Roberto Diaz

"Carve your own path. If you do the same thing as everybody else you will end up in the same place as everybody else."

Thomas Jansen is a major in musical theatre from the Netherlands. His accomplishments include being cast in Nickelodeon's series Hunter Street and performing in Peter and the Starcatcher, a UM co-production with the Adrienne Arsht Center. Thomas is looking forward to pursuing a career as an actor in film and television.

What is the best part about being in your major?

All the classes we take are very active and that makes them really fun. We take acting classes, singing lessons, dance classes and lots of other stuff. Our classes are very personal and so you build close relationships with the professors.

What accomplishments/achievements while at UM are you most proud of?

My sophomore year I was cast in a UM co-production with the Adrienne Arsht Center and I performed in a show called Peter and the Starcatcher there. The summer going into my senior year I was cast in Nickelodeon’s new series Hunter Street of which filming took place in my hometown Amsterdam. We filmed for 4 months, which was really awesome. I’m proud I get to represent the school and the theatre department with such a global brand.

What is your favorite UM memory?

Doing the shows in the Jerry Herman Ring Theatre. Sophomore year I performed in Oklahoma! and my senior year I performed in The Drowsy Chaperone, which were my favorite shows. You get a lot of experience performing and it’s really fun to entertain a live crowd.

What influenced your UM education the most? OR What was it like to be a Da Vinci scholar?

The professors in the Theatre Department. They really care about the students both inside and outside the classroom. You can approach them at anytime about anything and they will try to help you. They’re always there for us and they will continue to care about us after we graduate.

What are your plans after graduation?

To move to LA and pursue a career as an actor in film and television. Luckily, I have the Nickelodeon show to start me off.

What advice would you give a future ‘Cane?

Carve your own path. If you do the same thing as everybody else you will end up in the same place as everybody else. Don’t look sideways. Run your own race.

Anything else you would like to share?

Don’t forget to have as much fun as you can possibly have. College is awesome and you shouldn’t be stressing out about the future. All you have to do is work hard and it will come to you.

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April 24, 2017