Acting Grad Spotlight: Joe Drinkwalter
Performance at The Creative School focuses on preparing our graduates with a range of skills they can use to succeed in any industry. For Performance Acting, students train in theatrical acting, performance creation, film acting, movement, voice, motion capture, as well as working with nationally acclaimed guest directors and professional companies. With graduation on the horizon, we are focusing on the different paths our students take upon graduating.
Upcoming Performance grad, Joe Drinkwalter reflects on his experiences in the Acting program.
“I'd say one of my biggest takeaways from this program has been discovering what acting training actually entails - coming in straight from highschool I had absolutely no idea what to expect, and even now I'm constantly challenging my own perspective on the question: What is acting training?”
My time in the Performance: Acting program was unique. I began in 2019: my first year was cut short by COVID, my second year was smack dab in the middle of the pandemic, and then I took two years off. Upon my return I was welcomed warmly by the wonderful class of 2025 that I joined, and lots had changed. Throughout the different iterations of this program that I've experienced, my favourite thing to see time and time again has always been the resilience that our student body has. Throughout the many challenges we've faced - from living through a pandemic, to self-advocacy, to the continuous struggle of navigating Kerr Hall (it doesn't get easier) - I'm always impressed by the fight and determination that I've seen in my peers day in and day out.
One of the first instructors I ever had in Performance Acting explained acting technique as a toolbox that each actor builds throughout their life. Every technique you learn is a different tool, and with every role you will use a different combination of these tools. Acting training is just one of many resources that an actor can use to try new tools (techniques), figure out which tools work for them, and expand their toolbox. But technique is just one aspect of training, and what an acting program provides that most workshops and one-off classes don't is accountability and repetition. After having Voice and Movement classes once a week every week for 8 semesters, plus an assortment of other classes (on-camera, clown, scene studies, rehearsal projects, etc.), PLUS a cohort that will keep you accountable - you'll graduate with many hours of industry-relevant practice under your belt and a strong foundation (body, voice, rehearsal etiquette, and 'a toolbox') to build on throughout your career.
Joe performs in a 4th year emerging playwright project in the Performance Studio Theatre
“Not one single artist I've ever met in my entire life has sustained their career on the love of the outcome - they are all deeply in love with the work.”
Joe onstage in his final performance in 4th year: The Nether
Photo by Jeremy Minmagh
When I was in high school and considering this program, one drama teacher told me this: "Only do it if you can't see yourself doing anything else" -- and I don't believe that this is true. I know many actors that find fulfillment in their other creative or non-creative careers alongside acting. Something I do believe, however, is that too many actors do it for the wrong reasons. You must love the art in yourself, not yourself in the art (bonus points if you can tell me who said that without googling it). That means that you have to love the process of doing the thing, putting in the hard work, committing to the countless hours of practice, and know that the final product is a small part of the job - it's simply the outcome of all the work that preceded it.
What I would tell my 17-year-old-self coming into the program is this: Completing an acting program won't ensure you a career in the arts. You will graduate a better actor and all-around artist than you were when you were, but your career success and longevity is completely dependent on how hard you work, the opportunities that you create for yourself, and knowing firmly why you do it. You have to love the process, you have to love the hard work, and you must know firmly that you love the art within yourself.
After graduating, I'm excited to have the time and freedom to make whatever art me and collaborators want to make. Whether it's submitting to theatre/film festivals, developing/workshopping our scripts, or completely self-producing a project from start to finish. I feel ready (if a little sleep deprived), to put my art out into the world.
I'm also just really excited to live life outside of being a student. I've got so many weddings coming up this summer, career opportunities adjacent to or completely outside of the arts that I'm interested in exploring, and people that I miss that I look forward to catching up with.