Hollywood, Broadway come to life

11/25/2014 12:42 PM

By Shanlee Bratten ‘15

Three entertainment industry veterans fielded questions from Department of Theatre Arts students at a town hall on Wednesday, November 19. Bradley theatre alumni Amro Salama ’93 and Eric Petersen ‘03 joined producer Steve Wyman to share their experiences.

The town hall was part of a three-day visit for the professionals, who met with Slane College of Communications and Fine Arts administration, spoke in classes and provided feedback to the cast of “Proof.”

Salama is known for his parts in movies “The Siege” and “Hitch and numerous television shows.” Petersen played the role of Shrek on Broadway and in the first national tour of “Shrek: The Musical” as well as the part of Arlo Barth in the TV Land series “Kirstie.” Petersen has also had parts in TV shows such as “Law and Order”, “The Big Bang Theory”, and “Modern Family.” Wyman was producer of the soap opera “Days of Our Lives” from 1984-2007. He has worked with Bradley students through Los Angeles Expedition trips.

Petersen, Salama and Wyman utilized the town hall to discuss strategies to assist students breaking into the industry with entertainment-related tips of the trade.

Wyman has experience in acting, directing, and producing; however, he emphasized the importance of theater students getting a well-rounded education.

“I’ve always tried to maintain a sense of where studying theater fits into someone’s overall education,” he said.

Wyman also sees the importance of seizing opportunities.

“You have to be ready to make something of it,” he said regarding about actors finding their big break. “Fortune meets preparation is what luck is about in the profession.”

Salama and Petersen were glad to be back on campus and reflected on how their education provided the building blocks for their career.

“I was lucky enough to play a lot of big roles here,” Petersen said. “They taught me work ethic, how to train myself and how to be a lead in a show.”

 “The staff mentored me and would listen to us,” Salama said. “I couldn’t ask for a better step to learn so much about theater.”

The Slane College of Communications and Fine Arts is constantly seeking opportunities to provide students with perspectives from professionals who can prepare them to graduate with a leg up on the competition. Salama, Petersen and Wyman did exactly that during their visit to Bradley University.