Continuing our series highlighting graduating seniors, this episode features Gregor Patti and Keeton Landfair, who have an interesting perspective because they went to high school together and have now been through our BFA Acting for Stage & Screen program together.
Continuing our series highlighting graduating seniors, this episode features Gregor Patti and Keeton Landfair, who have an interesting perspective because they went to high school together and have now been through our BFA Acting for Stage & Screen program together.
Gregor and Keeton talk about why they came to the University of Mississippi, life and theatre in a pandemic, perks of the program, and more.
In the fall 2020 semester, Gregor helped to develop and performed in an original work of devised theatre called Near/Far, which you can watch here: https://youtu.be/TAYcLtW8rX8
Gregor and Keeton both recently appeared in our innovative theatre-meets-film production of Urinetown, and you can see them in our trailer here: https://youtu.be/O8l-V3wk6Vw
The Department of Theatre & Film is grateful for its patrons and corporate sponsors. As a department we are committed to the high quality instruction that our students receive. Investing in the students’ education and these quality productions helps us move toward our common goal of graduating successful, creative adults who are lifelong learners. If you are interested in contributing to these efforts, please visit https://umfoundation.givingfuel.com/theatreandfilm
From the Department of Theatre & Film at the University of Mississippi, this is Stage & Screen.
Katherine Stewart
Hello, hello and welcome back to Stage & Screen.
Katherine Stewart
I'm your host, Katherine Stewart, and today's episode continues our series of features on graduating seniors with a 2 Fer Gregor Patti and Keeton Landfair went to high school together, got into acting together, and came through our program at the same time.
Katherine Stewart
We had a really interesting conversation.
Katherine Stewart
I think you're going to enjoy it, so stick around.
Katherine Stewart
Good morning hi.
Keeton Landfair
Hello morning good morning.
Katherine Stewart
Thanks for taking the time to visit with me.
Katherine Stewart
I was I was thinking maybe just to get us started.
Katherine Stewart
If you could both introduce yourselves just who you are and and where you're from and what you're doing here.
Keeton Landfair
Well, OK.
Gregor Patti
Yeah.
Keeton Landfair
Hi, I'm Keeton Landfair.
Keeton Landfair
I'm a senior BFA in the acting for stage and screen degree.
Keeton Landfair
I am from Brandon, MS which is a nice little suburb outside of Jackson, MS.
Keeton Landfair
And what am I doing here?
Keeton Landfair
I I, I guess I already answered that so.
Gregor Patti
Yeah.
Gregor Patti
I, I guess that means it's my turn.
Gregor Patti
My name is Gregor Patti.
Gregor Patti
I am a I'm a senior in the in the BFA or acting for stage and screen.
Gregor Patti
I'm originally from Jackson so also from Jackson.
Gregor Patti
And I'm yeah that's me.
Katherine Stewart
OK great so.
Katherine Stewart
So yeah, one reason we thought it might be fun to talk with you together is that you've been traveling on a similar path for a number of years.
Katherine Stewart
You went to Jackson prep together.
Katherine Stewart
I'm I'm assuming that's where you first act.
Katherine Stewart
Then together and now you're about to complete our program in the same time frame.
Katherine Stewart
So I'm just wondering what what drew you to the University of Mississippi was coming here?
Katherine Stewart
Part of the plan all along was there something specific about the program?
Gregor Patti
I, uh, you, you can go ahead if you want.
Keeton Landfair
Well I guess yeah yeah go ahead.
Keeton Landfair
I guess we can both answer from our own individual perspectives, but as as it sounds, we did sort of collaborate on the effort.
Gregor Patti
Yeah.
Keeton Landfair
Like I know that we both had looked at a lot of schools and I know Gregor took the extra mile and do a few more auditions and such.
Keeton Landfair
But I know, for me at least, and uhm, that.
Keeton Landfair
I toured, we both actually had the same perspective student weekend here and we saw at Matt Wilson the tooth puller and what, uh, honestly, I didn't really know if it was going to because I mean we were just so used to like viewing really popular musicals and really serious plays.
Keeton Landfair
Uhm, and so to be introduced to Commedia dell'arte as a prospective student.
Keeton Landfair
That is a really.
Keeton Landfair
It's really wild experience and immediately it was.
Keeton Landfair
For some reason I kind of showed I was like this is really weird and really creative, and the fact that it's entirely student devised is a really.
Keeton Landfair
Interesting aspect and might actually throw this place on the consideration table.
Keeton Landfair
That, and along with sort of all the student talkbacks and seeing it on the class is really.
Keeton Landfair
Revealed to me that this is a place that.
Keeton Landfair
Was really reliant and the students I really relying on the students and the students.
Keeton Landfair
Were you know, the backbone of the productions here and there was a really strong faculty to student connection that propelled the Department through its everyday operations and being a smaller.
Keeton Landfair
Program students were really welcoming to new students and it was a bit less.
Keeton Landfair
Uhm, you'll get eaten alive sort of thing, so I think that's my initial thoughts.
Keeton Landfair
I might have more as I might can riff off Gregor more, but for me that was a big thing.
Gregor Patti
Yeah, uhm keeping.
Gregor Patti
He was right in saying we both kind of we.
Gregor Patti
We looked at other schools and we talked about other schools we.
Gregor Patti
The the the eventual choice to to come here with is definitely individual.
Gregor Patti
That that's something that I think is like maybe like a misconception about our friendship 'cause.
Gregor Patti
It's like we came here as freshmen and we were, you know, Dumber and Dumber or thing one and thing two or whatever, like our nicknames were, are are fun pet names for their work and and because it it, it's it's a reasonable assumption to make.
Gregor Patti
But I think like like he said, he looked at.
Gregor Patti
Schools I I.
Gregor Patti
I auditioned for some schools and I even got into some other schools but.
Gregor Patti
I, I think for for me it was.
Gregor Patti
It was an amalgamation of a lot of things that made me decide to come here.
Gregor Patti
I think our student weekend was a a big a big impact on me.
Gregor Patti
'cause I I came in my cousin Karen and went here for Karen and Patti.
Gregor Patti
She went here for acting she.
Gregor Patti
She's a wonderful actress.
Gregor Patti
And I saw her as Capitano in tooth puller.
