Truman State alumna Christianne Greiert started out watching episodes of “Full House” on TV with D.J., Stephanie and Michelle, who seemed like her real friends. Pretty soon, character after character, play after play, Greiert fell in love with acting. After a childhood of pursuing local theatre in her hometown of St. Joseph, Missouri, she eventually took her talents to Kirksville and after that, to New York City.
Greiert graduated during 2005 and studied theatre. She is returning from her busy life in Manhattan running her own production company, Clutch Productions, to speak at Truman’s Women and Gender Studies Conference 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 28, in the James G. Severns Theatre in Ophelia Parrish and again 5 p.m. Friday.
Theatre professor Dana Smith said Greiert is one of her former students and she has heard about Greiert’s production company which works with female playwrights to put on shows about feminine and social justice issues.
Smith said Greiert was a strong student even she never had any lead roles in the main stage shows. She said she thinks Greiert would have a lot to say to students, especially having to do with being discouraged and not getting cast on the college level.
“Students could look to her and see what it takes to get out there and be a working actor in this world,” Smith said. “It’s not easy but she has done it.”
Greiert said her professors and education at Truman, in part, gave her the confidence she needed to be successful in New York City as an actress and co-founder of Clutch Productions.
To learn more about Greiert and Clutch Productions, check out the story on Issuu or pick up the latest issue of The Index (pg. 7).