UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — During the day, many faculty and staff work together to help shape the future of students in the College of Information Sciences and Technology. Once the work day ends, a number of them head off to pursue their passions through which they are impacting the community and the world.
Associate dean for research takes the stage as improv and community theater actor
It may come as a surprise to some that Prasenjit Mitra, professor and associate dean for research in the College of Information Sciences and Technology, regularly speaks in front of crowds that aren’t comprised of his students or colleagues.
In his free time, Mitra performs in various acting capacities and roles in the State College community, including local theater organizations The Next Stage and Happy Valley Improv.
“I have done this forever, in school and in college,” he said. “It feels nice in a sense that I’m doing something on stage, creating a reality, and entertaining people.”
Mitra’s most recent role was in early August, when he portrayed Sir John Middleton, a British nobleman, and some smaller roles in The Next Stage’s production of “Sense & Sensibility” at The State Theatre.
He added, “I like to use my left brain and my right brain. I’ve always done that since childhood. When I act, it gives the other part of my brain [that I use in my day job] a rest.”
He has also been involved with Happy Valley Improv, a group that delivers improvisation — the art of composing and performing without previous preparation — to audiences in State College. Mitra has taken two classes with the group.
“You are not necessarily trying to get laughter [from the audience],” he said. “The main thing is to do the scene and deliver some meaning so that people will be interested. It’s about creating a relationship between the actors.”
Even with this experience, Mitra admits that he gets nervous to perform.
“It’s always nerve wracking before I go up,” he said. “Especially with improv, because you don’t have scripted lines. You just make things up, so the quality may be slightly good or slightly bad in the audience’s eyes.”
To help build confidence on stage, Mitra has also taken part in a local chapter of the international organization Toastmasters, which helps its members build public speaking and leadership skills. There are several local chapters, each meeting regularly in the evenings or over lunch hours.
“You go up and make a seven-minute speech about anything,” said Mitra. “The clubs are quite supportive. After each speech, they give formal evaluations that praise what worked and identify and suggest things to improve.”
Mitra has participated in several of the group’s contests, advancing to the division level where he took second place for a humorous speech.
“[In Toastmasters] you try to create something interesting as well as realistic, such as relationships or conflict,” he said. “In doing this, people naturally say or do things that are funny. You have the license to do wild things.”