Student Profile: Travis Porchia Aims For Launch on Chicago Stage

You may dream of attending an evening show of Jersey Boys or Rent as you walk by one of the city’s many vibrant theaters in and near the South Loop, but there’s a group of Columbia students that imagine more than just attending.  They envision jazzing up one of the local stages or traveling tours with their song, dance, and voices. One Columbia student – senior Travis Porchia – almost landed himself a spot in the Jersey Boys cast and has brought his talent to six of the school’s musical stage performances.

Porchia has played everything from the lead in The Music Man to Riff-Raff in The Rocky Horror Picture Show from when he immersed himself in theater in eighth grade until now.  He made it to final callbacks in New York for the role of Barry Belson, a radio personality who was influential in The Four Seasons start, in Jersey Boys.

“I inevitably didn't get the role because I was significantly younger than the rest of the guys and it read so onstage; however, I gained much positive exposure and I had a great time!” he said.

Not landing a role didn’t stifle his love of the show, though. “What I enjoy about Jersey Boys is that when watching it both in the house and backstage, everything seems to work well together, effortlessly,” he said.  “It is such an ensemble-based show; each  member contributes something special and very noticeable to the work.  I am also a sucker for catchy and upbeat music, and Jersey Boys has all of that.”

Porchia balances his major in Musical Theater Performance with actual performances while also working as an resident assistant or RA and a peer mentor for Multicultural Affairs. “If anything, being an RA has taught me how to prioritize, communicate, and manage my time efficiently and effectively,” he said. “I have to plan ahead and make sure both theater and Residence Life know about each other and respect the other's right to exist.”

It may seem obvious for a theater enthusiast to head straight to Broadway, but Chicago has become quite the destination city for budding actors like Porchia, which is part of the reason why he ended up at Columbia. “I wanted to attend a place that had a pretty decent atmosphere, an environment that supported theater, and promoted being a young person who wants to grow to be a professional,” Porchia said. “I was looking at a couple of different places  [like New York City and L.A.] but Chicago is a great launching pad for new talent and Columbia is a pretty cool place within the city to hone my skills.”

-Morgan Phelps
Magazine Journalism