Jordan Becknell ’26
By Elita Kutateli ’26
Thanks to donor support, Jordan Becknell ’26 completed an international residency of a lifetime with One Year Lease Theatre Company, working alongside professional artists in India, Japan, and Greece to better understand theatre as a global, community-centered practice.
For Jordan Becknell ’26, theatre has always been more than performance. A recent graduate of Scripps, she views the field as a space for collaboration, connection, and continuous evolution.
“I have been acting my whole life, but I really I fell in love with theatre because I’ve always loved learning,” Becknell says. “Theatre is one of those disciplines where I’ll always be learning something new.”
As a theatre and media studies major, Becknell sought out a liberal arts college to study performance within a broader academic and creative community. During her time on campus, Becknell remained deeply involved in mainstage productions, student films, production work, and student clubs. In 2024, Becknell received Pomona College Theatre Department’s Virginia Princehouse Allen Newcomer Award, recognizing early contributions to The Claremont Colleges’ theatre community.
A Transformative International Residency and the Power of Scholarship Support
Becknell’s interest in collaboration and creative growth led to one of the most significant artistic experiences so far: a two-month international residency with One Year Lease Theatre Company.
As part of the program, the young actor traveled to India, Japan, and Greece to work with more than 40 professional artists on a new adaptation of Lysistrata, an ancient Greek comedy.
The opportunity was thrilling, Becknell says, created uncertainty due to the potential financial burden it posed.
I got to experience what it meant to be a working artist, both the liberties and responsibilities that come from that.
“I was incredibly excited but also worried. An artistic residency isn’t something you get paid for—it’s something you pay for, and a two-month international trip studying with professional artists is not cheap,” she explains. Support from the Connolly Family Endowed Scholarship made it possible for Becknell to participate without posing a financial burden.
“I definitely would not have been able to go on this residency without the Connolly scholarship,” Becknell says. “It made a huge difference and was incredible financial relief for me and my family.”
During the residency, Becknell worked alongside many creatives who sharpened her career outlook as a professional artist.
“These adults were my colleagues and eventually my community,” Becknell says. “I got to experience what it meant to be a working artist, both the liberties and responsibilities that come from that.”
Performing in countries with long-standing theatre traditions deepened Becknell’s appreciation of cultural exchange.
“My whole world opened up,” Becknell says. “One Year Lease is really an incredibly special group of artists, and they showed me a way of making theatre that was radically different than anything I’d ever experienced.”
Back at Scripps, Becknell brought those lessons into her academic and creative efforts, and credits her 5C peers with making her future in the arts feel less isolating. “It’s thanks to the 5C arts community that I feel like I’m not going out into this scary world alone,” she says.
Looking Ahead
Now a graduate of the Class of 2026, Becknell hopes to continue working in the arts before eventually pursuing graduate school and a possible PhD. For now, she’s focused on gathering experiences that will lead to stronger creative bonds.
“At the end of the day, any new experience will make me a better artist,” Becknell says, “Being in community, trying new things, and living life are what inspires great art.”
Give Today! Each generation has strengthened Scripps College in meaningful ways—and now, we have an opportunity to shape the College’s future as we mark this historic centennial milestone. We are proud to announce Scripps Forward: The Centennial Campaign for Scripps College. Over the next three years, our goal is to surpass $100 million in donor support to secure a future of infinite possibility for the next century.
As we continue to attract a growing pool of top talent, your support ensures that these students—regardless of their financial circumstances—can fully engage in Scripps’ academic and cocurricular life. Thank you for your generosity and moving Scripps students forward.