Hard work, dedication and a love of Shakespeare come together as senior Jacob Krohn reflects on his Hamline theatre career and his final senior performance.

It wasn’t long ago that Krohn first got involved with theatre. In Krohn’s senior year of high school, he auditioned for his school’s winter show and ended up landing the lead role.

After coming to Hamline University, he knew that he wanted to continue exploring the theatre world. It wasn’t long until he got his chance. After a student dropped out of the winter play during Krohn’s first year, director Carolyn Levy asked Krohn to fill in the role as his first college performance.

“I had no idea how much fun that whole process was going to be,” Krohn said. “She really gave me a chance to be a part of the department. Without that experience I may not have continued to follow my love for acting.”

Since then, Krohn dove head first into theater performing in “Hamlet,” Shakespeare on the Lawn and participating in a study program at the National Theatre Institute during the spring his junior year.

All of these experiences led Krohn to a new love in the form of his senior project – William Shakespeare.

“Life in Verse was an exploration of the human condition through the filter of Shakespeare’s words,” Krohn said. “I was really interested in the emotion behind the plays themselves and trying to express that emotion. I think that’s something people often don’t know or think about when thinking about Shakespeare.”

With his final semester coming to a close, he is already looking to the future. Krohn hopes to enter the Shakespeare and Company summer intensive program in Massachusetts and even some day start his own Shakespeare company.

For those that have any fears about entering the world of theatre, Krohn has some parting advice.

“Get connected with the Theatre Department and don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. Part of being an actor is learning from your craft and finding better ways to express characters,” Krohn said. “People talk about how challenging the theatre world is, but I know that there is always going to be a way to be a part of theatre and to do what I love. It’s really scary, but it’s also what I love to do. I wouldn’t have it any other way.”