Jeffrey Schmidt ('96) has been an actor, set designer and director for theaters across Dallas-Fort Worth. Now he's tackling his biggest role -- artistic director for Theatre 3 in Dallas. He will set the company's future, which he hopes will include high-quality work and equitable pay for artists.

"What keeps me going are those rare 'singular moments' where you feel the room charged with energy and excitement," he says. "When all the design elements seamlessly merge with an exquisitely acted scene and the audience's reaction is palpable, getting you as close to artistic perfection as possible. Those kinds of singular moments are rare, but they should be. Like standing ovations should be rare. It keeps you hungry."