Julian Garcia

Julian Garcia: Taking the Stage

As senior theatre arts major Julian Garcia recently took to the LMU stage one last time to receive his diploma, he was nothing but optimistic about the future and his career of choice: acting.

Julian, who is currently represented by the Jaime Ferrar Talent Agency, has recently done commercial work, participated in several short films, and appeared in an episode of “Killer Kids.”

“There’s no doubt that I will be utterly successful doing what I love to do,” Julian said, “and a big portion of that is due to my time at LMU.”

He says the accessibility of resources in the Theatre Department and the many creative avenues one can travel down, such as taking part in department shows and/or short films produced by School of Film & Television students, provides excellent training for the aspiring actor.

“It’s impossible not to work as an actor on this campus,” Julian said. “If I wanted to put on a show at any time, the resources would be at my disposal to do so.”

The Miami native says that one of the most valuable experiences he had at LMU was being able to study abroad in Europe and attend the Moscow Art Theatre School, arguably the most prestigious performing arts school in the world. Along with Harvard, LMU is the only undergraduate institution that gives its acting students the opportunity to study with the renowned school.

“They train this instinct in you,” Julian said, “mind, body and spirit… to always be aware.”

Julian took this training and put it into action on the LMU stage with his senior thesis project, in which he produced and acted in a production of Frank McGuinness’s “Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me.”

He handpicked the play, which tells the story of three western men held hostage in Lebanon. “There was something about it that was gritty, hilarious, dreadful and challenging in so many ways,” Julian said.

And, according to Julian, the production came off without a hitch, one professor even pulled him aside and told him it was a performance he’d remember 25 years from now.

Other LMU acting highlights include a turn as Benito in Jose Rivera’s “References to Salvador Dali Make Me Hot,” and as Dennis in Stefanie Zadravec’s “Honey Brown Eyes.”

Julian says his end goal, other than getting the chance to play more great roles professionally, is to produce his own projects and employ other talented thespians, such as the many collaborators he’s met at LMU.

“I’m unbelievably grateful to LMU,” Julian said. “There’s nothing in this world tangible that can equal the experience I’ve had here.”