Liz Graham

Next week’s run of Neil Labute’s play “The Shape of Things” marks senior Bryan Bove’s seventh Linfield performance.
A transfer student from St. Joseph’s College in Long Island, N.Y., Bove is an English literature major, minoring in theatre arts.
Bove’s role in the play is Phillip, best friend of the main character Adam. Bove said the play incorporates themes of love, beauty and art, focusing on the intense relationship of Adam and Evelyn, a present-day “Eve,” played by freshman Grace Beckett. Bove describes his character as comic relief.
“Phillip is the kind of jerky best friend who thinks he’s hot stuff and likes to rag on his friend, Adam,” Bove said.
Although he was born and raised near the heart of American theater, acting was not Bove’s main interest. He had never auditioned or participated in a production until arriving at Linfield. He auditioned for his first play in the fall of 2006 to support a friend who was nervous about trying out.
Once he landed a role in “Mother Courage and Her Children,” Bove became enamored with transforming into someone else through acting.
Since moving to Oregon to be closer to his brother in Portland, Bove said he felt somewhat out of place and a little lonely. As he became involved in the theater program on campus, he said he felt welcomed and included.
Bove said finding close friends through one Linfield program prompted him to participate in plays. Bove is a member of the Akward Moose Improv Club on campus and secretary of the Vegan/Vegetarian Club.
Now in his final semester, Bove is a busy person. In addition to his involvement with clubs and theater productions, he works inside the costume store on campus, is finishing his thesis and maintains an 18-credit course load. Graduating a semester early highlights Bove’s self-described “touch of OCD.”
After graduation, Bove plans to work with an English as a Second Language program abroad, teaching English in a foreign country. He said he hopes his study of Spanish in high school and French at Linfield will come to good use. However, securing an ESL position is more difficult in Europe because there are more applicants. Bove said he might end up in Asia where his language skills won’t help him.
Bove said he has no solid plans as far as his career in theater goes.
“I think I would like to experience working on publicity or costumes for a production after graduation,” he said.
However, Bove said he might look at working with a small theater company or production, if his schedule permits.