COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES

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DONORS!SUPPORTERS OF THEATRE SOUTH CAROLINA

THROUGH OUR DONOR GROUP

THE CIRCLEAND THROUGH ANNUAL GIVING

TO THE UNIVERSITY OF SC

JOIN THE CIRCLE TODAY!VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION:

ARTSANDSCIENCES.SC.EDU/THEA(CLICK ON “DONORS” LINK ON THE LEFT-HAND SIDE)

List compiled from donations received at time of printing, November, 2015.

THANK YOU!

Rick and Rory AckermanDr. and Mrs. John L. Almeida

Dr. Sally BoydMatthew S. ClearyPeter Chametzky

Roger and Pat CoateErik Collins

Dave and Sandy CowenJames DawkinsMax Dent, Jr.

John DickersonRobert and Judith Felix

Rhittie GettoneSallie J. Guess

John F. HamiltonJohn and Lucretia Herr

Janet HudsonElizabeth Joiner and Buford Norman

Alice Bee KasakoffNatalie Kaufman

Mark KilgusJane Lavender

Daniel and Rita LebishSteve and Annette Lynn

Robert and Mylla MarklandBonnie J. MartinLawrence Mintz

Hayes MizellJohn and Catherine Moring

Dr. Gail M. MorrisonJeff and Linda Moulton

President Harris Pastides &Mrs. Patricia Moore-Pastides

Jeff and Brigette PerselsDr. and Mrs. S. Hunter Rentz

Jean RhyneJim and Jackie Robey

Dr. and Mrs. Jaime L. SanyerWilliam Schmidt, Jr.

Elizabeth Simmons and Al SadowskiBarbara and Wally StrongDan and Barbara Vismor

Dick White

There will be one intermission.

"Blithe Spirit" is presented by special arrangement with SAMUEL FRENCH, INC. The videotaping or making of electronic or other audio and/or visual recordings of

this production or distribution recordings on any medium, including the internet, is strictly prohibited, a violation of the author's rights and actionable under United States copyright law. For more information, please visit: www.samuelfrench.com/whitepaper.

Scenic Designer.......................................................................BAXTER ENGLE

Lighting Designer.................................................................RACHEL SHEETS

Costume Designer..............................................................RACHEL HARMON

Hair/Wig/Make-up Designer...............................................VALERIE PRUETT

Sound Designer.................................................................DANIELLE WILSON

Props Master..................................................................................JANE HEARN

Stage Manager.................................................................HUNTER ROBINSON

Charles Condomine................................................................................JOSH JEFFERS

Ruth Condomine..................................................................................NICOLE DIETZE

Elvira Condomine.........................................................................CANDACE THOMAS

Madame Arcati..........................................................................MARYBETH GORMAN*

Dr. George Bradman....................................................................DeAUDREY OWENS

Violet Bradman.................................................................................ASHLEY GRAHAM

Edith................................................................................................LINDSEY SHEEHAN

Cast

*Member of Actor's Equity. This theatre operates under an agreement between the University Resident Theatre management program and Actors Equity, the union of

professional actors and stage managers in the United States.

FROM THE CHAIR/CO-ARTISTIC DIRECTOR Lisa Martin-Stuart

Seeing Possibilities - How Theatre Artists ThinkIn theatre, our roles are often fluid and we have room to explore and discover, as well as magnificently fail. Especially in university drama programs, young artists have opportunities to challenge their perception of themselves and their abilities as they search for their theatrical niche. — Scott T. Barsotti

People are often surprised at the variety of interests, skills, and training acquired by our graduate and undergraduate students during the pursuit of their academic degrees. Students focused on acting will also develop skills in writing, directing, choreography, and producing. Design students will gain valuable hands-on skills in scene construction, scene painting, computer-aided design skills, patterning development, and fabric modification. The extra-curricular training opportunities are as wide-open and boundless as the dreams and imaginings of the students who wish to explore them. The exploration of these "by-product" skills gives our students an enhanced edge over many other applicants in the job market.

