ALUMNA CLAIRE HESSELGRAVE HEADS TO GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY.

Since graduating in 2011 from the BFA Acting program, Claire has been successfully transitioning to a professional career. She has participated as one of twelve artists chosen nationwide for the 2013 Citadel/Banff Centre Professional Theatre Program, and performed in Bard on the Beach’s 25^th anniversary season as well as many other interesting roles and projects. Heading off to DC in the fall as a candidate for her Masters at George Washington University in The Academy of Classical Acting, we wish Claire well and are proud of her achievements.
BIO:
Growing up on Vashon Island, Washington, Claire entered the BFA Acting program at UBC with fifteen years of dance training. She has toured nationally with Green Thumb Theatre, participated as one of twelve artists chosen nationwide for the 2013 Citadel/Banff Centre Professional Theatre Program, and performed in Bard on the Beach’s 25^th anniversary season. Up next: The Academy of Classical Acting at George Washington University in DC where Claire plans to pursue a MFA in Acting. Selected credits: Tender Napalm (Twenty Something), Jessie Award Winning STATIONARY: A Recession-Era Musical (Delinquent), Wide Awake Hearts (Twenty Something/Hardline), A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Tempest (Bard on the Beach), Speech & Debate (Twenty Something), The Penelopiad (Citadel), 500 Words (Green Thumb). www.clairehesselgrave.com
Here’s what Claire has to say about her time at UBC Theatre and Film:

The UBC Theatre and Film’s BFA Acting program set me up to succeed.  Over my four years at UBC, I was given invaluable tools to help me navigate a challenging and extremely rewarding career in the arts.
As one of fifteen BFA students, I was given many opportunities to grow as an artist and challenge my perception of what I was capable of. The program offered the rigorous structure I needed, led by an exceptional team of faculty members who exceeded anything I could have hoped for. I continue to remain close to many of those who mentored me throughout my time at UBC and I am forever grateful for their guidance and continued support.
My time at UBC also facilitated some incredible working relationships and opportunities within my class of fifteen. Two classmates, Christine Quintana and Mishelle Cuttler went on to write STATIONARY: A Recession-Era Musical. The show had three successful productions in Vancouver, toured to Ontario, and won Jessie Richardson Awards for Outstanding Musical and Outstanding Original Composition. The cast and creative team included ten UBC alumni from the BFA Acting, MFA Directing, and BFA Music programs. As one of the Stationary cast, I will forever cherish the experience and am honoured to have been part of that incredible team and production. It would not have been possible without UBC.
Following five successful and busy years in the Vancouver theatre community and beyond, I am now planning to pursue my Master’s at The Academy of Classical Acting at George Washington University in DC and build upon the artistic foundation I formed during my time at UBC. I am proud of where I am, where I’m going, and where I’ve come from.