For generations, the Northern Arizona University Department of Theatre in the College of Arts and Letters has prepared students not only to perform, but to see themselves as artists with a voice and a future. From intimate classrooms to main stage productions, students gain early opportunities that shape their confidence and craft. That foundation has carried alumni into careers across stage and screen, including Seamus Dever, ’97, best known for his role on Castle.
Today, Dever is paying it forward. Through the department’s mentorship program, launched five years ago, he guides current NAU theatre students navigating their own artistic journeys. One of those students is senior Amaia Evans, a recipient of the Seamus P. Dever Theatre Scholarship and his latest mentee. Together, they reflect on the value of access, the power of mentorship, and the experiences at NAU that continue to shape them.
Do you each have moments from your time at NAU that you think of as transformative?
Seamus: I had them weekly—what I’d call epiphanies. During my junior year, I was doing a scene from George Bernard Shaw’s Saint Joan with a professor I’d studied under for several semesters. He knew everything I was working on with my voice, my body, and my energy. He knew all my habits. After that scene, he said, “You didn’t do any of those habits I’ve been trying to get you to eliminate.” That was a breakthrough moment that changed the way I approached acting.
Amaia: For me, it was my first performance on the main stage during sophomore year. I played a principal character in Rent. I had never acted or sung in front of hundreds of people before. That experience showed me I was capable. I thought, “What was I so nervous about?” Having opportunities like that so early is something unique about NAU Theatre.
Seamus: At many schools, students wait years before they’re allowed on the main stage. I was a freshman when I did my first show at NAU. That’s the superpower of NAU Theatre.
Amaia, how has your coursework informed your approach to performance?
Amaia: In my first acting class at NAU, the professor said, “You’re not just playing the part. You are embodying it.” That changed my perspective. I’m not pretending to be someone else. In a way, the characters I play are all me.
Seamus: That’s exactly what it is. There’s a huge amount of technique that allows you to fully inhabit a character. When it happens, it’s mind-blowing.
Amaia: And I can always tell when someone has done their character work. If I believe their performance, I know they’ve put in the effort.
Seamus: It’s a craft. And once you start studying it deeply, you gain so much respect for it.
Seamus, what has inspired you to stay involved with NAU over the years?
Seamus: Many things. When you can take your experiences, your mistakes, and what you’ve learned along the way and pass that down to someone a couple of generations behind you, you can save them some trouble. I didn’t really have that kind of support, so I want to be a resource for future generations.
How does having scholarships—like the Seamus P. Dever Theatre Scholarship—change experiences for NAU students?
Amaia: It allows me to give my all to my studies because I don’t have to worry as much about paying for classes. I can focus on the actual content, which will help me be more successful in the future. Scholarships have also made me feel more confident, because I know at least one person out there believes in what I’m doing and supports my creativity. It feels great.
Seamus, what message would you share with people who are considering supporting students through scholarships or mentorship?
Seamus: I think when people donate to any organization, they want to feel like their support really had an impact—that it meant something. Meeting Amaia, getting to know her, and seeing firsthand how my scholarship has helped her—that’s incredibly meaningful. Scholarships have a direct impact on students, and as a donor, you can say, “Wow, I made a difference in someone’s life.” Also, I never thought I’d be able to create a scholarship until I was dead! I even joked about naming mine the Seamus P. Dever Memorial Scholarship despite me being alive! So, while it does take time for an endowment to be fully funded, you don’t have to wait or do it all at once. My advice is to start early.
Why is access to opportunities so critical for students in the arts?
Seamus: Everybody in the arts has a dream, but often they don’t know how to get from where they are to where they want to be. Opportunities—whether that’s seeing a Broadway play, visiting a film set, or being mentored by a professional—show you a pathway forward. That’s what access does: it makes things possible.
Amaia: I agree. It helps us imagine life after graduation. It makes the future feel real and exciting.
