Furman Magazine Volume 45 Article 38 Issue 3 Fall 2002

9-1-2002 Dramatic shift Jim Stewart '76 Furman University

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Recommended Citation Stewart, Jim '76 (2002) "Dramatic shift," Furman Magazine: Vol. 45 : Iss. 3 , Article 38. Available at: https://scholarexchange.furman.edu/furman-magazine/vol45/iss3/38

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You may have seen Laura Putney last who was preparing to start her legal career May 3. with the firm of Alston & Bird in Atlanta, Ga., At approximately 9:55 p.m. EDT, she was quoted as saying that, given her was lying on a street in Washington, D.C., druthers, she'd rather act. the victim of a hit-and-run that was clearly The story, published shortly after her no accident. graduation, set off a few shock waves. The Laura looked done for, her body beaten Atlanta Journal-Constitution picked up on and battered, her friend kneeling beside the Alston & Bird connection and wrote her, crying for help. Would a miracle a scathing editorial about this "ungrateful" happen? Would she somehow survive? young woman who didn't really want this We'll never know. "First Monday," wonderful job with this wonderful firm. The the CBS show about the Supreme Court CBS Evening News and "Good Morning on which she guest-starred as the unlucky America" followed up, requesting interviews casualty, was canceled, leaving viewers and clips from the film. (and Laura) hanging. Putney was actually vacationing in Italy Frankly, though, it looked like she when the turmoil began. "It was a bit of needed to be transported to "ER"- STAT. a shock to get to my hotel and find a mes­ More likely, as she says, "That character iil sage saying, 'Dan Rather called'," she says. 8 will just have to be on 'Six Feet Under'." 0 While she was willing to talk with the ::t: Fortunately, the real Laura is alive media, she wouldn't let them broadcast the �w and well and has moved on to a more stable cr: film, in large partbecause her friends hadn't CBS program: "JAG." She has a recurring 9 consented to have their views aired publicly. role this year as an attorney on the popular On September 1, Laura Putney took on Without access to the film, the networks military/legal drama. a new role when she married attorney lost interest and the furor soon died down. James Feldman. And what does "recurring" mean? "You "It would be interesting to go back and get to be on more than one show," she see how the people I interviewed feel today," says. Her first episode aired November 5. Putney says. "At the time, they had no She's not about to complain about Furman theatre productions and performed perspective on their Harvard experience. typecasting, either, although in real life, she locally and regionally with Idiom Savant, I'm sure they'd offer a different take now." really is an attorney - with a rather impres­ a popular improvisational troupe. After working for a year (and continuing sive pedigree: Harvard Law School, Class When she moved on to Harvard, she to study acting) in Atlanta, Putney moved of 1995. The "JAG" break came after the says, she enjoyed "a fantastic three years to New Yo rk with Kauff, McClain & McGuire. show's producer, Donald Bellisario - who in an intellectually stimulating environment." There she fed her acting jones by taking also produced "First Monday" and happens Aside from her law studies, she took classes classes and landing occasional jobs, includ­ to have a law degree himself - learned at the American Repertory Theatre and ing a reading of a play by Furman alum that he and Laura shared a similar became involved with the law student drama Randall David Cook '91 . But she was educational background. society, which presented parodies of student working 60-hour weeks, she says, so finding Officially, she is "of counsel" in Los life. "I performed, wrote and directed," she time for acting was difficult. Angeles for the firm of Kauff, McClain & says. "We had great fun." When the itch wouldn't subside, she McGuire, with whom she worked full time During her final year, she produced decided to move to Los Angeles, which she in New Yo rk before following her heart and something more serious: a 45-minute mini­ did in the summer of 2001 . At first she took moving to the West Coast. So while she documentary about the law school experi­ a sabbatical leave, but when the firm asked tries to build a theatrical career by guesting ence. At the time, Harvard was undergoing if she would be willing to represent its on television shows, doing commercials some public and private turmoil, which she interests on a part-time basis, she couldn't and independent films, and studying and says has since been resolved. say no. performing with ACME Comedy Theatre, Putney, who received academic credit For Putney, things seem to be working a sketch comedy group, she has the luxury for the project, interviewed more than 20 out just fine. And in discussing the choices of knowing that she has something to fall classmates, most of whom expressed she has made, she recalls the words of back on. disenchantment with the school and its a Harvard professor, who told students She says, "Many actors struggle to numbing effect on their lives. She donated to "invent the job you want." make a living while pursuing their career. the video, of which only a few copies were She says, "He told us not to try to ima­ I'm fortunate to be able to practice law on printed, to the school; professors and uni­ gine our career path, but to dream our the side. It's interesting and challenging, versity committees watched it in an effort wildest dream. Ask yourself, 'What do you I like it, and it's a flexible job that will support to understand and address the students' want to keep from law school?' 'What do me." dissatisfaction. you want to add?' Then go out and create Acting has long had a grip on Laura Somehow, though, the New Yo rk Times that job." Putney, a history major and 1992 summa found out about it, interviewed Putney, and She seems to have followed his advice cum laude graduate of Furman. As an wrote a story saying that no one at Harvard to the letter. undergraduate, she appeared in several Law School wanted to be a lawyer. Putney, -Jim Stewart 47