Gregor Patti
And I think it was just it wasn't just like getting to see something new IT was like the quality of it was also like very distinct.
Gregor Patti
I remember being like this is a professional like these people are getting paid this is this is way beyond my pay grade.
Gregor Patti
I don't know what I'm going to be doing here.
Gregor Patti
But I I I it got me excited to come here and I was like, even though I was from Jackson and I had these like big ideas about going to like to other schools.
Gregor Patti
I realized that, like University, Mississippi was kind of like a hidden gem.
Gregor Patti
It was a place where I could go and I could be in shows 'cause all the other programs that I had gotten into were had grad programs.
Katherine Stewart
Uh-huh
Gregor Patti
And and you, and they say this, and they tell you this, and you don't listen when they tell you this, but they, they cast the grad students a lot more than they cast the undergrad students, that is, that is a crucial point of of their programs.
Gregor Patti
Uhm?
Keeton Landfair
Definitely.
Gregor Patti
There, I mean I have friends that are juniors in their undergrad theater programs and in in large programs like famous programs that have yet to be cast in mainstage show.
Gregor Patti
I've I, I don't.
Gregor Patti
I don't know how many shows I've been in.
Gregor Patti
I've been very.
Gregor Patti
I mean, I'm blessed for a number of reasons, but but like I I've been in shows and I've been able to.
Gregor Patti
I mean, you get better by doing.
Gregor Patti
The thing is my belief and and it's also my belief.
Gregor Patti
I I share the belief with Joe Turner cancer that it's also in the classroom and the the classroom was a meaningful place.
Gregor Patti
Here.
Gregor Patti
It.
Gregor Patti
They they they they kept it separate.
Gregor Patti
They kept a meaningful in the class, or like we we learned a lot of great things from from Matt and and Joe and Rory and Dan and and Renee and Jenn everybody.
Gregor Patti
But yeah, I think in the end it was.
Gregor Patti
It was obviously it was money and it was opportunity and it was like it was the environment that was so inviting that Keeton talked about.
Gregor Patti
And it was just the quality of the product like the the one production I saw like that was such high quality.
Gregor Patti
I was like this is definitely a place that I can see myself.
Gregor Patti
Yeah.
Keeton Landfair
That is, another thing is that some sort on the financial side.
Keeton Landfair
I I I commended.
Keeton Landfair
I commend it.
Keeton Landfair
Well I commended the Department because, you know, we were both fortunate to receive.
Keeton Landfair
Like for example the the Theater Merit Scholarship, which which, honestly it wasn't.
Keeton Landfair
I mean obviously like that's not paying my whole tuition right?
Keeton Landfair
But like it is something I'm more important scale that it shows that the Department does care about people who are really passionate and wanted to be serious here.
Keeton Landfair
And the fact that we were both able to.
Keeton Landfair
They make it so easy to apply for and to go there.
Keeton Landfair
Extra step, it spoke to me a lot that I was somewhere I was also going to be really wanted and respected as a student and as an artist.
Katherine Stewart
Nice so so when you came into the program, were there certain expectations you had or goals that you had for your time here, and if so?
Katherine Stewart
Uh, how?
Katherine Stewart
How did they change if at all, over over the years?
Gregor Patti
I when I read this question on the list that was concerned 'cause I, I don't think that I was wise enough as a freshman to come in with.
Gregor Patti
With like, well, I I'd say this, so I tell this story.
Gregor Patti
But like we we did some musicals and and we did plays in high school.
Gregor Patti
I just didn't think that I would ever do a musical again.
Gregor Patti
I didn't really think that was in my skill set.
Gregor Patti
I didn't think that that was my like Forte and I don't know how it's going to continue to be a part of my career in the future, but.
Gregor Patti
I mean, the majority of the things I've done here have been musicals and and I think that's been a really great thing because.
Gregor Patti
My my my my goal sets have changed continually and and.
Katherine Stewart
Yeah.
Gregor Patti
And because I'm achieving these goals like I have teachers that are facilitating.
Gregor Patti
Like the like, an increase in my range then like in addition to my book.
Gregor Patti
In addition to like another monologue, choose, but I think I I came in.
Gregor Patti
I just really love training.
Gregor Patti
I really love like.
Gregor Patti
Actor classes, it's like it.
Gregor Patti
It's really cliche, I just I like all of the dramatics and and all like all of the the the history and the learning of it and and the practicing.
Gregor Patti
And like the the the day by day incremental.
Gregor Patti
Increase in skill because it is a skill that you can.
Gregor Patti
Learn but coming in.
Gregor Patti
I don't know that I had specific goals just to be better just to try to get better and trying to be in shows.
Gregor Patti
But then eventually it evolved into like.
Gregor Patti
You know encouragement from my teachers.
Gregor Patti
It it evolved into, you know I need to have these certain types of songs and this number of songs in my book.
Gregor Patti
I want to like work on these monologues and then like specifically for like acting.
Gregor Patti
I want to work on a lot of.
Gregor Patti
Things like you know they say that, like actor ticks or it's like a game of whack a mole.
Gregor Patti
You know you like, you know it's like too many moles and not enough wax like he just can't.
Gregor Patti
He can't get rid of them like you know one another clips or the UM.
Gregor Patti
But I was I was really excited to be.
Gregor Patti
I remember being super excited to learn about Meissner and learn about stanislofsky 'cause it was like something I like.
Gregor Patti
I read about them.
Gregor Patti
I hadn't read my book and I we had discussed we discussed in high school Udah Hagen like I think both of us had like skim through to haggens.
Gregor Patti
And I was just like really excited to be an actor that had been in a class and had like learned miesner and learned the like the methodology of Stanislavsky and everything.
Gregor Patti
So yeah, that that's that's kind of what I came in with, I think.
Keeton Landfair
Well, I will definitely say that I for talking expectations I def.
Keeton Landfair
Really, uh, I I had been in one musical before I I came here and it was a non singing role.
Keeton Landfair
I I did the Rock Island rack in a music man at the top of the show and then I had like 3 or 4 lines later in the show.
Keeton Landfair
So coming in as a freshman and somehow.
Keeton Landfair
Uh, flopping my way into the ensemble of Chicago.
Keeton Landfair
Bob Fosse, Chicago was really a culture shock.
