Eyes wide open: Academy graduate Tiffany Blandin brings truth to the stage
Now a student at Carnegie Mellon, Blandin opens up about her college theatre experience and how her training at Interlochen still impacts her today.
When Tiffany Blandin (IAA 18-22, IAC St 22-23) sits down for an interview, she’s all smiles.
“I just got out of my Singing for the Actor class,” she says. “I sang ‘Don’t Let Me Go’ from Shrek.”
Chances to share her gifts with others are no rarity for Blandin. The Arts Academy grad is pursuing her passion for theatre at Carnegie Mellon University, where she says her Interlochen training is paying off. From reciting slam poetry at a Black History Month cabaret event to charting a course post-college, Blandin shares her heart for the stage and why she believes theatre and activism are “twin sisters”.
Blandin portrays "Paulina" in The Winter’s Tale (2022 Interlochen production, directed by William Church)
Coming face-to-face with reality
Blandin’s passion for equality stems in part from her no-nonsense view of the world.
“I'm very blunt, very direct. I speak my truth. I'm very honest. And I look for that in characters and plays that I read, watch, and portray.”
Her approach to both life and theatre was honed in high school under the mentorship of Gulshirin Dubash, who pulls no punches when helping her students improve.
“ Gulshirin Dubash is the main reason I am the actor I am today,” Blandin reflects. “She strips away all your narratives of who you think you are or who you think you're trying to portray. If your objectives or discoveries aren’t making sense, she’ll tell you.”
During her time at Interlochen, Blandin learned from Black leaders in theatre like playwright Dominique Morisseau and Broadway star Sydney James Harcourt.
“Dominique is my favorite playwright in the world,” says Blandin. “ A monologue from her play Sunset Baby got me into Carnegie and all the other institutions that accepted me. And Sydney was my mentor when I went to Miami to perform at the New World Center. I’m still in touch with him.”
I strongly believe that we should all be treated on the equal playing field and I will do whatever it takes to get us there.
Blandin’s passion for truth and equality goes beyond her work on the stage. During her time at Interlochen, she directed the Black History Month assembly and provided hair care for Black students (a project she’s continued into her college years with her business, Blandin Beautique).
“We focused on creating a safe space where Black people can just commune,” she says.
Blandin was also instrumental in bringing Black hair care products to the Scholarshop, so that students of all ethnic backgrounds could access the products they needed. For her, activism and theatre go hand-in-hand because they’re both ways to reveal truth.
“ I try to open people's eyes to things they are blind to,” Blandin says. “I’ve always been passionate about activism, politics, and seeking the good for others. I strongly believe that we should all be treated on the equal playing field and I will do whatever it takes to get us there.”
Blandin (second from left) portrays "Nell" in Carnegie Mellon's 2024 production of John Proctor is the Villain.
Dreams of the future
Now in her second year at Carnegie Mellon, Blandin is staying focused on her dreams. Last February, she shared her original poetry as part of a Black History Month cabaret event.
“I’ve been writing for as long as I’ve been able to pick up a pen, and poetry has always been an outlet for me to express myself,” she says.
This past semester, she studied the Suzuki method of theatre and portrayed “Nell” in her school’s production of John Proctor is the Villain. This fast-moving play pushed Blandin to be at the top of her acting game and asked her to rely on everything she’d learned at Interlochen.
“Are you using your discovery? Are you using every part of your instrument? Are you committing? There were so many aspects I had to pick up from not only the past two years here, but also from Interlochen—diverse things I’d learned from Bill and Christine and Gulsh on how to break down a character.”
Even though she still has more time at Carnegie Mellon, Blandin is looking towards the future. At the end of her senior year, she’ll perform in CMU’s Showcase, an event hosted in Los Angeles and New York in front of professional agents and managers.
“Usually at the end of the night, you get an envelope with the names of all the people that want to work with you. So the goal is to get at least one or two or three or a thousand of those,” she jokes.
Whatever success she experiences after college, Blandin plans to stay focused on her goals and identity.
“ I do want to find an agent. I do want to have a manager. But I also want to make sure I'm keeping myself true to what I believe in,” she says.
Over the summer, she’ll continue teaching at Interlochen Arts Camp, reinforcing her desire to work in education some day. For now, though, the dream is to direct, write, and produce. No matter what the future holds, she plans to live life to the fullest so her work rings true to audiences.
“ I think that being the best actor means that you have a life and that you experience things outside of your talent. There’s no way you can portray a character if you haven’t lived a life,” she reflects.
