Karla Leitzman is busy. She is a theatre major with minors in theatre for social justice, English, and Scandinavian studies. On top of her academics and participation in appoximately 15 theatre shows since her first year, she is a member of I Am We Are, GAC Democrats, Gustavus Ambassadors; and is the Philanthropy Chair of Alpha Sigma Tau; Vice President and Recruitment Chair of Viking Society; and Co-President of the Swedish House. She also sings in Choir of Christ Chapel and plays in the handbell choir.

Her passion for theatre stemmed at an early age when she played the grandmother in The Gingerbread Man in kindergarten. Even though she wanted to be a theatre major, she had hesitations.

“I didn’t want to let myself be a theatre major because I thought it was too selfish,” she said. “The reason I did theatre in high school and middle school was because I liked

performing, so I couldn’t really justify devoting myself to something that only benefited me.”

This opinion on theatre, as well as her perspective on performance, changed when she came to Gustavus.

“I came here, and through I Am, We Are and the department in general, I learned I could do it for other people and use it to fix the world and change things and make people talk and listen,” she said.

“She has tackled her commitments with diligence, poise, and maturity, serving as an example to other students in the Department,” Theatre Professor Henry MacCarthy said.

This inclination towards service stems from a family of service.

“My parents are teachers, so I grew up in a pretty social-justice-minded family, trying to determine problems in the world and how I can be a part of the solutions,” Karla said. “In I Am We Are we talk about ‘I am only one but still I am one’ and that’s the mantra I try to keep in my head.”

In particular, the issue she is most concerned with at the moment is the Building Bridges Conference theme of Mass Incarceration. She notes that it is an intimidating topic.

“It seems so insurmountable. With Mass Incarceration, where do we start? It’s going to take a huge societal shift for it to change,” she said. Karla will perform with I Am, We Are as a part of the Building Bridges Conference on Mar. 9.

Another major opportunity that the Gustavus Theatre and Dance Department granted Karla was the one-woman show, The Edge of Our Bodies, she put on in the fall. She saw the show at the Guthrie in Nov. 2011 and decided to try it for herself.

“I wanted to do it in my own way,” she said.

She found out in May that the department was going to give her the resources to do it. She was initially intimidated by the major project she had signed up for.

“I loved the script, but how do you memorize an hour of text? So I recorded myself doing it and I would listen to it constantly,” she said.

All of that work paid off.

“When it got done it was such an empowering feeling; it was such a confidence booster,” Karla said. “I heard so many people tell me that they were thinking about that show all weekend, which is what I want, as an artist, to make people think.”

Professor of Theatre and Dance Amy Seham directed the show.

“Amy and I work very well together, and we’re both very free thinking, so she would ask me all the time ‘what do you think you should do here?’ That was very empowering and she was supportive,” Karla said.

“I enjoy her intelligence, her humor, and her creativity, and look forward to working with her again this semester and in the future,” Seham said.

“During the last four years she has grown tremendously both personally and artistically. I’m particularly impressed by Karla’s versatility and dedication,” MacCarthy said.

Karla also works to change the world through her involvement in politics.

“I love talking about and analyzing politics, and I really like talking to people who might not agree with me,” she said. “I love the atmosphere of what goes on at the Capitol and even though they’re stressful, I love campaign offices,” Karla said, having spent her summer working on the Jim Graves campaign.

“Karla’s successful involvement in politics is a testament to the relevance of a theatre education that reaches beyond the stage,” MacCarthy said.

Karla’s other passions include Scandinavian studies, particularly after studying abroad in Sweden, as well as English.

“I went to Sweden spring of my sophomore year, and it’s probably the most influential experience of my collegiate career,” she said. “I like studying language, as a Theatre major, ible,” Karla said.

Karla doesn’t know what the future will hold for her, but it’s sure to be successful. “There are so many things I could do and be happy,” she said.

“I firmly believe that, with her talent and dedication, Karla will go on to use the power of performance to help change the world for the better,” Seham said.