Nick Magel, who composed all of the music for Antigone, Mesa Community College’s first feature film, will always be amazed at his successful accomplishments.

“Me composing music for Antigone really exemplifies the ‘throw the students into the fire and watch them do miraculous things’ nature of the training at MCC Theatre and Film Arts,” Magel said. “The faculty here are really good at presenting you with challenges and helping you succeed and learn through them. The program here at MCC is small enough that all of your professors know you, your goals, your skills, and what you need to grow as a person.”

Magel, 21, of Mesa, said he has always been interested in the performing arts.

“I have been performing and been a part of the arts since fourth grade, when I played Fritz and the Mouse King in my school’s production of The Nutcracker,” he said. “Since then, I have done everything from design, helping produce the first student-run production in several years (Independence by Lee Blessing, Fall 2019), to competitive breakdancing!”

Magel first heard about MCC when he was in high school.

“Choosing where I wanted to go to college was an interesting time,” Magel said. “I was offered numerous scholarships through College Auditions at the International Thespian Festival for colleges across the U.S. I was on my way to go to ASU for theatre, then, next thing I know, I ended up taking a tour of the MCC Theatre with Kevin Dressler, and I knew this was the place for me.”

He will be transferring to the Theatre School at DePaul University in Chicago to study Theatre Arts Management. He has received one of the largest scholarships awarded for the program. His goal is to become a managing director of a theatre or a producer.

Magel said numerous faculty in the MCC Communications, Theatre and Film Arts Department as well as the Music Department supported him during his time at the college. He was an active member of Phi Theta Kappa and did his service learning through the theatre. Magel received the Lyn Dutson & John Valpey Theater Service Award, the Theatre Scholarship Endowment Award and the Theatre Development award.

“I could not even begin to start listing off all the different ways they have supported me, motivated me, and helped me become the person I am now,” Magel said. “I’ll never forget the working experience as well as the connections I have made with theatre artists across the country through guest directors, the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival and all the other events we do at MCC.”