Harold and Kumar's Kal Penn may have been a professor last semester, but he's not the only actor to recently grace Penn's campus.
Kate Jennings Grant, a 1992 alumna, led a conversation on her experiences as an actress last Friday. She has performed in many on- and off-Broadway plays including The Marriage of Bette and Boo by Christopher Durang, which Penn Presents will be performing this week.
An English major with a minor in Music Composition, Grant has also appeared regularly in film and television. She said it was "flattering to be asked" back to Penn.
Sitting on stage with David Fox, the director of Theater Arts' production of The Marriage of Bette and Boo, Grant explained how knowing Durang after graduating Penn and going to the Juilliard School of Drama helped her gain insights on the play, which she shared with the audience.
She said that Durang had never gotten "the Times review he deserved." Fox agreed, saying that The New York Times review of the original play didn't represent the performance he witnessed.
Despite appearing confident and full of laughter, Grant admitted that she still struggles to find courage in herself.
"The biggest thing that I didn't have and that I still battle with is courage. It's about keeping people around you who believe in you and reaching out to others around you," she said.
Grant made the conversation interactive by asking the audience the same questions she received, on the play and the difficulties they all faced as actors.
Toward the end, Grant gave advice to her audience: "If there's one thing I could leave you with, you're so brilliant to get admitted to this school . There's nothing that you can't [do]."
Students praised Grant's discussion. College senior Lia Zneimer said, "I'm in love with her! I'm so impressed by her."
As for Grant sharing her experiences on acting professionally in The Marriage of Bette and Boo, College senior Emer O'Callaghan said the conversation was "totally helpful. It's cool to get a fresh set of eyes."
As for Zneimer, she added that "it was really cool to see where Penn alumnae go" and that there are options other than the "Wharton route."
The Marriage of Bette and Boo will be playing in the Bruce Montgomery Theater at the Annenberg Center for Performing Arts from Wednesday through Saturday at 8 p.m.
