Senior Series Part Four: Brian Burger

Meet Brian Burger

photo by Owen Carey

Brian Burger is the happy presence that greets you everytime you walk into the Mago Hunt Theater lobby. Transferring to UP from Linfield College during his freshman year, Burger was immediately accepted into the UP Theater family. Burger's memorable roles include Caldwell B. Caldwell in "Urinetown" and Ken Gorman in "Rumors." He will be seen in UP's "Into The Woods" as The Narrator. Burger was also in the Nomadic Theater production of Conor Eifler's "Alice in Wonderland" and has also done staged readings for Fertile Ground and Readers Theatre Repertory.

For next year, Burger is hoping to spend his time down South in Florida.

"I'm awaiting reply from the Florida Studio Theatre Acting Apprentice Program, which asked me to apply after seeing my work at ACTF," Burger said. "If I get in, me and 11 other apprentices will be heading to Sarasota, Florida for nine months to learn the ropes of professional theatre, both acting and behind the scenes."

The program at Florida Studio Theatre would allow Burger to learn about professional theater as well as educational theater.

Burger hopes that through this program he will be able to accomplish his mission of making a difference in people's lives.

"Originally I thought I would do this as a doctor or a psychologist, but I was never able to completely tear myself away from the theater, so I just decided to make it my thing," Burger said. "Now, if I can brighten somebody's day or help that person learn something about the world or about him or herself, then I feel I have done my job."

Burger hopes to attend graduate school for acting in the upcoming years.

Although Burger is about to leave The Bluff, he looks back to his role in "Urinetown" as his favorite UP Theater experience.

"I don't think I've ever been more excited to simply go to rehearsal and see what crazy ideas the cast, the director, and even the band would have each night to make the show even more over-the-top fun than it already was," Burger said. "Plus, it's the only time I've ever gotten to play a villain, bumbling through he may have been."

Senior Series Part Three: Sammi Boyd

Meet Sammi Boyd

photo by Joey Keller

Sammi Boyd is the bubbly, burst of energy of the UP Theater Department. Most recently seen in "Our Town," Boyd has had many memorable roles during her time at UP Theater. Boyd has been in such performances as "Blithe Spirit," "Marat/Sade," and "Servant of Two Masters" at UP and also played the Chesire Cat in the Nomadic Theater production of Conor Eifler's production of "Alice in Wonderland." She will be playing the Baker's Wife in UP's upcoming production of "Into The Woods." This past year, Boyd and her partner Charles Lattin made it to semifinals at ACTF.

With her wonderful acting resume in Portland, Boyd is looking to the future for her acting career.

"I am hopefully moving to New York with Danielle Larson," Boyd said. "I will be auditioning around town wherever I end up. whether it be Portland or New York City."

Boyd hopes that she will be able to make it big in the Big Apple.

"As a female actor the odds are pretty slim of making it so I have decided to make my own luck, Boyd said. "I love theatre and I would love to be an actor, but I am honestly hoping to broaden my horizons and see if there is something else out there, maybe theatre related, maybe not. Who knows?"

Before her potential move with fellow UP Theater student Larson, Boyd is helping produce and put on a showin of 'Reefer Madness the Musical' with fellow UP Theater grads and Portland actors this summer.

At UP Theater, Boyd has been cast in a variety of different characters. From a maid to a debuntante, from a clown in an insane asylum to an old man.

"As a character actor I can and have plated pretty much everything," Boyd said. "UP has give me a diverse resume and I feel prepared to tackle professional roles because of the challenges I have done through here."

With Boyd's talent and unique resume, she hopes to give an audience the reasons why she loves being an actor.

"When I see a good play it can trasnport me to a new world, it can make a bad day good or teach me a lif e lesson," Boyd said. "Theatre is the easiest art form to connect to because its right in front of you, live and different every night."