In 2011, researchers at Johnson O'Connor Research Foundation began studying theatre artists’ aptitude for creative thinking and problem solving skills. The study found, from playwrights to stage managers, that most theatre artists engage in divergent thinking, a complex thought process involving two contrasting concepts: ideaphoria (the constant flow of ideas) and foresight (creativity in conceptual form). Divergent thinking is a rare aptitude combination, as most people are classified according to one concept or the other. Those whose aptitude scores show a trend toward the concept of foresight tend to think more conceptually and are concerned with seeing whole-picture possibilities. For those whose aptitude scores trend toward the concept of ideaphoria, evidence shows a high level of articulacy in regard to maintaining communication and generating the flow of ideas. This study led Scott Barsotti, author of the HowlRound article, Are Theatre Artists Hardwired?, to ask, “As theatre artists, are we driven by more than just creative ambition or personal interest? Are we meant to seek out the collaborative art form of theater and the performing arts, to find our community, to not only see possibilities but to also to create the special world of characters and ideas?” The undergraduate Spotlight Student we introduce to you tonight, Leroy Kelly, is a perfect embodiment of the inspired curiosity that drives theatre artists to explore all facets of the creative and collaborative process. You can read more about his story in this program. To read Mr. Barsotti's full article, visit www.howlround.com. For more information on recent Theatre Alumni visit our website, www.artsandsciences.sc.edu/thea.

Enjoy the show!

FROM THE DIRECTOR Stan Brown

MEET OUR SHOW-RUNNERS!

Love doesn’t always end at the end of a relationship. Perhaps it never ends at all. Once the heart has genuinely loved, in my experience, there’s no going back. It’s “for-life” and probably beyond. This seems to be the case for the Condomines in Noël Coward’s Blithe Spirit.

As we move from one relationship to another, what “ghosts” do we take with us? How, if necessary, might one secure an exorcism if a “ghost” or two won’t leave or, at least, find rest? These central questions attracted me to Blithe Spirit.

I hope you enjoy watching Coward’s classic characters, Charles and his two wives Ruth and Elvira, grapple with finding a functional solution.

Stan BrownDirectorProfessor, Theatre Program

Our Blithe Spirit backstage crew, all students in the THEA 121 Production Lab.

Standing, from left: Leroy Kelly (Sound Board Operator), Scott Koontz (Dresser), Corey Robinson (Dresser), Cody Phillips (Makeup/Wigs), William Quant (Light Board Operator); Seated, from left: Libby Bagnal (Deck Crew/Props), Sara Hilton (Assistant Stage Manager), Hunter Robinson (Stage Manager)

CAST

Nicole DietzeRuth Condomine

Nicole is a second-year MFA acting candidate. She performed with

Pennsylvania Rep Co. in Of Mice and Men and Romeo and Juliet and also at The Shawnee Playhouse in The Importance of Being Earnest, Beyond Therapy, and Manhattan Casanova. Nicole originated the roles of Zoe in Spanakopita and Johanna in Visions of Johanna through Shawnee Playhouse’s Original Playwright Series.

Marybeth GormanMadame Arcati

Marybeth Gorman is an actor, teacher, director, and

voice and dialect coach based in Columbia. She has performed regionally with theaters including Milwaukee Repertory Theater, Utah Shakespearean Festival, Hippodrome Theater, Arden Theatre Company, and Walnut Street Theatre, and is a frequent dialect coach for Theatre South Carolina productions. Marybeth is a graduate of USC's MFA Acting Program and is a proud member of Actors' Equity Association. Thanks to Stan and the rest of the company

for letting me play with you!

Ashley GrahamViolet Bradman

Ashley Graham is a sophomore theatre major and journalism and psychology

double minor at the University of South Carolina. She is originally from Boiling Springs, South Carolina. Her first appearance was in the lab theatre performance of The Trojan Women. She also appeared in Player King and, most recently, Stop Kiss. She is excited to be working alongside such amazing artists in her first main stage production. She would like to attribute her sister, Mya, for inspiration and thank her parents for their constant support.

