BY: Brittany Vallely
“Being a small theatre means that everyone who comes in hits the ground running,” according to AUM’s theatre coordinator who is also an alumni.
Katie Pearson, who has been a part of the theatre program since 2004, gave a speech to journalism students about how AUM’s theatre department prepares students for the professional world, despite the size of the program.
Pearson received her bachelor’s in art and master degree in liberal arts with a concentration in theatre from AUM. After she graduated, she continued working at the university for four years as an assistant, and was later offered the job as theatre coordinator.
“I secure the rights, design the posters, and programs for productions,” said Pearson. “I was at the right place at the right time when I was offered the job.”
There are also three other professors in the department who each teach different courses. Mike Winkelman works on the technical aspect, Val Winkelman favors in costuming, and Neil David Seibel focuses on performance. However, they all have experience in directing and producing shows at AUM.
Pearson says the program has changed a lot of over the year since she arrived, including how the professors find shows for the season.
“There are four shows per year,” said Pearson. “The new formula is that there is one showcase, one new play, one classical, and one contemporary.”
According to Pearson, choosing plays that are in different categories helps student learn to be more diverse.
“We have to give them a challenge and promote growth,” she said.
Pearson believes the showcase helps students find their niche in either performing or working on the tech side. The showcase is good experience because everyone who auditions gets casted. Two years ago, the showcase was invited to be performed at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival (ASF) and students can put that on their resume.
“The showcase helps students find monologues that they can use at auditions,” said Pearson. “The more experience you have the better you will get at your craft.”
The second show of the season is known as the competition piece that is entered into the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF). Students in the cast get the chance to be nominated for an Irene Ryan Award, which is an acting competition hosted at the regional convention. The show itself can also be invited to the convention where the cast gets to perform again to everyone that is there.
“The professors alternate their shows each year for competition spot and many students ask to help design” said Pearson.
The entire designer team for the show can be students and their work also has the chance to win awards for KCACTF.
“Sometimes you get nominated for a job by Val, but she pays attention of student’s potential through classes,” said Pearson.
Pearson also pointed out that Siebel is the one who usually picks a new play from The Hollins Playwright’s Lab, and the playwright is usually invited to see the performance.
“Neil David brings in the playwrights to talk about the process of writing a play, and the play serves as the theatre’s guest artist.” said Pearson.
The theatre program does have a couple of problems that cause the program to stay small, such as not having a Bachelor’s in Fine Arts (BFA) program.
“Also, we do not get as many students because we don’t offer musical theatre, but getting rights for musicals is more expensive,” said Pearson.
AUM only offers theatre majors a Bachelor’s in Arts (BA) and since there is not a BFA program, not many incoming freshmen want to attend AUM if there is not any musical theatre.
“It has been five years since AUM has produced a musical, and the only reason why they chose a musical back then was because of the group of students that was there at time,” said Pearson.
The theatre is also under the university, which means AUM owns all the prop, costumes, and equipment. Since the theatre is so small, storage is an issue because there is only so much room.
“We thought about having a yard sale or a silent auction for stuff in storage, but we can’t because the state owns it,” said Pearson.
Nevertheless, Pearson states that the program does help students find internships and jobs at professional regional theatres.
“Our professors have a network of professionals they work with that keep them informed of openings that are available,” said Pearson.
Former students Jonathan Meinsler and Lexi Tippet graduated last year and are both currently working at ASF.
“We have good connections with ASF. Val is a current costume designer and Neil David is directing a show there,” said Pearson.
Pearson believes everything that the program does is to prepare students for the professional world. The professors know what conferences and events will offer opportunities and encourage student’s participation.
“We do a lot to help our students find jobs,” she added. “The professional world is a whole different ball game, but students are not going to grow if you don’t give them opportunity.”