Theatre AUM

Actor Spotlight: Kodi Robertson

Actor Spotlight: Kodi Robertson

BY: Olivia Crutchfield The thing you become passionate about over the course of your life may have been something you never would have thought in a million years would soon be a part of who you are as a person. With the help of encouraging parents and the universe placing you exactly where you need to be at that moment, you can be surprised as to how your path changes instantly. Kodi Robertson is no stranger to the stage or entertaining people. For Robertson, acting and theatre was his way out of a predictable future. Robertson not only realizes how…
Read More
AUM’s Small Theatre Program Provides Students Big Opportunities

AUM’s Small Theatre Program Provides Students Big Opportunities

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…
Read More
Designer Students Share Their Stories About the Technical Aspect of Theatre

Designer Students Share Their Stories About the Technical Aspect of Theatre

BY: Brittany Vallely Have you ever wondered who works backstage to help make a play come life? There is an entire technical aspect in theatre called a designer team. Theatre AUM’s designer team for their production of “Child’s Play” is made up of students, which includes makeup design and lighting design. Olivia Crutchfield, a senior, is the makeup designer and helps make the actors fit their character. “The research starts off with what do you want to do and then finding your examples. It's basically using key words and putting that into Google or Pinterest, and taking bits and pieces…
Read More

Theatre AUM – Child’s Play

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruScpMSe-gY[/embedyt]   Showtimes and dates for “Child's Play” are November 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10 at 7:30 p.m. The show closes November 11 at 2 p.m. AUM’s theatre is located in the Taylor Center.
Read More
My Summer Working In the Professional World

My Summer Working In the Professional World

BY: Brittany Vallely If you told me a year ago that I would be working at a professional theatre in New York for the summer I would not have believed you. However, when I received a job offer from The Gateway Playhouse for a carpentry apprenticeship I knew I could not pass up the opportunity. I applied for the job at the Southern Eastern Theatre Conference (SETC) last March, where professional theatre companies from all over the country look for technicians. Since I am theatre major and have worked on set construction while in college, I figured this would be…
Read More
Cloverdale Playhouse Presents: “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead!”

Cloverdale Playhouse Presents: “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead!”

BY: Kodi Robertson Anyone who has ever heard of William Shakespeare knows or has at least heard of “Hamlet”. “Hamlet” is the classic revenge tragedy that has been retold over and over, and over, and over again. Retellings of the same story is quite common in theatre, but spin-offs are where these stories shine brightest. “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead!” gives audiences the story of “Hamlet” from the perspective of comic relief characters Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. For those who do not know, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are friends of Hamlet’s from school. Imagine Timon and Pumba from “The Lion King” being able…
Read More
Female Voices in Theatre

Female Voices in Theatre

BY: Olivia Crutchfield Theatre AUM’s first production of the 2018-2019 season is in full swing, and like previous years it’s being kicked off with a showcase. The showcases are a compilation of scenes and monologues from various plays all regarding a certain theme. This years’ showcase is showcasing monologues and scenes all written by women; Female Voices. The underrepresentation of women is evident in many industries, and unfortunately theatre is an industry where women have also been forgotten or completely misrepresented in works. Studies and numbers can clearly show how great the gap is between men and women. Although these…
Read More
Female Voices Showcase 2018

Female Voices Showcase 2018

BY: Marcus Godbee Auburn University Montgomery’s theatre is producing a showcase called “Female Voices.” The showcase consists of scenes and monologues written female playwrights. The number of female playwrights has significantly increased in the past few decades. Theatre AUM wishes to showcase their talent. “Today, theatre companies are actively seeking new works written by women,” said Theatre Professor Val Winkelman. “It has been a great experience to research and revisit some well- known, classic favorites as well as to explore contemporary plays written by prominent female playwrights.” Some of the topics that the plays explore are puberty, romance sexuality, equality,…
Read More
“Measure for Measure” Shows Theater Excellence