Keeton Landfair
For me, but that was that was a really great opportunity as a freshman, and I think it's sort of where I learned that I, I, you know, I loved the classroom as well.
Keeton Landfair
Thanks.
Keeton Landfair
Keeton Landfair
I think for me I I realized through Chicago that I was going to.
Keeton Landfair
The Chicago it was a hardship.
Keeton Landfair
Matt.
Keeton Landfair
Matt Wilson is a great guy, but he is a he you cannot slack off and then that I think that was a great first director to have because in high school I mean being a little transparent here.
Keeton Landfair
It's very easy to slack off like you know, you can roll in and maybe that's not all high schools.
Keeton Landfair
'cause I mean, but, you know, at least here I I know in high school I had a bit less of a.
Keeton Landfair
Of a strict, uh, work ethic, but I think being is yeah.
Gregor Patti
That was a big point of when the goals change.
Gregor Patti
Sorry to interrupt, but that was like a big point when I was in high school, we were driven by just like self ambition.
Keeton Landfair
Yeah yeah, yeah.
Gregor Patti
Like we we got better because we wanted to be but we didn't know how to be better.
Gregor Patti
We just were like we wanted.
Gregor Patti
We want to like.
Gregor Patti
That wasn't.
Gregor Patti
It was like we want to just do nothing and and do the best we can.
Gregor Patti
But then you get to to, you know, we got here in the first acting teacher we buttheads with is not buttheads but like that we meet with Hazmat Wilson.
Gregor Patti
And like we, we did this scene from Art by Yasmina, Reza and and and I remember our first round.
Gregor Patti
We so that the scene starts where we would enter in and we would be in mid conversation and Matt Wilson like was.
Gregor Patti
He said OK class anytime you don't believe what they're saying.
Gregor Patti
Raise your hand.
Gregor Patti
And we spent like 40 minutes on this scene where we would like we.
Gregor Patti
We walk in and we would get a little further and then someone wouldn't believe it.
Gregor Patti
And then a little further and someone raised their hand and it was like that kind of like tough love that that it was enjoyable.
Bing.
Gregor Patti
It was funny that that that's the way that he chose to like teach this lesson.
Gregor Patti
To us, it's like you can't just walk in.
Gregor Patti
You need like there's a lot of ideas and preparation and imaging and thoughts and things that like you you can do to make this so much more weighted.
Gregor Patti
And so Matt really like having that.
Gregor Patti
Sort of tough love changed my goals and I know like it, it just changed the way that we looked at the craft itself, but yeah.
Keeton Landfair
Yes, I mean, yeah, that's exactly right.
Keeton Landfair
Uhm, I mean that that was sort of the turning point.
Keeton Landfair
I realized that any expectations I did have, I should probably toss because this was going to be a lot.
Keeton Landfair
I think in a way a bit more, maybe even a bit more serious than I had ever been exposed to.
Keeton Landfair
But also it's where I learned, you know, especially with him as stretch for Chicago that.
Keeton Landfair
That the productions themselves would be a very valuable tool.
Keeton Landfair
In learning, and that's the closest thing you'll get to, you know, real work experience a lot throughout College in terms of of theatrically.
Keeton Landfair
So working on shows for me was actually an unexpected way that I wear my expectations changed because I I looked forward to working hard and getting cast in those as much as I can because I knew it would be.
Keeton Landfair
I knew that the Department was going to model these productions after real world experience, and so therefore that would be, you know, preferably a really great way to grow and supplement to the technicalities we were learning in the classroom.
Katherine Stewart
So in inevitable question, a little over a year ago, the global COVID-19 pandemic had escalated to the point that things all over the world were starting to shut down, including the University of Mississippi campus. And at that time Gregor you were getting ready to open in the nether.
Gregor Patti
Yeah.
Gregor Patti
Yeah, yeah.
Katherine Stewart
And Keeton, you were in rehearsals for a new brain which was going to be our last production of the season.
Keeton Landfair
Yes, yes.
Katherine Stewart
When you learned that campus was closing, perhaps indefinitely, and that we would not be able to put on those last two shows of the season, what was that like for you?
Katherine Stewart
What were you thinking and feeling when that happened?
Keeton Landfair
Uh, that is a that is a hefty.
Keeton Landfair
Question a few different levels.
Keeton Landfair
You know, I don't know.
Keeton Landfair
Uh, it's quite strange.
Keeton Landfair
I mean we were both on the way to summer stock auditions when campus closed and and so we never actually even got to the airport to head up to straw hats in New York City.
Keeton Landfair
It felt like I don't know for a new brain was big for me because I mean it was another musical but.
Keeton Landfair
Uhm, it was a heftier show than some of the stuff I had done previously, so I was kind of looking forward to that challenge for myself.
Keeton Landfair
But once everything shut down.
Keeton Landfair
Uhm?
Keeton Landfair
It.
Keeton Landfair
It I don't know it was.
Keeton Landfair
It was weird because I I think most of us thought we would just be back by fall and that it was just gonna have to be a.
Keeton Landfair
Unfortunate loss, maybe we'd come back around to these shows, you know, and and the following spring like I mean, I think that was actually a pretty common theory that was floating around for a while, but when things shut down, we both got actually stuck up here in Oxford.
Keeton Landfair
Uhm, but I mean.
Keeton Landfair
It's hard to talk about this period of time because it feels really nostalgic in a way like like your early childhood does, and I don't want to romanticize it at any at any point, because this pandemic has been horrible for a lot of reasons, but you know, it was also a point where I think.
Keeton Landfair
I got to evaluate what I was doing exactly as a person and as an artist as creator and all of that.
Keeton Landfair
But it's it's led to some changes, so that point is still lead to some changes.
Keeton Landfair
The way I'm doing now, I think we've all we all were able to pivot from that point in a mostly positive way.
Keeton Landfair
Uhm, but.
Keeton Landfair
It was it definitely cut deep.
Keeton Landfair
I mean, you know, given what I had given the hopes and aspirations that a lot of us had for the summer, whether we had.
Keeton Landfair
Being set in stone already or or hoping to.
Keeton Landfair
I think it cut pretty deep and I think for a while morale was pretty low.
Keeton Landfair
But it was a.
Keeton Landfair
It did open up a time for a lot of.
