Recent graduate of the University of Idaho Theatre Department, Jacob McGaughey, has accepted a fellowship at the Boise Contemporary Theater in honor of late UI alum, Ari Keever. She was said to be energetic, crazy and free-spirited. Keever had been a passionate dancer since the age of 3. At the age of 19, she found a love for the performing theatre arts. Later, Keever graduated from UI with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre Arts. After graduating, she worked professionally at the BCT, where she continued to express her passion.
On April 1, 2020, Keever passed away, leaving many hearts broken. Since then, the community has found a way to carry on her legacy through UI to Boise. Because of support from BCT, Trajectory Consulting and Solutions LLC and UI College of Letters, Arts and Social Sciences, the Ari Keever Trajectory Fellowship was created. McGaughey is the first recipient of this extraordinary opportunity.
McGaughey is currently in Boise working as the assistant director and an understudy in BCT’s current production, “Eureka Day” by Jonathan Spector. Spending the majority of his days at the theater, McGaughey said in an interview with The Argonaut, “We’ll rehearse the play, we’ll do runs, I’ll offer feedback to Benjamin Berdick, the director.” He continued, “It’s theater, home, theater, home…I’m in the theater between eight and 10 hours a day.”
Before moving to Boise, McGaughey spent his summer working a day job in Moscow. After being back in the theater, he said, “Something I sort of realized is how much the arts fuel me.” No matter how long the hours are, there is still something so rewarding about being in such a strong community. He extended his love for his community by saying, “The people are so much fun, the director’s fun, the theater’s beautiful!”
The BCT is also in the works of trying to figure out next year’s production lineup. Every Monday for five weeks, the company reads a play that they are considering for next year’s season. McGaughey said, “We’re still figuring out what that play is going to be.”
For anyone wanting to audition for the fellowship’s next season, McGaughey said, “Anybody who loves the theater, anybody who wants to explore the arts and has a passion for this stuff, just show up, just audition. Do what you can.” He said to go into the audition showing, “how much you love the theater, how much you love the arts and see what happens.” He is optimistic and excited about what the future of the fellowship holds.
McGaughey ended with a heartfelt thanks to the fellowship program. “I am extremely honored to have been given this opportunity. It’s been incredible being able to honor somebody in this very participatory, very unique, very fun way.” He looks forward to setting the fellowship up for future UI theater students who “love the arts as much as I do.”
Reese Garcia can be reached at [email protected]