Cody Konschak graduated from Indiana Wesleyan University in 2012, after majoring in Theatre performance.
Konschak was a military kid throughout his childhood, growing up in multiple places, and discovered Indiana Wesleyan while in high school. As a freshman in high school, his family began to attend New Life Wesleyan church in La Plata, Maryland, where he was baptized. Konschak said the majority of the pastors at New Life had either graduated from IWU, or had taken classes there at some point. Konschak was introduced to IWU through his pastors and also attended events at IWU, such as Fusion.
Konschak had a heart for theatre all throughout high school, and after finding out IWU had a theatre program, it was a simple decision to pursue what he had always loved and had natural talents in.
Soon after moving to campus, Konschak was hired on by the theatre department as the master carpenter, which helped him become immersed into the program at IWU.
“I helped build all of the sets, and I did that my entire time throughout college,” Konschak said. “I would say theatre pretty much dominated my experience. I fully immersed myself in it.”
Theatre is where Konschak says he found his happiness while at school. Specifically, one of his professors, Greg Fiebig, had a large impact on Cody’s experience at IWU, and the two remain in regular contact today. “He [Fiebig] kind of helped bring me out of my shell or take me outside of the box and really think about things from a different perspective,” Konschak said. “Being very open to other perspectives and being able to look at things from different angles.”
Konschak also said he made great friends while he was a student at Indiana Wesleyan, specifically those who also immersed themselves into the theatre department. “You do stuff with them from the time you wake up, to the time you go to bed, over and over again,” Konschak said. “It’s just one party all the time–it’s a blast. You hang out with these amazing people, and get to know each other and really build off of one another, and you help each other become better versions of themselves.”
Before graduation, Konschak’s plan was to head to New York City to continue pursuing theater as a career. It wasn’t long before a professional theatre company one hour north of New York City hired him on to work with them. It was a tough decision, but Cody had to turn the opportunity down.
“I decided not to do it- not because I didn’t want to, but because I absolutely could not afford my student loan payment with what they were paying me,” Konschak said. “I kind of just made the decision to take a break for a little bit.”
Following this decision, Konschak moved to Indianapolis to pursue sales. Konschak said theatre has actually helped him with his success in sales marketing, as it has made him a flexible and adaptable person.
Konschak’s success in sales has recently moved him to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, where he is excited to enjoy warm weather instead of the cold Indiana weather. He is now the Manager for Alliances and Partnerships for a technology firm called AAJ Technologies.
Konschak hasn’t been in Florida long enough to seek out theatre opportunities, but before leaving Indianapolis for Ft. Lauderdale, Konschak was able to be a part of a popular community theatre’s production of “West Side Story,” playing the lead role of Tony.
As for future hopes and goals, Konschak is not anywhere close to being done with his love for theatre. “Ideally I would like to get involved in professional theatre down here in Ft. Lauderdale. I miss it a lot; it’s really what makes me happy,” Konschack said. “I’ve been involved in a few different companies, constantly figuring out if this is what’s going to make me happy, and it’s not that I’m not happy–I enjoy what I’m doing–but I absolutely love theatre without a doubt.”
