Kimbre Lancaster '08

By Marlo Faulkner

Kimbre Lancaster ‘08 has embraced her dream of making a career in theater. The Kennewick, Wash., native earned her bachelor’s of fine arts degree in 2008, and this year, she is the Rex Rabold Fellow at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival.

The fellowship, awarded only to University of Idaho theatre arts majors, is named for Rex Rabold, a 1976 University of Idaho graduate who worked nine seasons with the Oregon Shakespeare Festival as actor, teacher and inspiring mentor. He died at the age of 39 in 1990.

Each year, one Idaho theatre arts graduate is selected by audition to perform with the prestigious theatre company. The fellowship recipient receives an acting stipend and housing for one year.

“I was introduced to the entire OSF company my first day to a loud round of applause,” said Kimere. “It is an honor to hold the Rabold Fellowship. The applause was for him, a show of respect. I was automatically accepted by them.”

Her biggest challenge with the OSF Company is adapting to an ensemble repertory company where every actor has three rotating roles each season. It may be the lead one night and a “two-liner” the next.

“I love the challenges of the multiple roles. I am exposed to all sides of theater work,” she explained. “I have theater skills. I was taught at Idaho to respect the director and the actors. I was taught how to work in ensemble.”

Although she has been on stage from a young age, Kimbre won a full-ride scholarship in business to the University of Idaho and originally planned a life in the corporate world.

“I missed the theater and auditioned for a role in a drama department production at Idaho,” said Kimbre. “David Lee Painter, [chair of the Department of Theatre Arts and Film] told me: ‘If you pursue acting, you will succeed.’ I knew I had the talent, skills and determination. He helped me believe in myself as an actor, believe I can do it.”

Lancaster gave up her business plans and transferred her major to theatre arts where she also was awarded a scholarship through graduation.

She chose to take a year off before taking her fellowship, and moved to the Seattle area after graduation to try her hand in the performing arts. A gifted vocalist, she found an agent, did commercials, landed rolls in regional and experimental theater, and was cast in the soon to be released movie, “Finding Bliss.”

Now, at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, she is taking master classes in movement, voice and text.

“We work extensively with a voice and text director to achieve excellence in standard American pronunciation, especially with Shakespeare,” she explained. “There are no changes to the text. It gives clarity for our audiences.”

Besides the language, there is the acting. Lancaster says her biggest challenge was relearning the importance of minor characters.

“Directors here at OSF give as much time and attention to minor roles as well as to the leads. It is a vital aspect of a repertory ensemble company where everyone’s roles change daily.”

Lancaster has a minor speaking part in “Pride and Prejudice, and portrays a lady in waiting in Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night.” In the musical, “She Loves Me,” she sings, dances and acts as part of the ensemble.

Amidst the work and bustle of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Kimbre took a chance and auditioned for the hit television series, “Glee.” The series feature high school students who are members of a glee club, and their adventures in trying to survive high school.

“I heard about a national call for auditions,” related Kimbre. “I went to the Fox television website and uploaded their video with the audition details. Basically, it required that I choose a song from their list and that I make a video of myself singing the song. They put my video on their website with all of the other applicants and opened it to a national vote. Each applicant’s video was up for three days. I received 16,000 votes.”

The result?

“I’m still waiting to hear,” she said.

Kimbre also has auditioned to return to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival next year. But what if that doesn’t work out?

“I plan to relocate to New York City,” she said. “I have used my business acumen to save money. I can support myself in New York and give myself a chance to make it. I am abandoning my desire for stability and embracing my dreams. I owe that to the University of Idaho where I received an education and lived a well-rounded college life. Idaho let me grow up.”