On Oct. 18, the performing arts majors were treated to a master class for performing arts students by Academy Award winning actress Olympia Dukakis.

“It’s very special for us to be able to spend time with someone of that caliber,” said Fred Rubeck, department chair of performing arts.

The performing arts department to convinced Dukakis to come to Elon through a connection with assistant professor of theatre Kevin Otos. After going through a chain of people, Rubeck began negotiating with her assistant.

“It’s been a process that went from early summer to the day she arrived,” Rubeck said. “It was a chance for faculty to talk with her about what’s going on with the art form.”

Students were both intimidated and excited to work with such a prominent actress in their master class.

“It was a little nerve-wracking because of the reputation that she has, but she was very down to earth and generous,” said junior acting major Alison Zaleski. “She really knows her stuff.”

At the beginning of the school year, students auditioned to perform during the master class. Ultimately five scenes with two performers each were chosen to be presented at the master class, which Dukakis would give students feedback on. The selected students were paired with a coach and practiced for about a month before performing in front of Dukakis and performing arts students and faculty members in Yeager Recital Hall.

“Of course it’s going to be a little intimidating when someone from one of your favorite movies is sitting five feet away from you, but it’s important to be able to turn that into energy you can use,” said senior acting major Emily Golden, who performed a scene from “Proof” with Zaleski.

Students were both inspired and surprised by Dukakis’ advice, which Zaleski described as “life changing.”

“I was expecting her to automatically tell me what was wrong or what she liked, but she asked me and [Golden] what we thought about it,” Zaleski said. “That was what was most important to her.”

Golden agrees that Dukakis’ emphasis on defining yourself and taking responsibility for your own work were meaningful words of wisdom.

“Working on our scene with Olympia, I learned a lot about being able to look to yourself before you look to anyone else,” Golden said. “You have to be able to say that you were responsible for every step of the process.”

Dukakis also made a career in theater and film appear attainable, which students found particularly inspiring.

“She’s gone through so much but she’s had this incredible journey and has so much to share,” said sophomore music theatre major Chris Staskel.

Reporter: Alexa Milan - 10/24/07