Josh JeffersCharles Condomine

Josh Jeffers has previously been seen on stage with

Theatre South Carolina in The Three Musketeers, Translations, Our Town, and briefly The Threepenny Opera. He thanks his teachers, mentors, and directors.

DeAudrey OwensDr. George Bradman

A freshman at USC, majoring in Theatre. DeAudrey is an up and coming

performer who has been in the dramatic arts his entire life. His first debut at USC was in a Lab Theatre play called Stop Kiss, where he played the supporting role as Peter. DeAudrey plans on performing in many future features at USC and aspires to be an Actor.

Lindsey SheehanEdith

Lindsey is a sophomore theatre and criminal justice double major from

Boston, MA. Blithe Spirit is her first production here at USC. She wishes to thank everyone for offering her the opportunity to perform in this show, as well as all those who work behind the scenes to make this show so fantastic. Lindsey also wants to thank her parents for encouraging her to do theatre from a young age and for coming to South Carolina to see the production!

Candace ThomasElvira Condomine

Candace Thomas is a second year MFA Acting Candidate. Favorite Theatre

South Carolina credits include The Threepenny Opera (Polly Peachum), Our Town (Mrs. Gibbs), and Tongue of a Bird (Maxine). Favorite regional credits include Spring Awakening (Theatre Horizon), Passing Strange (11th Hour Theatre Company), and Little Shop of Horrors (Bristol Riverside Theatre), in which she received a 2014 Barrymore Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical. Candace dedicates all of her performances to the memories of her grandmothers. To God Be The Glory!

ARTISTIC COMPANY

Stan BrownDirector

Stan Brown is a Professor in the Department of Theatre and Dance

at the University of South Carolina. He's in his 2nd year as voice specialist in both the Graduate Professional Actor Training Program and the Undergraduate Actor Training Program. Stan earned his MFA in Acting from

the University of South Carolina in 1989. While here, Stan was named a graduate acting fellow at the Shakespeare theatre in Washington D.C., where he received the core of his classical actor training. Stan began his work in university teaching at the University of Warwick in Coventry England where he taught acting and was a post graduate researcher in Contemporary Shakespearean Performance (Exploring director Peter Brook's body of work, with the Royal Shakespeare Company. In the UK Stan was invited to work with the Voice Department at the RSC by Cicely Berry*, RSC Director of Voice. This training and experience initiated Stan's ongoing explorations into perceptions and impacts of 'culture' on voice and speech training for the actor. He maintains an active professional relationship with the RSC's voice department and, specifically, Ms. Berry's work in voice. Apart from his work as a teacher, voice/dialect coach and director Stan has worked as a professional actor both here in the US and in the United Kingdom in theatre, film, television and radio for 30 years. Some of his credits include featured roles on NBC's Homicide: Life on the Street and recurring roles on In the Heat of the Night and the critically acclaimed I’ll Fly Away. In film, Stan co-starred in

Robby Benson's Modern Love and opposite Dave Chapelle, Calista Flockhart, and Matthew Perry in the cult film, Getting IN, the directorial debut of Doug Liman (Director of Swingers, Bourne Identity, Mr. & Mrs. Smith). In October Stan won Best Actor at The Louisiana Film Prize for his work in the title role of the short film, The Bespoke Tailoring of Mister Bellamy. The film also won the film festival grand prize, the largest film prize for short film in the world. (*Cicely Berry is author of the internationally renowned books: Voice and the Actor, The Actor and His Text, and Text in Action.)

Baxter EngleScenic Designer

Baxter Engle is a second year MFA scenic design candidate studying

under Nic Ularu at the University of South Carolina. His most recent work at Theatre South Carolina was scenic design for the production of Brian Friel's Translations in Longstreet Theatre. He also has designed video projections for Design Professor Nic Ularu’s Hieronymus which premiered at the National Theatre in Iasi, Romania and Fusions, which was performed at the 2013 World Stage Design festival in Cardiff, Wales.

