Theatre Arts Major Es Barnes Prepares for Career in Inclusive Arts Administration

LOGAN, Utah — For many students the Fine Arts Center at Utah State University is a second home, but for Es Barnes, it is a training ground for a career built on connection and inclusion.

A third-year student pursuing a bachelor’s in acting, Barnes has fully immersed themself in the university’s rigorous theatre program while simultaneously laying the groundwork for a future dedicated to disability advocacy.

Barnes’ journey into theatre began at age 8 after seeing their brother in a community production. Now, as a B.F.A. candidate, they are part of a demanding curriculum that requires students to audition for every show. The payoff comes in the form of high-level experience and professional networking.

"You're getting paid in opportunity, experience, and skill, and you get to work with professors or directors that you wouldn't otherwise get to," Barnes said.

By the time they graduate, Barnes expects to have participated in at least 16 productions, ranging from main stage musicals like “Floyd Collins” and “Between the Lines” to the fast-paced Play Reading Series, where actors develop characters in just one week.

One of the most significant advantages of the USU program is its tie to the Lyric Repertory Company, a professional equity theatre in Logan. Barnes has secured a contract with the company for the upcoming summer, where Barnes will serve as an assistant director under Professor Paul Mitri.

Barnes will graduate with at least three professional credits on their resume and have had the opportunity to work alongside equity actors and designers, which provides a vital transition into the paid theatre industry.

Barnes also credits the "best acting faculty in the state" for helping them explore roles beyond acting, such as directing and leadership.

While performance is their "adrenaline rush," Barnes is equally focused on their double minor in disability studies and American Sign Language. Their ultimate goal is to lead a theatre company that adapts plays specifically to include and empower adults with disabilities.

"I think that the idea of taking a play that already exists and adapting it to the actors that rightfully earn those roles, no matter what their abilities or disabilities are, is something that I'm really interested in looking into," Barnes said.

Following graduation next spring, Barnes plans to complete a residency with a transition camp for adults with disabilities before pursuing an M.F.A. in directing or a degree in arts administration.

Barnes’ impact already extends past the stage. They have served as a peer mentor for Aggies Elevated, a program for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities; worked as an undergraduate teaching fellow and a peer mentor to incoming first-year students; and served on the Aggie Blue Leadership Conference committee twice and as a participant once.

Despite the long hours required by their major, Barnes emphasizes the importance of reaching across campus disciplines. As an events director on the council for the newly merged College of Arts and Sciences, Barnes helps coordinate events like ArtSci Week to bring diverse student groups together.

Ultimately, Barnes believes the unique environment at Utah State University is what makes their ambitious goals feel achievable. Barnes notes that the sense of community in Logan fosters collaborations that they haven’t seen at other institutions where their siblings have studied.

By stepping out of the theatre bubble, Barnes has found that every campus relationship, whether with a chemistry major or a student leader, contributes to their growth as an artist and advocate.

For more information about programs in the Department of Theatre Arts, please visit: https://artsci.usu.edu/theatre-arts.