feeling instrumental in making films I can be proud of.

Is there a professor who has been particularly helpful to you?
Jaye Sarah Davidson has been one of the most encouraging professors that I’ve ever met. She constantly challenges her students to make bigger and better projects, while providing the resources, support, and knowledge to do them right. She works tirelessly to help students produce films for classes and has helped to give fellow students and I opportunities to shoot at unique locations, and I am very thankful for her.

What are you binge watching /reading/listening to?
I enjoy rewatching Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul,and El Camino. The characters, the iconic dialogue, the scenes that you tell your friends about, everything about these shows (and movie) is fantastic and I can’t recommend it enough.

What is your favorite place to eat in Oxford?
Oby’s is my personal favorite restaurant in Oxford. The sandwiches and soups are always worth the trip, the service is great, and when family and friends come to visit, I make sure to meet them at Oby’s.

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Claire Porter

Claire Porter, a senior BFA Acting for Stage & Screen student from Jackson, has appeared in numerous departmental productions as well as with Ghostlight Repertory Theatre and New Stage Theater. Her performance in our fall 2019 production of The Wolves earned her a nomination for the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship from the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival. Claire is also SAFD certified in Unarmed Stage Combat.

Why did you choose to attend UM?
I made the decision when I was about sixteen to fully go into the acting career, and from the very beginning the University of Mississippi was the only in-state program I looked into. I auditioned and applied for a few other schools around the country, but when I came for my audition weekend at the University, I instantly knew this was where I was supposed to be. The atmosphere was so welcoming, everyone seemed to really be friends, and all the professors were so kind. I had a voice teacher give me this advice: do you want to go somewhere where people will steal your tap shoes before a big audition ordo you want to go somewhere where you’ll make some of your best friends? I think I definitely made the right choice!

When and why did you choose your major?
I’ve been interested in theatre for as long as I can remember. My parents actually met doing The Pirates of Penzance with the Mississippi Opera, so I grew up in an acting family! I started doing acting camps when I was ten in Jackson, Mississippi, and was committed to finding any opportunity to perform all throughout middle and high school. I had always considered acting as a career, but it wasn’t until late 2016 that I decided wanted to take the leap and fully major enacting!

What are your career goals?
My plan after I graduate is to hopefully get a year-long internship with a professional theatre company! After that, my current roommate and best friend (who I met at this school!) Christian Carew and I are going to move to Nashville for a year or two, and then eventually take the leap and move to New York City. I’d love to make a careering the city, and possibly even work on Broadway one day! I also am very interested in the film industry, so I would love to work with companies like A24 one day! One of the best parts about the current Acting for the Stage and Screen BFA is that it gives you the training to do both film and stage acting, and so I’m very excited to incorporate both when I get out into the real world!

Have you had an experience that made you feel empowered at UM?
There have been so many times at this school - whether it be in classes, behind the scenes, or on the stage - where I have felt empowered. There was one time where one of my classmates and I were doing a scene together in Rory Ledbetter’s - one of our acting professors here at the University - classes. My scene partner and I had worked really hard on the scene, and we were both feeling really good about it. When we performed the scene for the final, we got great feedback from it, and we were really proud of our work. For the behind the scenes side, I’ve been heavily involved with the lighting department here at the University since my freshman year. It always is so exciting to see the finished product after weeks of hanging, focusing, and teching the show. For the on stage side, the whole atmosphere of students in the department is one of support. Fellow cast members are extremely uplifting on stage and off - offering encouragement for each other throughout the whole process. Fellow students who come and watch shows are also so supportive. It is so validating and empowering to have your fellow classmates support your work, and the whole programs full of great people who will do so!

What has been a particularly meaningful way you have engaged in a community?
I’ve been involved with both Alpha Psi Omega – the theatre honors society - and Ghostlight Repertory Theatre since my freshman year. Through Alpha Psi Omega, we can do fun things like cabarets and Big/Little where you can form your own little family in the theatre department. With Ghostlight, we produce shows each semester that are fully student run - directed, designed, and acted in. I’m actually currently the Artistic Director of Ghostlight this year, which is so exciting! Both of these organizations are such a fun way to get involved in theatre, whether you’re a theatre major or not.

What do you like to do outside of school?
I have recently become obsessed with making tiktoks! Be sure to follow me on there @clairetheporter!

What are you binge watching /reading/listening to?
I’m currently trying to get back into reading! I used to be a huge reader when I was younger, but sort of fell out of it whenever I got to high school. Right now, I’m reading Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens and I’m loving it. It’s a coming of age story about this girl named Kya, and it is super interesting! It also is being made into a movie right now, so it’s going to be really fun to read the book and then see it play out on the screen.

What is your favorite place to eat in Oxford?
My absolute favorite place to eat in Oxford is Volta. It’s a Greek restaurant just a few minutes from The Square and it is awesome! My favorite thing to get is the wedge salad and the hummus that they have - it is AMAZING!

What do you want to change about the world?
I’d love to make theatrical training more accessibleto all young people who want to work intheatre or film spaces. A big reason why I’m in themajor I’m in right now is that I got trainingwhen I was younger, and I’d love for all kids to getthose same types of opportunities. There areso many talented people who just don’t live next toany sort of major theatre, or don’t have thefunds to go to college to study acting, and I wouldlove to make theatrical training moreaccessible so that everyone can be able to fully followtheir dreams.

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