Takacs Brings STC to a New Direction

How did a professional actor and director end up teaching? Mr. Paul Takacs’ love for theater started at a young age. When Mr. Takacs was young, he loved watching movies like Star Wars. As a child, someone told him that his favorite characters were actors and that they did it for a living. Mr. Takacs was fascinated by actors and how they could become someone entirely different. His mom was a big supporter of his “artistic inclinations” and would send him to workshops at the Kennedy Center, the United States Cultural Center for performing arts located in Washington D.C. From these acting classes, his love for theater and art evolved. 

After graduating from college at St. Mary’s College of Maryland, Mr. Takacs worked as a professional actor in Washington D.C for 15 years. However, he felt like he wanted to be a part of something bigger. With this, Mr. Takacs wanted to be a part of how the story was told and to change how production worked. Consequently, his fiancée at the time recommended he try directing. 

Mr. Takacs then received his MFA in directing at The New School in New York and lived there for 15 years. Mr. Takacs’ love for acting and actors is still prevalent, but he feels that he belongs on the sidelines guiding rather than performing.

Mr. Takacs’ spark for teaching started when a friend of his invited him to be a guest actor at St. Mary’s College. He went to St. Mary’s College to perform, however he was told to teach a class as an excuse for his attendance. Although it was just an excuse, he read every book he could about teaching theater. He taught a six week course and it ended up being a life-changing experience for him. Mr. Takacs said that his love came from seeing the “development of the students” and how his teaching helped them grow. It was at that moment that Mr. Takacs realized he wanted to pursue a full-time career in teaching. 

Now, Mr. Takacs is at St. Christopher’s teaching and directing theater. He also serves as the Director of Ampersand, the Upper School’s joint theater program with St. Catherine’s. Mr. Takacs wants others to know that he loves comic books, science, and to laugh. If he could change anything about theater, it would be the common negative point of view that boys have on theater and acting. Mr. Takacs said that he seems to notice that boys tend to have a hesitant view on acting and arts in general and hopes that he can help boys fully appreciate the arts. Mr. Takacs said “we all played make believe one time… that’s really all we’re doing.”