Keeton Landfair
So flexion, and anyway, it's it's weird that for that to be your launching pad for your senior year in terms of how, how in the world do you finish.
Keeton Landfair
Uh.
Keeton Landfair
Uh, the strongest that you can, but I mean here we are now and I think some good has come out of it.
Keeton Landfair
Keeton Landfair
So I might riff off Gregor.
Keeton Landfair
Keeton Landfair
We'll see.
Keeton Landfair
Gregor Patti
Yeah, I uh, I was in.
Gregor Patti
Yeah I was in the nether at the time and, uh, that was kind of the first opportunity.
Gregor Patti
I was really excited with another in particular because it was my first opportunity to do a straight play with mainstage.
Gregor Patti
Uhm, and I was that I mean, well, I I I was in Nick be if you like if two years.
Gregor Patti
Prior and freshman year, that was like a a modern string play and I was like really excited about it.
Gregor Patti
And so yeah, it was.
Gregor Patti
I mean, it's disappointing that everybody.
Gregor Patti
Everybody kind of went through that whole deal and I think it was just cool like keeping kind of talked about the theories that would float around.
Gregor Patti
Like I remember the first like 3 months of the pandemic.
Gregor Patti
There's like a new theory about how long it was going to go on with started circling around like something would come out, like MSNBC would say something that CDC would say something, and then we would be like Oh well, maybe it'll be done by the end of the summer.
Gregor Patti
We can like like he said, maybe we can go back to these shows and where we can like have our senior year.
Gregor Patti
Or maybe we can all stop.
Gregor Patti
I mean that's the selfish way to look at it.
Gregor Patti
Or maybe like.
Gregor Patti
The world can stop being on fire.
Keeton Landfair
I think we definitely thought we were going to be doing the fall production.
Keeton Landfair
Still for some weird reason.
Gregor Patti
For a long time it wasn't until like maybe.
Keeton Landfair
And that's yeah.
Gregor Patti
Maybe June July like July came around that we kind of realized that we didn't think that there was gonna be much room for that.
Gregor Patti
I mean there.
Gregor Patti
Just it wasn't going to be possible.
Gregor Patti
Uh, I think the the reflection thing is probably the biggest thing that artists are going to take away from from the pandemic.
Gregor Patti
It's kind of the only thing we can do.
Gregor Patti
It's like you can start like you're told to stop doing what you're doing and what we do is a lot of grind.
Gregor Patti
It's a lot of.
Gregor Patti
You know, going from this place to the next, it's a lot of moving a lot of change and then all of a sudden for like, an indefinite amount of time over a year.
Gregor Patti
It turns out you, you're told to stop and not do that.
Gregor Patti
And everybody found a way to make their art and stay busy like we obviously stayed busy during the pandemic, which was honestly great, but
Gregor Patti
I think it it.
Gregor Patti
You know a lot of us use the time to like sit and think and study and contemplate and and and.
Gregor Patti
Just do this and there's a lot of discussion about.
Gregor Patti
What was going to be like, what we're gonna wait?
Gregor Patti
There's still discussion about what we're going to be doing after this.
Gregor Patti
And so that was useful.
Gregor Patti
I think that now there's it's weird for the seniors because I'm just.
Gregor Patti
I just keep contextualize this to the program, 'cause I think it's I don't know.
Gregor Patti
That's that's what we're here to talk about, but.
Gregor Patti
Or our experience, but like.
Gregor Patti
Now it's.
Gregor Patti
It's especially weird because.
Gregor Patti
We kind of had two or three years observing what seniors would do when they got to this point, and then we've.
Gregor Patti
And now now no one did what we're doing, so we're just having to figure it out and and people are asking us what we're doing and and and we're like we don't.
Gregor Patti
We don't really know like it's.
Gregor Patti
It's usually hard to graduate from a BFA program because of the transition and and change in life.
Gregor Patti
And for the first time you don't have.
Gregor Patti
Plans, perhaps, but then you throw in.
Gregor Patti
Thank you, maybe you just can't go anywhere. Still you, there's not really much going on like the big issue has been now for like the for performing side of things has been like like Straw Hat and CTC, and up has occurred but like I instead of 100 companies.
Gregor Patti
There's ten companies and and they're hiring one track that they that they didn't fill because the pandemic happened last year.
Gregor Patti
So a lot of us aren't.
Gregor Patti
You know, there's not work to get.
Gregor Patti
And so that means when there is work, it's going to be even more competitive.
Gregor Patti
So it's just like a strange.
Gregor Patti
It we all re evaluated our priorities and I think that like you can like a good thing that we got out of this was.
Gregor Patti
I think I I'm it.
Gregor Patti
It reassured me that despite the difficulty, I know this is what I'm supposed to be doing, despite it being frightening in a way.
Gregor Patti
Like, even though this is quite different from what I was, I was told it was going to be at this point in my life because of strange circumstances.
Gregor Patti
I I'm still sure that the unknown path ahead of me.
Gregor Patti
Is what I'm supposed to be doing?
Gregor Patti
And that kind of touches on like Keeton instead.
Gregor Patti
Well, so yeah, this was sort of my heady vague thoughts on the pandemic.
Gregor Patti
Is everybody kind of has that like that similar feeling about it but but yeah.
Keeton Landfair
Is weird though, because we were.
Keeton Landfair
I mean, we just so happen to be close to a couple of senior classes that have come through here.
Keeton Landfair
I know our freshman year we were both of our, you know.
Keeton Landfair
Some.
Keeton Landfair
Quote bigs that we have here in the Department.
Keeton Landfair
We're we're seniors and and we would just happen to be, you know, friends with those upperclassmen.
Keeton Landfair
And on our sophomore year, we were still.
Keeton Landfair
We were obviously friends with the next group of seniors.
Keeton Landfair
And you know, I just remember we would just always be able to observe them and they would be here.
Keeton Landfair
But you do and you get to your senior year.
Keeton Landfair
And here's what you apply for and.
Keeton Landfair
Here's you know how you should, uh, what class load you should take and all of that, and and obviously.
Keeton Landfair
You know it's something was working 'cause most of you know. I would say at least 98% of those people like got jobs immediately. For example after they graduated or or even while they were still in.
Keeton Landfair
Cool and and that was sort of what we were.
