Laughing in the Face of Darkness: Examining the Possible

Join us in a follow up with director and professor Collin Andrulonis and “Bottom,” senior Cole Shoemaker, performing in UCO’s upcoming production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream February 6-9th at UCO. Link to production information below! We’ll get the director perspective from Collin in terms of leaning into the fear and taking chances, how to find the best cast for your performance, and what is going on in the mind of directors as they figure out what comes next. 

With Cole, we address his role as Bottom and how he won the part and what comes next for him as he prepares to graduate. We will talk about comedic choices and the relationship between director and actor that allows for the best comedic results. And as an emerging director, we discussed the six months of (p)research for any production before rehearsals even start. We’ll discuss absurdist productions, the audience's discomfort (hey, sometimes it’s good to get out of your comfort zone!) and what dictates the choices a director makes in terms of production, performance, and tech. There is more to this director business than meets the eye - so join us as we dive in.   

https://calendar.uco.edu/fine-arts-design/event/8598-theatre-arts-a-midsummer-nights-dream

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Thank you for listening!

Host/Shakespearean Shrew: Dr. Karen Feiner

Co-Creator/Brew Shrew: Michelle Coffman

Cover Art Creator/Artistic Shrew: Katie Kimberling ⁠⁠www.halfmaverick.com⁠⁠

Thank you to our guests: Collin Andrulonis and Cole Shoemaker

Collin Andrulonis (he/him/his) is a national-award-winning theatre educator who is thrilled to begin his fourth year as a professor and the Head of Theatre Education at the University of Central Oklahoma. Collin attended college at UCO where he received his Bachelor's Degree in Theatre Education and his Master's Degree in Secondary Education. He taught middle school theatre for 12 years, and spent 8 of those years building one of the premier middle school theatre programs in New York City. Collin has won numerous awards for his teaching, directing, and playwriting. He continues to direct productions all over the state, most recently including Into the Woods at Poteet Theatre,  August: Osage County at the University of Central Oklahoma (which received nine Kennedy Center ACTF awards), and Clue at Carpenter Square Theatre. Many thanks to all of his wonderful students and colleagues, as well as his family and wonderful wife, Erin.

Cole Shoemaker is a senior theatre performance major at The University of Central Oklahoma. He has done many a play as both an actor and director. He has had wonderful time playing Nick Bottom and would like to thank his family, friends, and the entire Midsummer time for the constant support. If you ever see Cole on the street feel free to tell him a little joke, but not a riddle because those deeply confuse and scare this poor young man.