Interlochen Taps Broadway And 'House of Cards' Actress For Commencement

Interlochen Center for the Arts announced on Tuesday that acclaimed stage and screen actress Elizabeth Marvel will be on hand to deliver the commencement address for the Interlochen Arts Academy Class of 2023 graduation ceremony. Marvel, who is both an Interlochen alum and a current Interlochen parent, boasts a versatile resume that runs from Shakespeare to House of Cards.

Born in Los Angeles and raised in Pennsylvania, Marvel spent years at Interlochen, studying at Interlochen Arts Camp in the summers of 1982 and 1983 and then attending Interlochen Arts Academy for high school. After graduating from the Academy in 1987, Marvel went on to study at the prestigious Julliard School, and then began her acting career in the 1990s by performing in off-Broadway productions. Marvel’s work has netted her three Obie Awards (or Off-Broadway Theatre Awards), which are essentially the off-Broadway equivalent of the Tony Awards. She’s also performed in a slew of Broadway productions, perhaps most notably as Goneril in the 2019 Broadway revival of William Shakespeare’s landmark tragedy King Lear.

Since the late 1990s, Marvel has also maintained a prolific career in television and film. Notable television roles include Detective Nancy Petras in The District, Defense Attorney Rita Calhoun in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Heather Dunbar in House of Cards, Constance Heck in Fargo, President Elizabeth Keane in Homeland, and Noel Holmes in The Dropout. In film, she served as the narrator for the 2010 Coen Brothers remake of True Grit and has featured in everything from The Bourne Legacy to Lincoln to this year’s upcoming adaptation of the The Color Purple stage musical.

"As a graduate of Interlochen Arts Academy, Beth Marvel personifies success, having gone from Interlochen to The Juilliard School to an amazing career in theatre, film, and television,” Interlochen Center for the Arts Provost Camille Colatosti said of the commencement speaker choice. “Her commitment to the art of acting is paramount as is her dedication to the development of young people. As a Camp parent, she has made numerous trips to Interlochen in recent years to work directly with Interlochen students. She is an inspiration who shows us what it means to be a true artist. She stands as a creative changemaker, the kind of artistic spirit so needed in the world today. We are thrilled to welcome her as our commencement speaker."

Interlochen’s commencement is scheduled for 10am on Saturday, May 27 and will take place at Kresge Auditorium. A livestream of the event – including Marvel’s address – will be available on Interlochen’s website.