Be The Best You

By Brittany Becker

“Be the best you, you can be,” are the wise words of Karen Hildebrand acting professor at SUNY Plattsburgh. Born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Karen Hildebrand always has a love for the arts whether it was directing a theatrical play or even playing a beautiful melody. As she lounged back in her swivel desk chair in her tiny office, she was ready for whatever comes her way. The big silver bracelet that matched her necklace reflected the sun that shined through her small window. Her blue shirt that brought out her pale blue eyes, and her smile that lit up with whole room. The tiny glasses through which she viewed the world were at the tip of her nose. Her hand motions that was big and bold whenever she expressed any type of emotion.

Karen, one of four, lost her mother when she was 21. Her mom was the one who influenced her to attend Westchester State College, but when she died Hildebrand dropped out and moved back to Pittsburgh to be with her younger brother and sister. “She didn’t think we had to work,” Karen said when talking about her mother. “My mom believed we had to do what we loved aslong as it was a good degree,” Karen said, “Theatre was not an acceptable job to her,” Hildebrand said. “She would be surprised with me.” After attending Westchester State College, Karen moved slowly in a different direction. University of Pittsburgh is where she achieved her BA in speech and theatre and got her first full time job as an arts administrator. “I liked it, it was fun!” Hildebrand exclaimed. “I would much rather work in parks then in an office building,” she said proudly.

This was only a start for Karen Hildebrand. She managed to get her foot in every door and leave an impression wherever she went. She lived in Brooklyn and studied fashion at Fashion Institute of Technology, began writing plays, got a job at Eves Brooks as a costume designer then started teaching Remedial writing, English. Little did she know she was going to find someone with common interests whom she would spend the rest of her life with. While experiencing the hustle and bustle of the city life, she met Rick, her husband. They have been happily married for 22 years, but “We have known each other for 28 years.” Karen said. Karen enjoyed living in the city, but she did admit, “We got out of New York in time.” She said, “It is more rational for younger people to live in such small quarters than for an older couple.”

The couple got the chance to work at Plattsburgh State as a music teacher and an acting teacher, and they grabbed that right away. Hildebrand is one of 3 acting adjuncts at the college and has the opportunity to teach children and teen theatre workshops. “I love them and I enjoy doing them,” she said happily.

In her free time she loves bargain hunting. “One time it almost got me thrown off Orchard Street.” Hildebrand said. She just tried to get the price of an item down to a really low price and was not capable of doing so. “I got this from my mom.” She said. “I have always had a love for trivia, and play it every week down town.” She laughed and said. She loves to read and sew, but both of which she has not done in a while. “Currently I am trying to get more theatre back in my life and I am working with readers theatre once a month.” She said. “It is nice to hear what the plays sound like, and that is the purpose of the readers theatre.”

She enjoys working with different types of people, but she does miss meeting people, and hiring bands and theatre groups. “I love seeing people present themselves in the best way they can,” Karen said when talking about working with Plattsburgh State students.

Rory Wallace, 22, is Karen Hildebrand’s teaching assistant for spring 2010. He is originally from Trinidad and Tobago and is studying music as a major at Plattsburgh. When asked what it is like working with Karen Hildebrand, he responded with “It is exciting and fun, she is very good at what she does and is very encouraging.” Rory took her acting class in fall 2009 and he explained that “she asked me to TA for her and I accepted. She helped me by increasing my confidence in being the best me!” Rory said. He recommends her to students who want to take an acting class and likes her energy and voice the most. Rory ended our interview with this statement: “Being in the arts people must learn to express themselves physically, it may seem scary to be outside of your comfort zone but it is very liberating once you can achieve that and Karen is a perfect example.”

Rachael Livingston, 19, was a previous student of Karen Hildebrand. She took her acting class in fall 2009 as well. Rachael is from Albany and is a communications major. Rachael seemed very excited when asked about Hildebrand. “She always wanted to get us up and moving, and wanted us to show our emotions.” Rachael said. “Acting is a good way to break out of your shell, and I recommend people to take it whether it is required or not.” She pointed out that it is most important to be silly, be yourself, let loose.

Rachael reflected on her favorite time in Hildebrand’s acting class and said, “Every Thursday she would do this exercise where she would turn off the lights and we all would lie on the floor and she would just talk in a low tone and make all of our muscles in our body relax.” She loved this. “It was good for the end of the week and her voice was so soothing,” she said. “None of us wanted to get up after that activity.” She laughed.

Sarai Vasquez, 19, a sophomore at SUNY Plattsburgh first met Karen Hildebrand in her acting class and she admitted, “I was terrified. I’m mostly an introvert, until I get to know you, but that wasn’t going to happen in her class. I had to get over my shyness and nervousness of being around new people. And after taking that class I can say that I can now go up to people I don’t know and introduce myself without having a heart attack, or shying away in a corner.” Sarai is very thankful of Karen Hildebrand. “She is very personal with the people she works with, and in doing so she is a professor I can go back to everyday and won’t feel embarrassed or even forgotten if I ever went to see her.”

Sarai explained. “My fondest memory of Karen was when I was able to T.A. her class, and also when I worked as a tech crewmember in one of her productions, the musical comedy murders.” She enjoyed that because she did not feel like she had less power than Hildebrand. “But it was more of a situation that everyone is equal,” Sarai said. “Karen has to be the most personal professor on campus that I have ever met. I felt really comfortable to speak to her about things that didn’t involve class.” Sarai along with other students are very thankful to have had Hildebrand as a part of their life since acting class.

Karen Hildebrand has experience a lot in her life and she is not stopping now. She is currently working on a radio show, the WRUV on Sundays, working at Plattsburgh as a teacher, being a happy wife, and bringing old things back into her life as well. She said cheerfully, “I wonder what I’ll be doing next year. I guess you’ll just have to wait and see!”