An actor’s guild: The success of Metro’s BFA program

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Since junior in high school, Gustavo Marquez knew he wanted to become a stage or film actor.

DENVER — Gustavo Marquez, Metro’s newest theatre Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre (BFA)  candidate has impressed and amazed the audience this Fall semester starring in the musical, The Mikado (Nanki- Pooh) and the comedic play, You Can’t Take It with You (Tony Kirby).

Marquez graduated from Rangeview High School in Aurora, Colo., where he studied theatre and performed in shows. When Marquez was a junior in high school, he decided he wanted to become a stage or film actor.

Most times in theatre companies and programs, an actor has a hard time discovering his or her market, meaning what types of roles are fitting for them, and what are their strengths and weaknesses. It’s rare for a student to come into a program knowing exactly where they belong, and use it as motivation to succeed on stage. They call these people, “naturals.” Marquez gives all praise of his success to the BFA program, calling it a, “Once in a lifetime opportunity.”

Audition Process

Gustavo in You Can’t Take It With You alongside his Co-star Kayla Mally.

In order to be considered for the BFA program, a student must attend a singing audition and a music sight-reading test, before they can be considered for acceptance into the voice program. These auditions are held the first Thursday before fall and spring classes begin. (A student must contact the Music Department to schedule the singing auditions and sight reading test.) Also, the student must prepare two contrasting one-minute monologues and one song (this song may also be used for the Musical Department Audition.)

Marquez says, during an audition process an actor should “do their homework.” He suggested that in order to be cast or picked for the program, an actor should know the play and audition with a piece that is fitting for the role they are auditioning for. For example, he performed a monologue from Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” for the role of Tony, “both characters were similar in their goals and that was being with their soul mate, I could see them relating to each other.”

Metro Theatre Pros and Cons

In contrast to other  Colorado universities, Metro’s theatre department offers just as many performing opportunities as their competitors at a significant price difference.

Gustavo as Nanki Pooh in the fall musical, The Mikado.

Marquez applauds Metro’s theatre professors saying, “The instructors are well trained, talented individuals, who truly want to teach and give what they know, in order to develop professional actors and human beings.”

Marquez mostly gives thanks to Marilyn “Cookie” Hetzel, Chairman of the theatre department because of her “kind and inspirational spirit.” However, he adds that he does wish that the theatre department had more versatility. “There needs to be more dance training, and vocal training,” he says.

Marquez says he can’t wait to continue to grow throughout the program, and he’s very excited about the upcoming productions Urinetown and Metamorphosis.