Chloe Barnes is a junior from Piedmont, AL. She is majoring in drama with a concentration in performance, and her minor is communications. She claims that her main hobby is acting, but she also enjoys reading and watching movies. She likes to travel every time she gets the chance. Chloe serves as the event coordinator for Alpha Psi Omega (theatre honor society) and is active in the Honors Program.

What is the last book you read?
I’ve actually been reading two books recently: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, by J.K. Rowling, and Fresh Air, by Chris Hodges. 

What is your favorite thing to eat on campus?
Honestly, I like all the food on campus, but I’m always down for anything at the TMB. Off campus, I’m a big sushi fan, so anywhere with good sushi. I usually end up going to Yamato. 

Why did you choose to come to JSU?
Being completely honest, I chose JSU because of my scholarship offer! At first I was hesitant because it was so close to my hometown. Before my senior year of high school, I was determined to go to school further away from home. That being said, I am very blessed and thankful to have so much of my schooling covered by my scholarship—I definitely wasn’t going to turn it down. I don’t have any regrets coming to JSU! 

Why did you choose your major?
I found theatre my junior year of high school. Before that, I had participated in other activities, but I was never part of anything that I was truly passionate about until I found theatre. I knew as soon as I started working on my first show that it was what I wanted to do as a career. It’s cliché, but everyone says that if you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life. As hard as theatre is sometimes, it never feels like work or a chore to me!

What are your post-graduation plans?
Mainly, I want to be an actor and choreographer (dance & fight choreographer). I’ve recently found a passion and enjoyment for marketing/PR, so I’d love to work in that area for theatre companies as well. One of my biggest theatrical goals is to act in a touring production, so fingers crossed I can make that happen!

Why do you love doing what you do at JSU?
I love doing what I do at JSU because of the opportunities! I’ve gotten the chance to do things in theatre that I never thought I would get to do, especially in college. Last spring, I took a devised theatre class; we wrote our own piece and it was accepted into the Capital Fringe Festival in Washington, DC. We got to travel to DC to perform our show! I also have had the opportunity to begin working as a PR/Marketing assistant in the
Drama Department this year, and I’ve learned so much! It’s crazy to think that had I not come to JSU, I probably would never have had these opportunities. 

What has been the most impactful experience you’ve had as a college student?
The most impactful experience I think I’ve had as a college student is getting to meet and work with some of the people that I have. I’ve met some amazing people through the department, and I’ve also had the chance to work with professors who are experts in their field. I also recently got the chance to play Tilly Evans in the drama department’s production of She Kills Monsters. I’m the person that always says each show is the best one yet, but hands down, She Kills Monsters was the best experience/most impactful show I’ve been a part of since starting at JSU. I feel like I grew so much as an actor during the process and learned so many new skills, and I would do it again in a heartbeat.

What is the coolest part of the JSU Drama department?
The coolest part of the JSU Drama department is getting to experience the productions from beginning to end. The department runs the productions as professionally as possible to give students the experience of working in a professional theatre environment. Getting to be in the rehearsal hall, working behind the scenes, and seeing shows from a business side gives us a wide variety of experiences and makes us more well-rounded students.

What about your learning experience in the Drama department gives you the confidence to take on life after graduation?
The faculty in the department really want to give us the best education possible and to make us the most well-versed students we can be. Getting so many opportunities and being able to build my resume so much over the course of being in school gives me a huge boost of confidence to take on life after graduation.