“Measure for Measure” Shows Theater Excellence

Guest starring Neil David Seibel and Sarah Walker Thornton of the Actors’ Equity Association, Michael Winkelman’s production of Measure for Measure tells the story of Isabella, a chaste, young woman and devoted sister aspiring to become a nun, and Angelo, a hypocritical, unmerciful deputy of the law. We are introduced to our characters and the town of Vienna—rife with debauchery—by Duke Vincentio (David Wilson), who has decided to pose as a friar to learn what the townsfolk really think of him. In his absence, he leaves Angelo (Neil David Seibel) to enforce the law, and Angelo’s first act is to…
Read More
AUM Actor Spotlight: Jonathan Meinsler

AUM Actor Spotlight: Jonathan Meinsler

Jonathan Meinsler is finishing up his time at AUM and is no stranger to the stage or backstage at Theatre AUM. Jonathan has been a part of every single show in some way since 2015. Some people find their calling or their “thing” later in life, but for Jonathan he discovered his love for theatre when he was only a child. “I remember being five, my mom and grandparents went to see Phantom of the Opera in Atlanta, they brought back the cast album and within three days I had memorized and was singing every song full out. So, I…
Read More
Backstage Spotlight: Marcus Godbee

Backstage Spotlight: Marcus Godbee

When watching a movie or play, the focus and praises are typically directed towards the actors, but those behind the camera, curtain, lights or construction of the production are sometimes left out of the congratulatory applause. Those who aren’t center stage and lurk in the shadows of backstage are just as important to the success, and failure, of any production just as much as the spotlight stealing actor on stage. This isn’t Marcus Godbee’s first time being a part of the backstage crew at Theatre AUM. He has directed scenes for Theatre AUM’s Liberty & Justice and was the Assistant…
Read More
“Weightless” Allows Audience Members to Fly Free

“Weightless” Allows Audience Members to Fly Free

Neil David Seibel’s production of Weightless takes the audience on a journey into a fairy tale unlike any other. The show’s opening sequence doesn’t use a single word, yet still manages to captivate its viewers with otherworldly music and lights. The elemental characters dance and float across the stage, presenting themselves as mystical beings, setting the scene of a young girl swimming and floating in water. Before long, we learn that this particular girl, Lucie, is unlike any other. She laughs when she is distraught, she falls up instead of down, and she swims all day in a magical lake…
Read More
Theatre AUM Now Showing “Weightless”

Theatre AUM Now Showing “Weightless”

Auburn University Montgomery’s theater is producing a brand-new play called “Weightless.” This will be the very first time the script is being produced. It was written by Meghan Reimers. She is currently pursuing her Master of Fine Arts degree as a member of the playwright’s lab at Hollins University in Roanoke, Virginia. “Weightless” is a fantastical and magical play that centers around a young boy named Caleb, a young woman named Lucie, Lucie’s overprotective mother, Marie, and her plotting aunt, Julie. The play exists in a world of magic. Lucie is cursed with no gravity and is bound to a…
Read More
Theatre AUM’s Big (Top) Performance at KCACTF

Theatre AUM’s Big (Top) Performance at KCACTF

On February 8th, Theatre AUM went to Americus, Georgia to perform their production of Woyzeck at the Rylander Theatre as one of five productions in Region 4 chosen to attend the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival. All of the 23 cast and crew members attended KCACTF. The cast included: Kodi Robertson- Woyzeck, Brittany Vallely- Marie, Faith Roberts- Margaret, Jonathan Meinsler- Showman, Brandon Baggin- Captain, Antonio George- Drum Major, Amy May- Sargent, Kate Saylor- Doctor, Chris Mascia- Andres, Kiersten Mattox- Zirkus, Tara Fenn- Gypsy, and Kaylee Baker- Child. Kodi, Brittany and Kate were also chosen to audition for the prestigious…
Read More
A Review of Theatre AUM’s “Woyzeck”

A Review of Theatre AUM’s “Woyzeck”

This production comes from the mind of the director Val Winkelman, professor of theater at AUM. Her style in this production takes a deeply scarred character and adds whimsical illusions that cast a broken, steely light onto the strange scene. Each night’s order was determined by the audience. What should’ve been a chaotic mess of narrative pieces hurled into the audience’s lap instead fell together like sharp-edged puzzle pieces onto a black stage. Each scene presented itself on the edge of Woyzeck’s scattered mind, ready to fall into nothingness if done wrong. Additionally, Woyzeck’s character is juxtaposed between the ridiculously…
Read More