Student Spotlight
Chris Dieman
Saunderstown, RI
Senior
How long have you been acting?
I have been acting for approximately ten years. My credits include: Lost & Found, Kings and Queens, The Music Man, Guys and Dolls, Annie, American Vaudeville, Treasure Island, Fiddler on the Roof, Anything Goes, South Pacific, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying and The Skin of Our Teeth. While searching for an appropriate high school I basically had two things in mind: One was I needed a school with strong academics with the assurance I could get into a fantastic college. The second was I needed a strong performing arts program, one in which I could both thrive and learn in an intense, however, enjoyable atmosphere. I chose Prout because it possesses both of those qualities.
What is your favorite part of acting?
I love performing because it is both thrilling and precious and something that very few people are able to enjoy. Acting is an art, and hardly a vocation. Someone should not act for money or for the fame. Acting is for the thrill and for the enjoyment, because when you come down to it, that’s what it’s all about: FUN!
What have you most enjoyed about the theatre department at Prout?
The foundation of the school lies within the theatre/arts department. As a result of this strong foundation the shows produced at The Prout School surpass those of the other regional Catholic schools and compete with the productions put on by PPAC and Trinity. In addition to this, David DiLullo, The Visual and Performing Arts Department Chair has completely revolutionized the department. “He has produced shows on both massive and intimate scales, which pull in thousands and thousands of people each year. He is a creator of exquisite art, a loyal guardian of the arts, and a good friend. He has surely brought out the best in me, and I owe him a lot in return.”
What are your post graduate plans?
I will be pursuing a B.F.A. in Drama with a concentration in musical theatre at New York University in the fall. I will be studying at the prestigious Lee Strasberg Institute at Tisch School of the Arts. I can honestly say that I will never forget my years at Prout, and I am sure at some points I will miss the school. There will always be that memory of the bright spotlights shining in my eyes. That shine will never leave me. It is one of conviction and tenderness. It is one of The Prout School.