All New People
Zach Braff's All New People is centered around a suicidal man being interrupted whilst trying to hang himself by a group of oddball characters. While the play as a whole was a comedy, it touched on serious issues of theology, depression, love, and addiction. I approached this project with personal connection to depression and suicide, bringing the issue and the heart of the play to the center of focus while still honoring the hilarious nature of the play.
This production was my senior thesis and included an all-student company.
Technical Direction by Zach Kentala, Costume Design by Ashley Kok, Scenic Design by Tyler Rankin, and Lighting Design by Danielle Verkennes.
Marley Martin - Stage Manager.
The cast featured Zach Kentala as Charlie, Elisa Taylor as Emma, Seth Hart as Myron, Jessica Wilkowski as Kim; with Farrell Tatum, Jordan Kinney, and Shekinah Tapplin.
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24 Hour Theatre
The 24-Hour-Theatre project was a yearly tradition at my undergraduate university started by my friend and colleague, TJ Corbett. His method utilizes the classical style of Commedia dell'Arte to create a long-form improvised play in the span of 24 hours.
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I directed the project in February 2015 with a company relatively unfamiliar with the style. Overnight, we not only taught the cast how to perform Commedia, we devised, wrote, and rehearsed over the course of an evening. At the same time, I worked with a team of designers and technicians to build a show from scratch.
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Overnight, we kept audiences engaged while we worked with a strong online presence and a well-used hashtag.
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The production was done extra-curricular for the Student Theatre Group.
Production crew: Zach Kentala, Ashley Kok, Jessica Wilkowski, Tyler Rankin, Danielle Verkennes, Ellen Moore, Lucas Kentala.
Company: Paul Docter, Lucas Moquin, Dominique Hinde, Farrell Tatum, Seth Hart, George Marzonie, Rick Superczynski, Justin Brown
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Baby Food
Baby Food by David Lindsay-Abaire was my introduction to directing. This one-act play, which is about a couple courting another to be the godparents of their newborn, is laden with elements of social disconnect. I focused my vision around the modern tool of connection, the smart phone, and how disconnected people can be in the age of new media.
The cast included Jordan Climie, Destiny Dunn, Jill Mac, and Chazz Irwin.
