BWW Blog: Amanda Grillo - Theater Club Corner: Meet the Short Play Festival Directors

Coming up March 24th and 25th, we have the theater club's first short play festival. Completely student run, this festival will showcase published plays as well as two original student works. These plays are performed, designed, and directed by the students. As one of the student directors, I can't begin to tell you about how proud I am to be a part of this festival. This is my first time directing outside of classes and I am absolutely thrilled to be directing Smitten written by Mark Harvey Levine. The entire experience has shaped me as a director, actor, designer, and even an audience member. It has definitely impacted how I will look at future productions and has given me even more respect for the various positions involved in making a production happen. Let's meet some of my other fellow directors shall we?

Let's start with the playwrights that are pulling double duty and directing as well. Jared Reynolds is the student playwright that penned Blizzard and he is directing What Remains of Youth by Eric Gerand. Reynolds shares his experiences directing:

"What Remains of Youth is such a different piece than I've worked with in the past. There is very little physical action: There is one setting, not much interaction with a set or with props, this piece is almost entirely focused on the two people on the stage and how they interact with each other. So I am trying something new that I have ever done before: I'm spending more time working on the characters and text and relationships more than I am putting it on its feet. I believe that, with this piece, once we flesh out the characters, the scene will stage itself."

In regards to writing Blizzard, Reynolds enlightens us about seeing his work being brought to life and collaborating with a director:

"I am so excited to see my work come to life! You can write it however you want, you can imagine what it looks like however you want, but once you put that script into someone's else's hands, it's their job to put it on stage, and while that idea of letting it go is terrifying, it is also exciting because I trust Erica and the cast she has, and I know that they are going to do some great things with it."

Reynolds also shared the experience of how his acting experience influences his directorial style by disclosing, "Being an actor helps me because I know how to take an actor's language (Which is very different than a directorial one) and translate it into a directorial one. Directors tend to be more visual, while actors tend to be more emotional. Being both helps me direct actors to do what they feel is natural but also looks good. And vice versa, when I'm acting in a future production."

Timothy M. Gadomski is the writer and director behind Indulgence which will also be premiering in this festival. He shares with us what it was like to direct his own piece:

"At first I was cautious about directing my own work; I didn't want to become too particular or demanding. But I have found that being the playwright and the director has allowed the cast to better understand their roles and the story itself."

He also informs us what it's like to see his work come to life for the first time:

"It has been phenomenal bringing Indulgence to life. I'm so glad that I've been afforded the opportunity to premiere my show on the University of New Haven campus. Seeing each step from inception to finale will be a fantastic feeling and it has been thus far. I'm glad I get to see Brian Guski become Johnathon Belinski I and cannot wait to hear what the audience has to say."

Erica Quaedvlieg is the director behind premiere production of Reynold's Blizzard. I got the chance to ask her what it was like to bring a new work to life:

"Being able to direct this piece has been a brand new and eye opening experience for me. Having the opportunity to not only perform a fellow friend's original work, but to work with people similar in age has been a great learning experience. Directing this specific piece is quite challenging at times. It's lucky to be able to have the playwright be a text away, but as a director. I would like to put my own spin on things while doing the play and Mr. Reynolds justice. Also working with the actors is always a great thing, watching them develop each character rehearsal after rehearsal is truly something special."

She also shared her previous experiences in acting influenced her directing style:

"Being an actor definitely helps when it comes to the style at which I direct. Learning through the people I've worked with what may have worked during a rehearsal and what may have not follows with me into this process."

Director of Sylvia Reed's Smart Bra, Bobby DellaCamera, shared what it was like for him to make the transition from actor to director:

"It has been a privilege to be able to work on the other side of things. I have always wanted to explore the directing route. I knew I would eventually get there so this whole experience has been very fulfilling for me personally."

DellaCamera also shared what his acting experience influenced in his directing style:

"As a director I wanted to be completely open and flexible. I wanted to try things as many different ways as possible. Often times I would ask the actors how they felt after doing a specific part of the scene. I wanted to be very invested in the actors' experience. As an actor, I enjoy when my directors allow me to develop and have a relationship with them. So I made sure to get to know my cast before we began rehearsing. It was challenging yet exciting to be able to make decisions. I didn't have to ask anyone for approval, although I would often times ask the actors their opinions because I want them to have a relationship to the material and performance."

Last, but not least is Michael Kennedy who will be directing Michele Markarian's Call Me. He tells us what it has been like to direct such an interesting piece:

"Directing has been both terrifying and exciting. It's strange to be on the other side of the rehearsal process. Even when directing a play with only three people, there is so much I have to pay attention to."

Like myself, DellaCamera, and Gadomski, Kennedy is making his directorial debut in this festival. He shared with us what it was like to make the transition from actor to director:

"I have a greater appreciation for everything that a director does. I knew that directing was challenging, but I didn't know it was this challenging. But it is fun to have so much creative control that I usually would not have as an actor."

This festival graces the University of New Haven stage March 24th and 25th at 8pm. It is surely not something to miss!

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