Keeton Landfair
It felt like we were steamrolling toward the whole time and then, like Gregor said, we got there and it was like were invented we we invented a new quote.
Keeton Landfair
I mean, I don't even know if it's a.
Keeton Landfair
If it is a norm.
Keeton Landfair
We invented a new method of how to navigate your senior year when everything is.
Keeton Landfair
Not exists yet.
Keeton Landfair
Or when everything is virtual, yes, the virtual.
Keeton Landfair
The virtual hiring landscape is forgive me hellacious.
Gregor Patti
So the good news for any like perspective, people that might be listening to this is that.
Gregor Patti
Way it's coming to an end.
Gregor Patti
And and but a positive thing that's probably going to come out of this is that video wall auditions are going to be a lot more common, and that means theater is going to be a lot more accessible.
Keeton Landfair
Yeah.
Gregor Patti
For for actors that don't have the funds to travel 'cause we like, I would have to like save and portion out my funds to go to Straw Hat like that was like my big spend to go destroy.
Gregor Patti
Had to audition to try to get a job.
Mm-hmm
Gregor Patti
But I like I'm I've been, uh, auditioning for for companies and still doing.
Gregor Patti
I'm still doing that, but it's it's all affordable and accessible.
Gregor Patti
So that's a good thing.
Gregor Patti
But but then also, by the time you get to this point, you will be able to go there and do it as well if you want, and I'm sure.
Yeah.
Gregor Patti
Like
Gregor Patti
It'll be a lot more sanitary because I think all of these habits are funny.
Keeton Landfair
Hopefully hopefully you don't have to learn how to how to you know access your in person charm whatever over zoom making making in person.
Keeton Landfair
Yeah.
Keeton Landfair
Keeton Landfair
It seems like now for like.
Gregor Patti
It's not, it's it's really hard to translate the the like you develop a skill of like this is I can like I can buy him over in person like I just have to meet him in person and then you you meet him over zoom and and you've got your like your all your weird things like background.
Keeton Landfair
Weird yeah my my Triceratops.
Keeton Landfair
Yeah, it's it's yeah.
Gregor Patti
So there is hope.
Gregor Patti
There is hope to say.
Katherine Stewart
Well, you have both just touched on some some positive things that you've been able to take away from B dynamic experience.
Gregor Patti
Huh?
Katherine Stewart
What about pandemic?
Katherine Stewart
Notwithstanding?
Katherine Stewart
What about some favorite moments from your time in the program?
Katherine Stewart
What's in your highlight reel?
Keeton Landfair
Oh boy, I think they're all I honestly, uhm.
Gregor Patti
There are a lot.
Keeton Landfair
I think we have some together in some individual, definitely.
Keeton Landfair
Uh, I think the biggest.
Keeton Landfair
I think we.
Keeton Landfair
Keeton Landfair
Yeah, go ahead, you seem to have something.
Gregor Patti
We we both loved Assassin's.
Gregor Patti
I know I can say that.
Keeton Landfair
Yeah, that was that would have been my.
Keeton Landfair
Sean.
Keeton Landfair
Yeah.
Keeton Landfair
Gregor Patti
Yeah.
Gregor Patti
Keeton Landfair
Yeah, yeah, I mean, that was my first Sondheim show I ever did and it's sort of really.
Keeton Landfair
I would say a hotwired my my love almost maybe your obsession.
Keeton Landfair
But for that man's works.
Keeton Landfair
Uhm, but I mean the there there was a really that was definitely a a star crossed moment in terms of the actors that were available and the production team that was available because everything from the set to the lights, actors and and Renee the director.
Keeton Landfair
Everything from the set.
Keeton Landfair
Keeton Landfair
Written, everyone involved.
Keeton Landfair
That was a really.
Keeton Landfair
We got a really special product out of that.
Keeton Landfair
I think it was a lot of fun and it was, you know.
Keeton Landfair
Yeah, this is great music.
Gregor Patti
Yeah, assassins was was really special.
Gregor Patti
For all the things that he just would, Keeton just said I really was.
Gregor Patti
Like
Gregor Patti
Like I remember all the upperclassmen who talked about like shows they had been in that people like still like come up to them and like ask them about or like like were you in this and I think assassins was kind of that for us.
Gregor Patti
It was really it was our first 'cause we were in Chicago and Mcbee our freshman year and then some.
Gregor Patti
Like our ghost light stuff, but assassins was our first opportunity to be like a part of this, like this small ensemble of members and and with like incredible music and writing.
Gregor Patti
And it was just it was really special and I think that.
Gregor Patti
Assassin's and and and for me, I think one of my favorite Speaking of Star crossed.
Gregor Patti
I think I think, fly by night was probably my favorite.
Gregor Patti
One of my favorite things.
Gregor Patti
I was apart of here and in the same way it felt like everything kind of lined up, which was serendipitous.
Gregor Patti
Considering the themes of the show of crossing paths and rhythm games and and the stars and everything it, it was a really loving environment.
Gregor Patti
It was really forgiving and it was really.
Gregor Patti
Uhm, it felt like the theme for the first time.
Gregor Patti
I experienced a very potently 'cause this always happens in theater, but I'd experienced very potently the themes of the show emit beyond the show like for in my life.
Gregor Patti
I started realizing that things.
Gregor Patti
That existed for me in the shows and I I learn lessons every time I do theater, not by not acting lessons, but life lesson.
Gregor Patti
Uh, and I think for a long time they had consists they persisted in my in my subconscious like I had just sort of embodied the lessons that shows I'm talking about it, accepted it or whatever, but fly by night.
Gregor Patti
It just it was so potent and it it it pulsed like it said, like with rhythm and rhythm is like a huge is a is a big theme in that show and.
Gregor Patti
And we all worked very **** ** that show is I had to, you know, pick up the guitar and learn all those varied those songs that were not that difficult.
Gregor Patti
But we're very difficult for me.
Gregor Patti
Uh, and uh, we had lots of friends around involved with that.
Gregor Patti
'cause like at Kaylee, Albert, and Nicole and in Quincy were all involved and they were graduating and and uh and and he was graduating and and and so that was like that added a lot of.
Gregor Patti
Weird emotional weight at the end.
Gregor Patti
Which you know.
Gregor Patti
You always leave your stuff at the door, but carry your humanity with you into the show and so that was always there.
