A WALK IN THE WOODS - University at Buffalo

Theater grads in New York pursue their dreamswith grit and creativity, determined to succeedon their own termsBY LAURA BARLAMENTOn a Saturday morning in August,Kelsey Mathes, BFA ’09, and threeother members of the musical theaterimprov group Big D and the Closers arerehearsing in a small, stuffy room—atypical Manhattan rent-by-the-hourstudio space. Musical theater improvis what Mathes does. She also actsprofessionally, on stage and on screen;writes plays, one of which was producedthis spring; studies to become a healthcoach; works 40 to 50 hours per weekat a West Village bar; and runs a theaterproduction company, which she foundedlate last year with fellow UB theateralumnae Jacqueline Raymond, BFA ’08,and Amanda McDowall, BFA ’10.For now, though, Mathes is fully immersed in an“invocation”—an improvisational form. “How does theinvocation start? ‘I am’?” inquires Frank Spitznagel, thepianist accompanying the group today.A chorus of voices blurts, “It is, you are, thou art, Iam.” “IIIIII am,” Mathes sings dramatically, echoed byteammate William Kean in baritone. “Let’s cut the ‘I am’segment,” objects Miles Lindahl, another team member.After a few more quick words of discussion, Kean callsout, “Let’s just do it, let’s go!” “Yeah, all right,” saysLindahl. He turns to the reporter in the room: “We needan object, please.” “Ball,” she offers. “Ball? Ball,” echoesaround the room.