Kendall Tamer has taken on 18 credits and more since fall 2011 to fulfill her triple major and psychology minor requirement at Plattsburgh State.
Being a theater, literature and creative writing triple major, Tamer has a difficult time choosing which is her favorite.
“It’s hard to decide because I really like literature, but theater is more exciting,” Tamer said. “You can do more with it.”
But she doesn’t let her love of theater get in the way of her love for books. Tamer said she loves all books, but classic literature is her go-to.
“Jane Austen is my girl,” Tamer said. “I love her.”
PSUC senior Melissa Iglody said Tamer has stacks upon stacks of books showcased in her bedroom that Tamer hasn’t read yet.
“If there is one thing to know about Kendall, it’s that she can never have enough books,” Iglody said. “It’s adorable.”
PSUC Associate English Professor Elaine Ostry said Tamer’s love of literature shines when she is in her classes.
“She is not afraid to have an opinion different than mine,” Ostry said. “I can see where she is coming from even if I don’t agree, and that’s fine. I love it.”
Ostry said students who declare an English major have to be able articulate in classes when speaking about different types of literature.
“Kendall connects with every piece of material I give her. She engages in everything,” Ostry said. “She is able to put herself into it wholeheartedly, and that is a very important quality to have.”
Ostry said that no matter what Tamer does in the future, her personality alone will help her very much.
“She’s very open to seeing things in a different perspective,” Ostry said.
Tamer’s writing experience has helped her out in her theater world.
She has written a play that focuses on two women going out to a bar and one being the designated driver. Throughout the night, the two women converse, and the non-designated drive leaves with a man the same night, leaving the other woman alone.
The audience then learns that the woman left alone is in love with the woman who just left the bar but can’t say anything because the other woman is heterosexual.
After writing the screenplay, Tamer said she wanted to do something with it. She decided to submit it to the College Theater Association for the Student Night of One Acts, which the association hosts each semester. Her play got chosen, and Tamer watched her writing come to life.
“I watched something I wrote come alive, and it was awesome,” Tamer said. “I would have done some things differently, but that’s why writers can’t direct their own plays. The CTA wants us to see different versions of it.”
Other than writing, Tamer stepped into the director’s role and produced two one-act plays, including Iglody’s play. Tamer said casting for a show is the most fun job.
“Seeing someone read the script for the first time and falling in love with that reader is great. It’s a really good feeling to see that,” Tamer said.
Iglody said seeing Tamer put together her screenplay on stage was amazing.
“She got my vision immediately,” Iglody said. “Her casting choice was the perfect choice. Seeing it on stage really helped bring the characters to life for me.”
When directing these plays, Tamer said she wishes she had more time to do more with them.
“There are a million things to do when producing a play,” Tamer said. “Theater kids are like little worker ants, and we all work together. So when it’s time for a show to come together, we have a person for each specific thing.”
Tamer said theater is a machine, and there is much more that goes into it that people don’t see.
“Theater is a mish-mosh of everything: lights, sound, stage managing, directing,” Tamer said. “There are so many different classes you can take in theater.”
One class Tamer took while at PSUC was on learning how to do theater makeup. She ended up becoming a teaching assistant for the class because she loved it so much.
Iglody said Tamer’s makeup skills came to use when in the latest play, “Oklahoma.” The back of her dress was too low and showed the tattoo on her back.
“She just put layers of makeup on it, and it was gone,” Iglody said. “Having those skills and seeing what she is going to do with it is amazing.”
With her set of skills, Tamer is getting the chance to work as a fairy godmother in training starting Feb. 1 at Disney World’s Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique.
For six months, Tamer will be giving little girls makeovers and getting the chance to act all day long.
“I really wanted to be a princess down there, but I didn’t know there were such strict guidelines to become one,” Tamer said. “I then found the makeup internship and thought ‘how cool that would be?’”
Tamer said a friend who currently works at Disney had mock phone interviews with her to prepare her for when it was time to get the call.
“I had pages and pages of notes on what to say and what the interviewers were looking for,” Tamer said. “I had three rounds of applications before I got the internship.”
She found out she got the job and immediately “freaked out.”
“Disney is giving me the chance to explore what I really want to do. It’s giving me the time to experience the world,” Tamer said. “The future is a big unknown swirl of everything, so we will see what happens after Disney.”
After acting in plays and musicals since seventh grade, Tamer wants the chance to go out into the world and see what it has to offer.
“I believe you need to live your life a little before you decide on what you want to do with your life,” Tamer said. “Disney is getting me out of here right away and is giving me the time to find myself.”
With opportunities everywhere, Tamer said her dream is to be on Broadway or do makeup for television.
“I will publish a book someday,” Tamer said.
Tamer is giving herself three years to figure out what she wants to do before moving forward and following her life goals.
Email Samantha Stahl at samantha.stahl@cardinalpointsonline.com