Gregor Patti
And yeah, I I will.
Gregor Patti
I think I will always have a very special place in my heart for fly by night.
Gregor Patti
I've got my star on my wall over there that they let me keep but yeah.
Keeton Landfair
Yeah, that that and I would also say Chicago as freshman was a great experience.
Keeton Landfair
Like I said, you know, being thrown into that.
Keeton Landfair
Huge show cast wise.
Keeton Landfair
You know.
Keeton Landfair
Definitely the huge show in the in the high production value of that show is definitely a great taste of or the best of collegiate theater I think.
Keeton Landfair
Then sort of preview like like.
Keeton Landfair
We've talked about that of of what a work environment should be.
Keeton Landfair
And actually I found a piece of the confetti from Chicago yesterday outside of Fulton and the grass still still remains.
Yeah.
Keeton Landfair
But that and and honestly the work.
Keeton Landfair
I think we've been able to do with our student production company Go Sitrep has been really rewarding.
Keeton Landfair
You know which has ranged from another productions.
Keeton Landfair
I mean Heathers was.
Keeton Landfair
It was really fantastic one.
Keeton Landfair
We did all the way back to shows like that were really weird.
Keeton Landfair
Honestly, like like the.
Keeton Landfair
All it's Greek mythology and 9 minutes or less science lesson.
Keeton Landfair
It's my freshman year and it feels like an eternity ago, but I, I and you know, I know we've had that.
Keeton Landfair
That has been a great way for student working relationships to really flourish and even gives opportunities for those who who might not find themselves.
Keeton Landfair
In the main.
Keeton Landfair
Age necessarily to to thrive.
Keeton Landfair
And it was a really great way to sort of close the gap in the circle of.
Keeton Landfair
I guess this you the the the Department slash University.
Keeton Landfair
It was a way for everyone to be involved to some extent.
Keeton Landfair
That was really great.
Keeton Landfair
You know I can't pinpoint one specific memory with Ghostlight, it's just that it's been a great supplement on top like alongside the Department for these years.
Gregor Patti
Yeah, I I got to work on.
Gregor Patti
My my desire to direct through Go Slate and that was a big deal for me 'cause I I directed a little bit in high school and I really enjoyed directing, but it gave a very like clear stage for for me to to do and I I got to direct crimes which Keeton was in crimes of the heart which kinesin and Keeton was fantastic, doc.
Gregor Patti
Uhm, and that show is this very special to me.
Gregor Patti
It's it's one of the one of the gems I think, but yeah.
Gregor Patti
It's like.
Gregor Patti
I think supplement is a really great word like heating.
Gregor Patti
Use it.
Gregor Patti
It it really flag?
Gregor Patti
It's it's.
Gregor Patti
It's a big supplement.
Gregor Patti
It it it?
Gregor Patti
It consists.
Gregor Patti
It takes a lot of time and a lot of effort.
Gregor Patti
But Ghostlight is was one of the reasons I I came here to be quite honest 'cause 'cause me and and Keeton and a lot of friends in high school started up a.
Gregor Patti
Been a group of students doing theater over this summer.
Gregor Patti
Or it was just us and we raised the money and we did the shows and so when we knew that Ghostlight was the thing we were like, that sounds like us like we're there like we'll do that and and and so Ghostlight is is is a is a great vein and supplement for for your like learning and growing 'cause.
Keeton Landfair
Huh?
Gregor Patti
You can do new things and you can take a lot of you feel a little like you feel free to take risks always like that's what we do, but you can take more like.
Gregor Patti
Yeah.
Gregor Patti
Uhm?
Gregor Patti
Let's calculate, you can just.
Gregor Patti
You can just be kind of like.
Gregor Patti
I don't know.
Gregor Patti
Like I I maybe I want to do.
Gregor Patti
I want to do a set design.
Gregor Patti
I don't know that might be fun.
Gregor Patti
And then you realize like wow, I love set design.
Gregor Patti
This is maybe what.
Gregor Patti
Maybe what I want to do with my career and we've had a lot of people do that.
Gregor Patti
They have a situation like that where they try a random thing just because we need someone to to fill that position to go slideshow and they realize.
Gregor Patti
Like wow wait, this is this is actually really amazing.
Gregor Patti
So yeah, go slight is definitely a big a big uh a big plus and a big moment of like really grateful for that.
Katherine Stewart
Nice, do you have any advice for prospective or incoming students aside from getting involved with Ghostlight, it sounds like.
Keeton Landfair
Yes you should.
Keeton Landfair
You should come, you just do that.
Keeton Landfair
Oof.
Keeton Landfair
Keeton Landfair
That's just a question I feel like I'd have a better answer to at this point.
Maybe twice.
Keeton Landfair
I I I, I think we're all I at least asked this, like once a semester and I feel like I've never developed my go to answer, but.
Keeton Landfair
And I if.
Keeton Landfair
I'm in a in a normal quote world in which it looks like this, you know, fingers crossed fall semester will be back to, you know at least like 98% the way it was, right?
Keeton Landfair
Uhm?
Keeton Landfair
I would say you're coming out of high school.
Keeton Landfair
Uh me too.
Keeton Landfair
Trust your initial instincts and take those leaps.
Keeton Landfair
You know, getting involved would be really scary for people who are like introverted for most of their high school and early educational life, as I think me and Greg are both were.
Keeton Landfair
Uhm, to some extent.
Keeton Landfair
Uhm, uhm, and two.
Keeton Landfair
It's OK starting out to throw yourself into everything.
Keeton Landfair
It is OK, and it's encouraged because I think that defines a lot of.
Keeton Landfair
How far you're willing to go early on, and I think you learn a lot of limits, uhm?
Keeton Landfair
You know, talk to your professors after class before class.
Keeton Landfair
I just end class, learn about them and learn what they expect or what they have found like where they find success in their own professional careers as well as with your.
Keeton Landfair
Dear colleagues and fellow classmates, you know you're not going to be best friends with everybody.
Keeton Landfair
You have to kind of accept that, but you do have to learn how to respect and work with each other and get through classes.
Keeton Landfair
But you also can keep each other accountable in that sense to ones you're closer to.
Keeton Landfair
And as much work as you.
Keeton Landfair
You can do in the classroom.
Keeton Landfair
It kind of.