Rachel SheetsLighting Designer

This is Rachel’s second design for Theatre South Carolina.

Previously she designed The Three Musketeers for Theatre South Carolina, as well as several numbers from Affirmation: A Journey of Life Through Dance for the University of South Carolina Dance program. She would like to thank the faculty and staff at USC as well as her family for their continued support.

Rachel HarmonCostume Designer

Rachel Harmon is a second-year Costume Design MFA student in the

Department of Theatre and Dance. A native of Boston, MA, she has a BFA in Fashion Design from the Massachusetts College of Art and Design, where she graduated with departmental honors. Main Stage credits include working as the Costume Designer on Translations, in addition to working as the Assistant Costume Designer to Lisa Martin-Stuart on last year’s production of Ajax in Iraq. Rachel recently completed her second season as the Costume Crafts Person at the Williamstown Theatre

Festival. She’s been involved in the Boston Independent Film scene and has designed costumes for the web series Allston Xmas, as well as independent films On the Seventh First Date and Truth Cocktail, which was nominated for numerous awards at this year’s Sanford International Film Festival. She’s also worked with many companies in the Greater Boston Area, including the Huntington Theatre Company, the Boston Ballet, and the Watertown Children’s Theatre. She hopes you enjoy the show!

Valerie PruettHair/Wig/Make-up Designer

Valerie has been working as a professional hair

and makeup artist for over fourteen years. Before returning to the University of South Carolina ten years ago, she free-lanced and designed for regional theatres across the country, including: Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, Utah Shakespeare Festival, American Players Theatre, New American Theatre, Dallas Theatre Center, American Folklore Theatre and the Madison Repertory Theatre. Valerie also worked as a guest lecturer and adjunct faculty at Lawrence University in Appleton, WI and the Professional Theatre Training Program at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. In addition to

teaching and designing at Theatre SC, Valerie maintains an active professional career as a Hair and Make-up artist in the tri-state areas with film and media productions. She firmly believes that a successful portrayal of any character must include the complete visual transformation of that character in order to have a true balance and silhouette.

Danielle WilsonSound Designer

Danielle is always pleased to return to Theater South Carolina. She

graduated from the MFA lighting design program at USC in 2003. She worked as the house lighting designer for the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center's Spirit Square where she lit Derek Trucks, The Avett Brothers, Arlo Guthrie, and Eve Ensler, among others. She returned to USC and worked for four years as the Assistant Technical Director for lighting and sound. In recent years her focus has become sound design as she has designed a number of the main stage productions at Theater South Carolina. Danielle is currently a freelance lighting and sound designer. She would like to thank her family.

Jane HearnProps Master

Jane is a graduate of the University of South Carolina Honors College with

a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre. She stage managed many productions throughout college and is excited to return to the USC (back)stage.

Hunter RobinsonStage Manager

Hunter Robinson is the Head Stage Manager. She is a junior here at USC.

She hopes to stage manager for Disney after she graduates. She thanks everyone who was has put hard work into this show! Break a leg!

Sam GrossAssistant Technical Director

Sam Gross is a graduate of Indiana University where

he earned an MFA in Theatre Technology. He specializes in mechanized scenery, computer controlled systems, electronics, set construction, and rigging. He has designed and built motion control systems for such productions as The Real Thing, Sweeney Todd, Romeo

and Juliet, Sweet Charity, Dracula, and Pal Joey. He has overseen the construction of USC productions since 2005. Mr. Gross received his Bachelor of Sciences Degree from the University of North Alabama where he also worked as a sound designer, lighting designer, sound engineer, carpenter, and actor. In his position as Assistant Technical Director, Sam supervises graduate and undergraduate students in the construction of scenery and props for USC Theatre and Dance productions.

