Luverne Seifert Shares Advice on College, Auditions, and Building a Career in Theater

September 29, 2026

What does it take to build a life in theater? For Perpich Arts High School Theater and Musical Theater students, a College and Career Day visit from Luverne Seifert on September 28th offered practical advice on navigating college programs, preparing for auditions, and making the most of every opportunity. Luverne Seifert is co-artistic director of Sod House Theater and has been acting professionally for over 30 years. He received a National Fox Fellowship for 2017, a McKnight Fellowship for Theater Artists in 2003, and an Ivey Award in 2009 for his Performance as Phillip K Dick in 800 Words. He is currently a Senior Teaching Specialist in the Department of Theater Arts and Dance at the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities where he teaches beginning acting and physical performance.

Luverne Seifert from the University of Minnesota met with Perpich theater and musical theater students on September 28th

Seifert encouraged students to look beyond a school’s reputation and consider how they could make the most of their education. Smaller programs can offer valuable performance opportunities, he noted, while studying closer to where students hope to work can help them build lasting professional connections.

“It’s what you make of the program,” Seifert emphasized, encouraging students to approach college with curiosity and a willingness to explore new skills.

That same curiosity can make a difference in auditions. Seifert urged students to prepare multiple monologues, read plays widely, and practice performing whenever opportunities arise. Just as important, students should be willing to take direction, make adjustments, and embrace unfamiliar challenges.

One piece of advice stood out: “Just be authentic. Be who you are, and don’t think you have to be something else.”

Seifert also reminded students that a theater career rarely follows a guaranteed path. Thoughtful decisions about college costs, degree options, and future opportunities can help students pursue their ambitions while keeping their options open.

Ultimately, his message was about preparation, curiosity, and initiative. Whether students are choosing a college, stepping into an audition room, or discovering a new area of theater, the opportunities they pursue and the work they put into them can help shape what comes next.