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For most quick-change artists, it's all about the show. Lights, camera, clothes, and action. For Samantha Kryzwick '10, however, it's about the opposite: remaining incognito and avoiding the spotlight.
"I hate being called on in a class of any size, especially one that has 500 people" said Kryzwick. "So I tried everything to stay under the radar."
Try everything she did. Samantha first tried to slump down in her seat. Professor Morone, however, would call on her by describing her as the "slightly short girl with the green sweatshirt."
She then tried to wear a suit entirely covered with mirrors to appear invisible to the normal human eye. This time though, Professor Morone called on her, saying, "Hey, girl wearing mirrors, what was Federalist Paper #51 about?"
"That was the last straw. I decided I needed to do something drastic," said Kryzwick.
Luckily for Samantha, she was also taking a course in the Theatre, Speech, and Dance department, TSDA1670: Obscure Stage Acts of Remotely Entertaining Value. In between readings on plate spinning and puppetry, she came across the art of quick-change.
Quick-change was developed during the heyday of vaudeville. Male entertainers needed to find a role for their wives while on the road and started playing around with the idea of rapid costume change. It is now practiced by an elite group of entertainers who predominantly perform in local theaters, talent shows, and "America's Got Talent."
"I saw it and immediately knew it was for me. The ability to change clothes in the blink of an eye? It was perfect," said Kryzwick ecstatically.
After her moment of inspiration, Samantha purchased a handful of books on quick-change, repeatedly studied videos on YouTube, and spoke to Professor Hazeltine about how he constantly manages to keep his image so fresh.
"I practiced for days," said Samantha. "It was the hardest thing I've ever had to do."
The result is the inability for Professor Morone to nail her down to a question.
"It's amazing. Professor Morone will call on the girl in the green shirt, and all of a sudden Samantha will be wearing a gray shrug. He'll call on the girl in the gray shrug and she will be wearing a red sweatshirt. She nailed it," said Kryzwick's best friend Erica Haines '10.
The one person left in the dark was Professor Morone.
"I guess I'm just getting old."