Spencer Henderson Costume Studio Supervisor

M. Spencer Henderson is a graduate of the

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he received an MFA in Costume Shop Management and Costume Technology. He received his BA in theatre from Florida State University. His costuming credits include Playmakers Repertory Company, The Utah Shakespearean Festival, and Glimmerglass Opera. Recently, he spent the three summers (‘09-’11) at the Williamstown Theatre Festival as the Costume Shop Manager. Spencer supervises the USC costume shop, assists with the patternmaking and construction of costumes, and teaches costume construction classes.

Sara Hilton Assistant Stage Manager

Sara Hilton is a senior theatre major, from Ravenel, SC.

Previous stage experience includes the role of Enid Hoopes in Legally Blonde (Off Off Broadway) and run crew for Translations on the Main stage. This is her first time as an assistant stage manager and she wants to thank the cast and crew for making this a wonderful experience. To her family, thank you for all your support and love, and to everyone, enjoy the show!

Jim Hunter Lighting Design Advisor

Jim’s scene and lighting designs have been seen

at such theatres as the Folger Shakespeare Theatre, Theatre Virginia, Phoenix Theatre, Florida Repertory Theatre, Charlotte Repertory Theatre, Florida Stage, Arkansas Repertory Theatre, Playhouse on the Square, Drury Lane Theatre, Heritage Repertory Theatre, Flat Rock Playhouse, VeggieTales Live National Tour, Florida Studio Theatre, World Stage Exposition in Toronto as well as others. Jim toured with the modern dance company Wall Street Danceworks. Recent designs

have been recognized with two consecutive AriZoni Awards for Excellence in Scene Design. Jim is a member of the national designers union, United Scenic Artist, Local 829 in both scene and lighting design. He served as Chair for the Department of Theatre and Dance here at the University of South Carolina and Artistic Director of Theatre South Carolina from 2004 to 2014. During this period the department produced 63 main stage and 46 second stage theatre and dance productions. Current national service activities include Chair of the Commission on Accreditation/ Member, Board of Directors with the National Association of Schools of Theatre and regular assignments chairing Accreditation Teams for NAST. Recent local community service includes board membership on the Columbia Design League and President of the Blythewood Middle School Orchestra Booster Club. Please visit his online portfolio at www.jimhunterdesigns.com.

Kat Marchant Assistant Stage Manager

Kat is a senior in the Theatre

department, and is excited to be working on her first main stage show as an assistant stage manager. She worked as a crew member at the

Warehouse Theatre in Greenville for two years after her involvement with the South Carolina Children’s Theatre. She transferred from Greenville Tech her junior year, and is studying to be a costumer. She thanks the faculty of the Theatre department who have made her stay here so enjoyable.

Lisa Martin-StuartChair/Co-Artistic Director/Costume Design Advisor

As head of the Costume Design

Program, Lisa has a strong background in design, historical research and costume technology. Over the last 20 years Lisa has designed costumes for over 50 productions for Theatre South Carolina, most recently Ajax in Iraq and The Three Musketeers. Lisa’s professional design credits include Film: Ruby in Paradise, winner of the 1993 Sundance Film Festival and starring Ashley Judd; Ulee’s Gold (1997) starring Peter Fonda; Coastlines (2002) starring Timothy Olyphant. Regional Theatre costume design credits include: American Folklore Theatre, Asolo State Theatre, Aquila Theatre Company of London, Charlotte Repertory Theatre, and Hippodrome State Theatre. Her long-time collaboration with Marilyn Wall (Emmy Award-winning costume designer) and

Marion Caffey (Three Mo’ Tenors) on Cookin’ at the Cookery has brought her design and technical expertise to the Geva Theatre, Merrimack Repertory Theatre, and Huntington Theatre Company.

Andy MillsTechnical Director

Andy has designed p r o f e s s i o n a l l y at Shakespeare Theatre’s Young

Company (Washington, DC), Charlotte Repertory Theatre, Carolina Opera, USC Opera, and Trustus. Andy currently teaches Intro to Theatre Design and Theatre Laboratory. He specializes in the area of properties, finding or building the most obscure of items. Andy is a Member of USITT.

