CJ Cruz

B.A. Theater Studies; B.S. Psychology; minor Documentary Studies

Hometown: Jacksonville, Florida

Career goals: I hope to write or act professionally! This summer I’ll be taking classes at The Groundlings Theater, continuing work on 1600 Vine, and expanding my documentary. I love being involved in narrative storytelling. It’s what I want to do for the rest of my life, and I’m not picky about how I get there.

What brought you to Theater Studies? A love for theater and a deep, deep existential dread of abandoning my dreams and extinguishing the light within my soul brought me to Theater Studies.

Productions:

The Producers
Company
Spring Awakening
Matt and Ben
[title of show]
Me Too Monologues
1600 Vine

Groups and Awards:

Duke Players
Duke University Improv
Hoof ‘n’ Horn
StudioDuke
Duke in LA
ScriptCast
Duke Chronicle
Scott Carter Foundation for Pediatric Cancer Research
Best Editing, Duke international Film Festival 2021
Outstanding Acting Award
Julia Harper Day Award

Favorite memories: I loved playing Franz in The Producers, my very first show at Duke! I got to sing in Lederhosen while a coop full of pigeons was being puppeteered behind me! It was the quintessential college experience.

What are you most proud of during your undergraduate years at Duke? I am very proud to have served as Monday Monday, The Chronicle’s anonymous satirical columnist, during this exceedingly weird year, and to have used the platform to discuss mental health. I am also very proud to have raised $10,000 a year for the Scott Carter Foundation for Pediatric Cancer research through Duke University Improv.

Why do you think the arts are essential? I wouldn’t have been able to make it through this year without stories of hope uplifting and motivating me. I’ve witnessed stories guiding communities through collective struggles and amplifying woefully underrepresented voices here. That feels essential.

“I’d like to thank Talya Klein for exploding my brain into a million tiny pieces and then reconstructing it in a way such that it knows how to be flexible and focused and grounded and strong while performing. I would like to thank Neal Bell for adding canister upon canister of gasoline to the fire that is my love of writing. I’d like to thank Hyewon Kim for expanding my definition of performance, and I’d like to thank Sarah Beckwith for reteaching me that nature is magical in a year where it often felt scary even to go outside.”

- CJ Cruz

CJ Cruz

B.A. Theater Studies; B.S. Psychology; minor Documentary Studies

Productions:

Groups and Awards:

Theater Studies

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