Nearly a year after graduating from Hamline in 2024, alumna Kyra Richardson has been selected to join the ensemble in the production of “Frozen” at the Children’s Theater Company in Minneapolis. Richardson, who earned her bachelor’s degree in Theatre and Dance last May, was one of only two students who graduated with that degree last year.
Richardson transferred to Hamline from St. Paul College because she liked the idea of a smaller campus, but one that was still inside the Twin Cities. She was also encouraged by alumni who had spoken about positive experiences at Hamline.
Initially, when she first transferred, Richardson pursued a double major in History and Theater Arts. However, scheduling difficulties led her to focus solely on Theater. She did not immediately participate in Hamline’s theater productions, waiting a year before taking the stage. While at Hamline, she had been in three productions, “Eurydice,” “Heathers” and “The Revolutionists,” landing lead roles in each.
Richardson credits Hamline for providing her with a supportive community, something she believes is essential for actors.
“One of the biggest things someone tells you, especially someone who's been doing this since I was little, is you need people around you. You're gonna get nos all the time and it's gonna feel personal.” Richardson said. “I think that's really the biggest thing because you can be the best auditioner, you can be the best performer, but it doesn't always guarantee everything will go your way. So having people that are there for you is, I think, a really cool thing that they're fostering.”
This sense of community is why many people come to Hamline. They get the big city feeling with such a small campus that they start to make really close and personal connections. And that is why Richardson loved Hamline. She is still in contact with many students in the theater department, recognizing the importance of community in the industry.
In her community, the faculty member who provided the most amount of support was her first director at Hamline, Laura Dougherty. Dougherty always gave Richardson a challenge and encouragement in her roles, giving her the push she needed to be the best she could be.
Dougherty saw the potential in Richardson from her first audition for “Eurydice.” One of her favorite memories she had while working with her was when Richardson was in “The Revolutionists,” and she took that role on to be hers.
“Kyra's performance, especially in the moment Marianne confronts her friend about this effect of structural racism, was mature and elegant. Fierce, sad, exhausted. She nailed it. It was a privilege to witness that work,” Doughtery said in an email.
Straight after graduation, Richardson had two jobs. One being an understudy for three different characters, the other being a stage manager at Teatro Del Pueblo, a Twin Cities latin community theater that has been around for 25 years. The experience from being a stage manager gave her a newfound respect for her own stage managers now as she now knows the amount of work they put in to make these productions run so smoothly.
Richardson’s love for theater began when she was really young, leading her to attend a fine arts high school where she refined her skills in acting, singing and dancing. This experience opened many doors for her as she has been in multiple TV shows and helped get professional opportunities outside of school. So when she came to Hamline, she thrived in the spotlight.
“The depth of character and like the impact that she can have, even if she's not like saying lines like just the impact she has when she's on a stage has always been really inspiring for me,” Maria Garcia, a third-year Visual Communication for the Performing Arts flexible curriculum major and friend of Richardson said. “She kind of taught me that you can do a lot even without words, like just your presence can have a lot of impact on a stage.”
For those wondering how she sets herself apart, Richardson's advice is simple: be unapologetically authentically you. Even as cheesy as that sounds, so many actors try to be someone else and end up getting passed over. Theater is looking for uniqueness and to be yourself.
Richardson’s talent and kindness have made a lasting impression on those around her.
“Just to be around someone who is successful in your craft is life changing. Because not only do you see someone, and especially someone like Kyra, who is so kind and patient and caring. It's like you can't help idolize her in a way,” Eden Fahy, a senior Performance, Production and Community major and friend of Richardson, said. “She has helped me realize that pursuing art is worth it.”
Though this is not where her journey ends. Richardson is planning on getting a Master's in Fine Arts and is eager to explore opportunities beyond Minnesota.
“I'm ready for seeing something a little different and being the fish outta water for a little bit,” Richardson said.
The Children's Theater Company will be showing the production of “Frozen” starting April 15 through June 15. The theater is located in the same building as the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, so when entering the building, just take a left in the lobby and there will be the ticket booth.
With her passion and drive, there is no doubt that Richardson’s career in theater is only just beginning. And with her community from Hamline backing her, she will be unstoppable.