Chris Patterson Master Electrician

Christopher Patterson is a second year MFA Lighting Design

candidate from Union, South Carolina. Chris made his Longstreet Theatre stage debut designing Translations under the leadership of Paul Savas. Christopher's work has also premiered at the Koger Center for the Arts under the leadership of Eric Morris. Chris has recently carried out the role of Master Electrician for the twenty-eighth season of the

Virginia Shakespeare Festival.

Robert Richmond Co-Artistic Director

Robert Richmond is originally from Hastings, England, and studied at

the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. He is an Associate Professor in Theatre at the University of South Carolina, Co-Artistic Director, and Head of Undergraduate Studies and Performance in the Department of Theatre & Dance. Prior to his academic career Robert spent thirteen years as the Associate Artistic Director of the Aquila Theatre Company, and directed productions of Shakespeare that toured across the United States and Europe. Robert’s directing career continues to take him all over the nation. Most recently his credits at the Folger Theatre include: Julius Caesar, Twelfth Night, Henry V, Othello, Henry VIII, Julius Caesar, and Richard III. Other companies Robert has been directed for include Lost Colony, La Jolla Playhouse, and Denver Center for the Performing Arts. His next project A Tale Told By An Idiot, which was originated at USC in 2008, will appear this May at the Clark Studio at Lincoln Center, NYC. Robert will also be directing Hamlet for the Academy of Classical Acting at Shakespeare Theatre in D. C. in June. His work

is known for its ability to reinvigorate theatre with imagination, innovation, and relevance. His mission is to create theatre that will sustain and transform the twenty-first century, revitalize audiences, and reward them for their patronage.

Nic Ularu Scenic Design Advisor

Professor Ularu has extensive design credits in USA and

Europe, including theatres in Sweden, Northern Ireland and Romania. Nic Ularu was the head of scenography at the National Theatre of Bucharest - Romania, and served for four years as a board member of The European League of the Institutes of the Arts (ELIA), Amsterdam, The Netherlands. He has taught scene and/or costume design in Romania, Germany, Sweden, UK, Italy, Denmark and Hong Kong. Prior to USC, he taught at Smith College, National Theatre School of Denmark and The University of Theatre and Film, Romania. In 2003, Professor Ularu received an OBIE award for outstanding achievement in Off-Broadway theater. Ularu’s designs appeared in the USA entries at the Prague Quadrennial International Exhibitions of scenography in 2007, 2003 and 1998. In 2005, Nic co-designed the exhibit and designed the poster for the World Stage Design Exhibition, Toronto - Canada, and was appointed by the United States Institute of Theatre Technology as the

leading designer and curator of the USA National Exhibit at the Prague Quadrennial International Exhibition of 2007. Besides his national and international design activity Nic Ularu is a playwright and director. His recent freelance work as playwright and director includes several acclaimed productions at LaMaMa ETC - New York, Sibiu International Theatre Festival - Romania, Teatrul Foarte Mic, Bucharest - Romania, “O” Teatret - Sweden, National Theatre of Constanta - Romania, and National Theatre of Cluj - Romania. Nic recently received the Grand Prix award for Best Production for a show he designed and directed at the Belgrade International Theatre Featival.

BEHIND THE SCENES

Technical Director Andy Mills Assistant Technical Director Sam Gross Assistant Stage Manager Sara Hilton Assistant Stage Manager Kat Marchant Master Electrician Chris Patterson

Scenic Graduate Students Baxter Engle, Neda Spalajkovic, Tamara Joksimovic Scenic Studio Undergraduate Leroy Kelly, Drake Dial, Assistants Caroline Catoe, Brandon Owen and students of THEA 121 Lighting Studio Undergraduate Sara Hilton, Megan Branham, Assistants Adam Greathouse, Katrina Koprowicz

Scenic Artists Tamara Joksimovic, Neda Spalajkovic, Baxter Engle

Graduate Lighting Students Christopher Patterson, Rachel Sheets

Light Board Operator William Quant Sound Board Operator Leroy Kelly Costume Graduate Student Rachel Harmon