Keeton Landfair
It's a very you get what you want out of it degree, whether it be the BFA or the BA.
Keeton Landfair
I, you know.
Keeton Landfair
Hopefully if you're a BFA student, you.
Keeton Landfair
Uh, we have some idea coming into it that is an intensive, but besides just I mean your professors aren't going to see you at home unless it's over zoom, right?
Keeton Landfair
So it's going to be up to you and the people who you trust and our closest to to keep you accountable.
Keeton Landfair
So just know that I find those people early on if you can.
Keeton Landfair
But then you gotta learn how to say no to you know.
Keeton Landfair
Obviously, you can't say no to academic things and and you need to be in like the Department shows.
Keeton Landfair
If you're you know, cast and such, you know, at least as of now.
Keeton Landfair
'cause I don't know.
Keeton Landfair
I, I don't.
Keeton Landfair
We've we've Department store idea of like a casting policy every now and then.
Keeton Landfair
But I don't know, for the most part, you just sort of sign off and and strap in right, which is great.
Keeton Landfair
Some of the best experiences that I have had from are from unexpected Department castings, but.
Keeton Landfair
But in terms of extracurricular is, you know, learn how to say no because spread yourself too thin, as if all these might be, you know you might lose a lot of passion.
Keeton Landfair
A lot of drive, and.
Keeton Landfair
I don't know.
Keeton Landfair
I like to say quality over quantity, right?
Keeton Landfair
So pick the things that speak to you the most and really focus on those.
Keeton Landfair
You know, if you don't get something one semester, you want to really do you at the next semester, uhm?
Keeton Landfair
And I've rambled on long enough, but I would also say keep an idea of your campus climate, right?
Keeton Landfair
Be a good steward and citizen of your campus.
Keeton Landfair
It's really easy as a theater Department.
Keeton Landfair
To make our own little island and sort of isolate and.
Keeton Landfair
We it feels like we're in a cave all day, right?
Keeton Landfair
Because we we we are in class all day and then we could have rehearsal at night and we're still inside to like 10 or 11:00 PM.
Keeton Landfair
And then we leave and then like no ones there but but be a good steward of your campus.
Keeton Landfair
Know what's going on, no?
Keeton Landfair
Know what issues are arising and keep keep people who keep your professors and and people who aren't indeed or accountable because.
Keeton Landfair
I mean, it's your campus.
Keeton Landfair
You're still going there.
Keeton Landfair
You're still stuck here.
Keeton Landfair
For four years, I mean.
Keeton Landfair
People like to people like to think that Ole Miss in general has a bad rap enemy.
Keeton Landfair
It does.
Keeton Landfair
It does not.
Keeton Landfair
Our theater Department but UM.
Keeton Landfair
The University has a history, right?
Keeton Landfair
It has a really long complicated.
Gregor Patti
And.
Keeton Landfair
Uh, more so dark than light history, unfortunately, but there is no reason that we have to sit with that, and I think we've seen a lot of growth over the last couple of years with everything going on in the world.
Keeton Landfair
You know, just look last year the the statue on the circle finally moved after how long, right?
Keeton Landfair
So?
Keeton Landfair
That's that's a student body effort that's not just, you know, and that's not just solely a student government, or just solely faculty thing.
Keeton Landfair
That's that's everybody.
Keeton Landfair
So so be a good steward.
Keeton Landfair
That's what I'm saying.
Gregor Patti
Uhm, I'll try to follow that up.
Keeton Landfair
I I'm sorry I got really.
Gregor Patti
Right?
Keeton Landfair
I really focused in there for a minute.
Gregor Patti
No, it's no.
Gregor Patti
It's it was.
Keeton Landfair
I really.
Gregor Patti
It was very.
Gregor Patti
It was very, uh, all that's all great advice.
Gregor Patti
Yeah.
Gregor Patti
I I.
Gregor Patti
I'm being a being an Aquarius.
Gregor Patti
I'm a little.
Gregor Patti
Yeah.
Gregor Patti
Aryan nebulous about the way I I do advice.
Gregor Patti
I think that that I I would and I and I kind of want to direct it towards people that want to be performers and actors because all of that was directed to them.
Gregor Patti
But like specifically, I, I would say I wish that I would have taken.
Gregor Patti
Right?
Gregor Patti
I would I wish.
Gregor Patti
I would have trusted my instincts to take bigger risks earlier on because what I one big thing that I've learned like the big lesson you're going to learn in college about performing and acting, is that people want to see you.
Yeah.
Gregor Patti
And showing yourself is is is vulnerable.
Gregor Patti
It's very hard because.
Gregor Patti
What if, like the fear, and I'm going to say it out loud, the fear is that you're going to make a choice that you think is funny.
Gregor Patti
That is very you that you think it's very funny and you're going to do it, and you're going to make the choice and everyone is gonna is no one going to laugh and everyone gonna hate you.
Gregor Patti
But in reality people people are going to appreciate it even if it's not funny.
Gregor Patti
People are going to appreciate the fact that you you expose your humanity.
Gregor Patti
People want to see that.
Gregor Patti
More than anything, that is what this this form is and and you don't need to like copy.
Gregor Patti
All of your favorite performers.
Gregor Patti
You don't need to be the new remain caramel.
Gregor Patti
You don't need to be the new Sierra Bogas.
Gregor Patti
You need to be who you are wholeheartedly, and you need to love it.
Gregor Patti
You need to love every portion of every inch of who you are because that is what's going to bring you success, because that will if you follow the truth of who you are, you will land exactly where you want to be.
Gregor Patti
And I really believe that I'm still on that path, and Keeton still on that path.
Gregor Patti
Catherine is still on that, but we're all still on a a journey to be placed exactly where we want like but but.
Uh.
Gregor Patti
One thing that I was really proud of myself.
Gregor Patti
A lesson that I learned freshman year.
Gregor Patti
Was my ability and I would really encourage that this helped a lot, especially if you deal with anxiety.
Gregor Patti
I think that this is this.
Gregor Patti
This will help your process a lot.
Gregor Patti
Is truly try to find the enjoyment in the moment where you are from.
Gregor Patti
I remember I.
Gregor Patti
I felt that for the first time during assassins, as I and then in fly by night, it like really hit home.
