The Riverside Press-Enterprise
Riverside actor found community in theater world
For Jarrod Maas, the path toward graduating from California Baptist University with a degree in theater was somewhat circuitous.
“I got my degree in theater, but not before changing it seven other times,” he said. “I started as undeclared, then music, then photography, then theater.”
After declaring himself a theater major, Maas switched to biology.
“I wanted to go the pre-med route, then prenursing, then communications, then back to theater,” he said. “So I guess I technically only changed it to six different degrees, but it’s seven times I had to fill out the major declaration paperwork. Sometimes I wonder if the admin office even filed my paperwork before I showed up and changed it again.”
A lifelong resident of Riverside, Maas decided upon California Baptist in Riverside because it was the closest university to his parents’ house.
“It was mostly a utilitarian decision,” he said. “Not a whole much more to it than that. I had been accepted to other universities, but CBU was the easiest option.”
Though Maas was uncertain about theater academically, it was something in which he was always interested. He explained how each artist brings their own skill sets and experience and how the director guides them toward a collective vision.
“I love collaborative storytelling,” he said. “It’s the culmination of often dozens of passionate artists who get to create together every rehearsal and performance.”
When asked about his favorite theatrical achievement, Maas recalled a moment during a California Baptist University production of “She Loves Me” when, while playing the role of Sipos, he blacked out on stage.
“I didn’t collapse or anything, I just briefly lost awareness of where and who I was and had to be sprung back to reality whilst in the middle of my solo song,” he said. “Now that doesn’t sound like an achievement, but it was because I became a cautionary tale.”
Maas said it happened because he was dehydrated.
“I hadn’t drank anything but an energy drink that day,” he said. “So now many CBU people, myself included, stay hydrated before and during shows to avoid being ‘Sipos’d.’ Coincidentally, Sipos was also my favorite role, so it’s just an overall great memory despite being such a wild time.”
Maas said theater changed his life because of the community that’s built around it.
“There’s really nothing quite like it that I’ve experienced,” he said. “I’ve been in choirs, in closeknit work circles, and there’s nothing quite like the community that is formed in theater.”
He went on to say that, even in a bad show, the cast and crew supports each other and makes the best of things.
“Theater creates a community that can bring out the best parts of people,” he said. “It demands a willingness to work together and create something despite our differences. It allows people who usually have no voice to speak out and gives ears to those who normally wouldn’t listen.”
Maas, who graduated in 2019, loves to write and direct, so his goals include doing more of that.
“I’d love to write professionally in any field, but really I’d love to write for Disney, specifically ‘Star Wars,’” he said. “It might be a silly or unattainable goal and I realize that, but I’ve decided it’s guaranteed to be unattainable if I never make an effort, but plausible if I try.”