Jackson Free Press

Politics and theater go hand in hand for Jasmine Gargoum, 21. A Millsaps senior whose double major is theater and political science, she has experience in the real world with both fields. For almost a year she has been employed as the office assistant at the State Democratic Headquarters.

Gargoum got her hands wet in politics her sophomore year when David McCarty asked her to help with an election campaign. During her junior year she worked as a part of the Ronnie Musgrove re-election campaign. On that election night, she asked McCarty when she could begin working for the State Democratic Headquarters. Gargoum began immediately and attended the Democratic National Convention 2004 in Boston.

"It was amazing. I did not sleep but maybe for two hours. I met all these congressmen and women, and it was really nice being in an atmosphere full of Democrats," Gargoum explains.

In theater, Gargoum is serving as the treasurer for "Hedwig and the Angry Inch," a production that local young adults will be presenting in April at Hal & Mal's. Gargoum is trying to gain support from local businesses and people for the performance of John Cameron Mitchell's cult play about a transsexual rock singer named Hedwig and her quest for fame and love.

Her experience with theater at Millsaps has prepared her for the project.

"It's really nice to have to take classes in all areas of theater because you can appreciate the other person's job," she explains. "Millsaps has a difficult theater program, but the product we have is really great. I fell in love with doing hair and makeup after I began attending Millsaps."

Gargoum has helped do hair and makeup at New Stage Theater and with the Fondren Theater's first production, "The Lion in Winter." She also helps Sam Sparks with any of the theatrical productions he is in charge of at New Stage. Gargoum participated in the SETC (South Eastern Theater Conference) earlier this month.

After graduation, Gargoum is set. She has three great offers from SETC: a theater management position at On the Square Theater of Memphis, a theater position at the National Players Apprenticeship of Maryland and a marketing internship at the Cincinnati Shakespeare Festival.

Whichever path she decides to take, Gargoum says she will definitely include politics no matter what.