Gregor Patti
I was like each moment of this is so precious and I refused to take any of it for granted.
Gregor Patti
Yeah.
Gregor Patti
I refuse to.
Gregor Patti
Like stay upset about something I I refused to stay like and of course like I was bad and I'm still sometimes I'm like not I'm like this is like I wanna be here like I'm tired and like I'm mad at them about this.
Gregor Patti
And then when I'm sleepy and I'm hungry or whatever but.
Gregor Patti
The the place freak like make where you are in the moment that you that you exist in special because that that that is that is that is more important than the idealization of the future, like.
Gregor Patti
That that you want, or that you think you want, whatever, whatever is beyond you.
Gregor Patti
If you can make this moment special justice special is that you will be happy for all of your days you you will find peace.
Gregor Patti
You will set.
Gregor Patti
You will walk into rehearsal.
Gregor Patti
And you'll you'll not be as all book is, you want to be and you're like this is going to be fun because I'm gonna I'm gonna mess it up and I'm gonna go and call for line and everybody it's going to be fine I'm going to grow and and I'm going to learn my lesson and it's going to be.
Gregor Patti
But I get to be with people that I enjoy to be doing.
Gregor Patti
What I love doing, and that's really the heart of it.
Gregor Patti
Is is if you really enjoy this, it's not going to be that hard to exist in peace and every moment and and to enjoy every moment.
Gregor Patti
I think it may be the last thing.
Gregor Patti
Yeah, the last thing I will say is.
Gregor Patti
I think don't.
Gregor Patti
Give yourself grace.
Gregor Patti
Forgive yourself because a lot of what we do is no.
Gregor Patti
A lot of what we do is is is is mistakes and and people like to say well people like to label them as mistakes or failure.
Gregor Patti
But it's a process and so you make a choice or you you you make a decision and maybe it doesn't work.
Gregor Patti
Maybe it's not like exact.
Gregor Patti
We don't label things as good or bad, just label them as useful or not useful, and that's that.
Gregor Patti
That's a phrase that one of my directors taught me that that has helped me a lot because it that that subconscious labeling of things will help in the positive or negative viewing of how you look at your work.
Gregor Patti
Like it's not a bad choice.
Gregor Patti
It's not a good choice.
Gregor Patti
It's useful or it's not useful and give yourself grace and your ability to to go into a room or rehearsal room.
Gregor Patti
Whatever piece you serve.
Gregor Patti
Gonna and and make those big choices.
Gregor Patti
Enjoy every moment of it and give yourself grace and and just look and see if it's useful or not useful and that's it.
Keeton Landfair
So yeah.
Keeton Landfair
That's I mean, that's the beauty of the college theater classroom, right?
Keeton Landfair
It's the best time to learn how to let yourself do all of that.
Keeton Landfair
And it's the best place to experiment because there's there.
Keeton Landfair
I mean that there's no.
Keeton Landfair
It's judgment free zone.
Keeton Landfair
I mean, it's not.
Keeton Landfair
You're not on the job.
Keeton Landfair
Yeah, take advantage of that.
Keeton Landfair
Your professors are going to tell you to do it in the classroom at time, so might as well hear it now.
Yeah.
Katherine Stewart
Excellent advice, a lot of excellent advice.
Katherine Stewart
Thank you very much.
Katherine Stewart
And yeah, yeah, this is a wonderful conversation.
Gregor Patti
Thank you, this was a lot of fun.
Yeah.
Keeton Landfair
Yeah yeah, yeah.
Keeton Landfair
I yeah.
Keeton Landfair
I mean I, I hope it's if someone finds something in it.
Keeton Landfair
Ideal.
Katherine Stewart
Many people will find many things, I'm sure.
Keeton Landfair
Oh yes.
Katherine Stewart
Well, thank you both so much.
Katherine Stewart
Was there anything else you wanted to add before we wrap up?
Katherine Stewart
I know we're over time a little bit.
Gregor Patti
Oh the Golden rule uh, of ICM Hall.
Gregor Patti
Commit to the bit.
Keeton Landfair
Met you, but yeah, we understand what that means you understand.
Gregor Patti
You have to buy that admitted the press.
Gregor Patti
You'll understand what that.
Gregor Patti
You'll what that.
Gregor Patti
Never dropped the bit to the.
Keeton Landfair
Uhm?
Gregor Patti
But that is the Golden rule.
Keeton Landfair
And I'll have a hot take here is do not fill that Cabinet back up with sauce.
Keeton Landfair
It does not need any more fire, it's you know I, that's a hot take.
Gregor Patti
Uh.
Gregor Patti
Good.
Keeton Landfair
I know if anyone who's.
Gregor Patti
We ever been the beginning.
Gregor Patti
We see sauce in that cabinet were stripping it out and throwing it on like no, no socks deserves.
Keeton Landfair
People, people who who have graduated.
Keeton Landfair
If they listen this, they're going to be really mad at me for that.
Keeton Landfair
I just know they are but but I think keep the sauce out.
Yeah.
Gregor Patti
But sanitary expectations have changed since they've graduate.
Keeton Landfair
That's true.
Gregor Patti
So maybe they would.
Keeton Landfair
Sit still.
Gregor Patti
Agree with you.
Gregor Patti
I mean I would agree with you.
Keeton Landfair
I agree with you and respect.
Keeton Landfair
You respect the space that I said.
Keeton Landfair
It's gotten a, you know, a long overdue renovation.
Keeton Landfair
At least you know we, it's it's getting.
Keeton Landfair
It's good.
Keeton Landfair
It's going to be more, but keep take care of that lobby.
Keeton Landfair
Take care that lobby.
Katherine Stewart
Keep it nice.
Katherine Stewart
Well thank you both so much for taking the time.
Katherine Stewart
I really appreciate it.
Keeton Landfair
Absolutely thank you and and best of.
Gregor Patti
Yeah, thank you.
Gregor Patti
Yeah you.
Keeton Landfair
Luck to everybody.
Katherine Stewart
Best of luck to everybody indeed
Katherine Stewart
Alright, once again that was Gregor Patti and Keeton Landfair, two soon to be graduates of our BFA acting for stage and screen program.
Katherine Stewart
I'm going to drop some more information about them in the show notes, so do be sure to check that out and until next time this is Stage & Screen.