Mei Zuch discovered her love for theatre at Knox College.
“I live in CFA, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Originally from Portland, Oregon, Mei Zuch ’25 came to Knox to study psychology. Still, somewhere in the middle, she discovered her love for theatre during her sophomore year after participating in her first faculty-directed show, The Language Archive. She enrolled in a beginning playwriting class, starting what would become her first full-length play, Forty-Six and a Half. The play centers around strangers on a train getting to know each other.
Zuch was immersed in Knox’s 2025 Repertory Theatre Term (Rep Term), where she balanced multiple roles, including the lead in Antigone, as well as the lead carpenter in the scene shop, building sets for both productions.
Zuch credits her growth as a theatre artist to Knox’s dedicated faculty. She feels inspired by Assistant Professor of Theatre Deana Nichols. “She made me want to consider majoring in theatre. She is the best director I’ve worked with,” Zuch said.
Beyond the stage, Zuch is involved on campus in many ways. She is part of the Theatre Advisory Board as the technical director, where she helps organize student productions and manage technical elements like lighting and set construction. She also performs in the Knox College Choir. Zuch also lives in Eco House, where she and her housemates practice sustainable living by composting and conserving energy.
“I live in CFA,” Zuch joked while reflecting on her academics and extracurriculars. “But I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
After Commencement, Zuch is looking for internship opportunities at home in Portland to gain professional experience in theatre production and design. “I feel Knox has prepared me so well,” she added. “I'm ready to start working with unfamiliar people, new companies, and circumstances I haven't been in before.”