Jonathan Hoffman
2013
When I toured Lehigh University I met Pam Pepper, who would become one of the biggest influences in my life. As a theatre major, I was on costume crew, worked in the scene shop, and served as a stage manager. I performed in a Shakespearian comedy, a Greek tragedy, a science-fi show, and a bombastic Broadway musical, among others. The Department of Theatre shaped me as a person.
Today I am an engineer and inspector for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, for which I use my theatre training daily. My time management skills enabled me to receive all of my certifications and my first promotion with unprecedented speed. I have personable problem-solving skills that allow me to tell the truth with expression and clarity, like an actor. It’s a beautiful thing, applicable to every field.
With stable work hours, I’ve continued my art by night. I started an independent charitable theatre company called Third Mask, for which I directed three productions. Although I’ve stepped away, the group is still going strong. I was assistant-director on a production of Hamlet at the Delaware Shakespeare Festival, and I’ll have a first draft of my own play finished soon.