Alex Polzun was most recently seen on the Nelly Goletti stage as the comic and romantic “Cook” in Marist College Club of Theatre Arts’ production of The Princess King while still balancing rehearsals for Marist College Dance Ensemble’s Spring show! You may have seen him flipping around on stage, running around the Student Center headed for the “green room,” or munching on some chicken nuggets and fries in the dining hall. In just under a year Alex has become a true Campus Celeb whose infectious energy and great ambition speaks volumes for the committed and talented student he is today. Her Campus Marist got a hold of him in his rare downtime to ask him a few questions.
HC: What drew you to Marist while you were making your college decision last year?
AP: What drew me to Marist was the community aspect of the college. Every college says that their students are like a family, but when I was talking to some of the students who participated in theatre at Marist at Open House, I really did feel a very real sense of family and that they truly did love every second they spent on the Marist campus. I also had this overwhelming feeling of being home as soon as I stepped on the campus. I was really able to see myself living, learning and really growing at Marist.
HC: In a little under a year you have managed to perform in multiple theatre productions, have been elected as an executive board member for Marist College Club of Theatre Arts, and have performed AND choreographed for Marist’s Dance Ensemble. How have you managed it all?
AP: Managing everything has not been easy, but I feel that because of my passion for theatre and dance I couldn’t just let that big part of my life go once I went off to college. I have so many ideas to help benefit MCCTA and I knew that joining the executive board would be another huge time commitment, but it would be for a club and activity that I truly love, so it does not really seem like work at the meetings and such. With dance, I honestly just wanted to have fun and push myself to actually create, teach and perform a dance that was all my own. Again, it turned out to be a lot of late nights, but it was for something I loved, so it was all worth it in the end. Balancing everything was the trick. I did not sleep a lot. I stayed up late working on homework and such as well as waking up early to either finish things up, or get ahead before another busy day. I did this because, after all, we are here at college to learn, but I still wanted to have theatre and dance be a part of my life, and if it made for a whole bunch of long, busy, stressful days, so be it, it is worth every second.
HC: What is your background in dance and theatre and did MCCTA and MCDE play a factor in your decision to come to Marist?
AP: I have been dancing for 16 years and dancing competitively for 13 years. I am trained in a variety of styles such as tap, jazz, ballet, lyrical, contemporary, hip-hop, musical theatre and acrobatics. I have been acting since the age of six in various theatrical productions and children education videos that were distributed to schools throughout the US and Canada. MCCTA definitely had a huge impact on my decision to attend Marist. Finding a theatre program that I would feel comfortable with and could see myself growing in was very important to me. At Open House for Marist, I was still on the fence, leaning more towards Marist, but not counting out my other options. After talking to the students who were involved in theatre at Marist, I knew that I would totally fit in and would have an amazing time working and becoming great friends with the other members of the club. Talking to those students at Open House is pretty much the reason I decided to come to Marist.
HC: Time for the fun questions: What is your ideal meal from the dining hall?
AP: My ideal meals are the chicken nuggets and fries. I am a real picky eater, but one meal that is always consistently good wherever I go are the chicken nuggets and fries.
HC: If you had to choose one song to describe your life what would it be and why?
AP: “Shut Up and Dance” by Walk the Moon. I just recently heard this song and I immediately fell in love with it. It totally describes me because most of the time I don’t really care about the drama or issues people have with me, I just want everyone to shut up and have a fun time together and just dance.
HC: What is your favorite class you have taken so far?
AP: My favorite class I have taken so far is American National Government. I honestly am such an American history nerd that I pretty much knew the majority of the material, but I was also able to learn about new aspects of our government and even go into more detail about topics I have already learned about.
HC: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
AP: In 10 years, I see myself being an AP US History teacher and helping run the school’s theatre department. Hopefully married, maybe having a child and definitely a nice house with a big yard for the dogs to run around in! I’m not entirely sure where I would like to live, though. I want to be adventurous and have so many experiences traveling before I really settle down. Maybe I will move to an entirely new country. Who knows!
HC: When you were younger, what did you want to be when you grew up?
AP: When I was younger, I wanted to be an actor and a dancer. I was one of those kids who really wanted to become a Broadway star. I thought that I could really make it, and looking back I totally had the drive to really go out and accomplish these goals, as crazy as they seem. As I grew older, I realized that acting and dancing is fun, and is definitely a passion of mine, but there will always be someone who can kick higher, someone who just looks the part and I decided to have a more practical dream rather than possibly fail at acting. Looking back, I wish that I did pursue acting and dancing with all my heart and soul, because who knows where I would have been, but I do not regret growing out of my childhood fantasy because I have been blessed with many opportunities that I know I would have missed out on if I decided to really try to make my childhood dream of being on Broadway come true.
HC: Where is your favorite spot at Marist?
AP: My favorite spot at Marist is definitely the green room outside of the theatre. It is a place that I am able to go where I feel safe and can just kind of escape the crazy outside world for a while. I go there to do work, study or just hang out with my friends. I always find myself there, at least once a day. Some of my favorite memories have taken place in that green room. Whether it is a quiet space for me to go and gather my thoughts or be wacky and crazy and dance around with my friends, the green room is always my go to spot.
HC: What is your best piece of advice to incoming freshmen?
AP: My best piece of advice to incoming freshman would be to take advantage of all the amazing opportunities your college has to offer. Marist especially has so many unique clubs and activities that you can be involved in, so definitely take the time to find a club or activity that will be best for you. Work at Fashionology or the Marist Poll if that’s what you want to do. Think about going abroad if that is something you are interested in. We do come to college to learn, but the memories you make will be with your friends, so don’t forget to have fun and take advantage of all the opportunities that come your way.
If you ask me, Alex has the passion and talent to achieve whatever dreams he sets his mind on. If you haven’t gotten the chance to meet Alex this year, you are missing out!
Photo Credit 1: Alex Polzun
Photo Credit 2: Bill Scala