Theatre - Student Profile - Tiffany Hochstetler

Tiffany (left) performs in Hesston's 2006 production of Moon over Buffalo

Tiffany Hochstetler
Sophomore, Theatre and Literature
Ogema, Minn.

What drew you to Hesston College?
I wanted to live in a place where community and camaraderie were valued, where critical thinking was encouraged, and where I would have professors who would inspire me. Hesston fit these qualifications. It seemed like a place where I could be pushed to grow into what I wanted to be.

How challenging are the academics at Hesston?
I've loved almost all of my classes at Hesston. I like being pushed to question and reevaluate my own thoughts and ideas. And the great thing is that even if you find academics very difficult, the profs at Hesston are amazing. They care about you so much and will do everything they can to help to achieve at your very highest. Yes, Hesston will challenge you academically, but that's what a good college should do.

What has been your favorite theatre production at Hesston?
My favorite production that has been put on by Hesston was Two Rooms. It was an emotionally charged examination of American politics. It made me passionate and weepy and hopeless and optimistic. Magnificent.

What roles have you played in Hesston productions? Which was your favorite?
I tend towards high-energy, girly-girl roles. I was an angry wife in the 2005 Thanksgiving musical, the pregnant daughter in A Great American Cheese Sandwich, and the love-confused Roxanne in Moon Over Buffalo. My favorite was playing a pregnant teenager in A Great American Cheese Sandwich. The cast was amazing and it was a hilarious little script with massive amounts of sarcastic insights into the modern family.

What have you learned from working on the productions? What talents and skills have you gained?
I've learned a lot technically while working on these productions. Learning all that it takes to put together a show, the nitty gritty details that make it come together, has been very beneficial to me. One the most important things I've gained is the ability to sense my cast members on stage. I've loved the way that Megan and the other directors I've worked with emphasize connecting with your fellow cast members and making those connections come to life on stage.

Tell me a little about Megan Tyner--what is it like to work with her? What have you learned from her?
Oh, Megan Tyner. Megan is like Pop Rocks. She's bouncy and exciting and sudden. She's the most passionate person I know. She will cry and then laugh and then impart to you a deep piece of wisdom all in the span of about two minutes. She's smart and challenging and expects the most out of you. When if comes to theatre, she will accept nothing but your best. I've learned so much about theatre technicalities, on-stage techniques, and my own potential from her. She will challenge you and she will make you laugh and you will be better for knowing her.

What is your favorite course you have taken at Hesston? Why?
Peacemaking and Justice with Marion Bontrager. Marion is the most incredibly intelligent man I've ever been privileged enough to know. This class challenged me to figure out what I believe and why and to learn how to defend those beliefs. I will use the knowledge I gained in this class for the rest of my life.

What are some of your most memorable moments as a student at Hesston?
Getting an A on my heils, staying up until all hours of the night talking with friends, sipping tea and chatting with my girlfriends, having dance parties, those first moments when I connected with people who would eventually become my closest friends, sitting in the cafeteria amid the noise and chaos and knowing I'm surrounded by fantastic people, talking for three hours with Marion Bontrager, café Dwight (lunch meetings with professors Tony Brown and Dwight Roth and my friend Hannah and me), quote boards (or posts), passionate debates in sociology, dancing backstage before a performance of Great American Cheese Sandwich--the memories are kind of endless.

What are your plans for after Hesston?
I plan to attend Goshen College, majoring in social work with a minor in women's issues. Beyond that, I hope to do some long-term service and some serious adventure-having.