Undergraduate Assistants Molly Burdsall, Kat Marchant, Kira Neighbors

Staff Drapers Kelly Renko-Clarkson, Vera DuBose Dressers Scott Koontz, Corey Robinson Makeup/Wigs Cody Phillips Wig Assistant Cherelle Guyton

Deck Crew/Props Libby Bagnal Costume Studio Supervisor Spencer Henderson Dept. Chair/Co-Artistic Director Lisa Martin-Stuart Assoc. Chair/Co-Artistic Director Robert Richmond Financial Manager Ray Jones Administrative Assistants Charlotte Denniston, Leigh Cowart Student Coordinator Lakesha Campbell

Special ThanksWorkshop Theatre

Senior Leroy Kelly has immersed himself in the theatre world since he started the program in 2014. His USC experience sprung into high gear quickly in October 2014 when he was cast as the mythical warrior Ajax in Ajax in Iraq at Longstreet Theatre. Soon after, he landed a role in Trustus’ production of In the Red and Brown Water, and since then has worked on the construction of sets for several UofSC shows and collaborated on several films. (And, he’s running the sound board for Blithe Spirit!) In February, 2016, Leroy will make his directorial debut, as he helms the Lab Theatre’s production of Still Life, a powerful documentary-style drama about the lasting personal effects of the Vietnam War.

The term “theatre” surely has a deeper connotation for Leroy, given his eight years as a Marine, serving in the midst of the “theatres of war” in Iraq and Afghanistan prior to coming to the University. We talked to Leroy about his experience as a Marine, what brought him to the University of SC, and making the evolution from officer to artist.

What made you go into the service? I went into the Marine Corps in 2003 because I was watching footage of the war on TV and thought it would be cool to be a part of. A recruiter asked me if I wanted to go in, and I told him no at first, but then my dad came to me and said I should join since I wasn’t

doing too well in school at that time, so I signed up. I got a shock right after boot camp when I joined the fleet at Camp Lejeune, and was told that I would be deploying to Iraq in January of 2004. I ended up making three deployments to Iraq and one to Afghanistan. I wasn’t happy, though, because I went in hoping to be able to go to school while in the service, but instead I was just training and deploying, training and deploying. So, after eight years, I choose to get out and went to Midlands Tech. There, I took a theatre class and it resurrected the interest I’d had in theatre when I was in high school — enough to make me decide to be a theatre major.

Where did you go to high school? Spring Valley High. I was born in Blythewood and moved to Columbia when I was 12. I took Drama with Alison McNeely {a UofSC theatre alum} — she’s very animated and just a lively person when it comes to theatre and just makes you love it. I felt like I excelled in it and overall just really enjoyed it.

Why did you decide to pursue theatre training at the UofSC? I decided to take the leap after I got my Associates in Art at Midlands Tech. Being in the Marines taught me to not fear, and there’s definitely fear in deciding to major in theatre because it’s not as stable of a field as, say, engineering or nursing. So, it was a little bit of scare to make the jump

to USC. You know, when I joined the Marine Corps, I didn’t know how to shoot a gun, I didn’t know various other things that I would have to use if I was to go to war. And, it took me a while to learn those things, but I eventually did. I compare that to where I’m at now, majoring in theatre. I didn’t have a lot of theatre training before I came to USC, but I knew that if I got the training, and worked hard at it like I did in the Marines, then I’d be a success.

How have you grown as a theatre artist in your time here? Theatre knowledge is one thing, definitely. Before I came here, I didn’t have much knowledge in how to build sets, or work with lighting and sound, be a stage manager, or even how to conduct myself as an actor on and off the stage, so that overall knowledge is just a huge thing I’ve gained. I’ve also learned a lot about movement from Sarah Barker. I’ve taken her Advanced Alexander Technique class, and its helped me to incorporate the technique into not just the performance space but in my everyday life.

There’s a lot of reasons to want to quit when you’re going through a theatre degree. Maybe you audition and you don’t get the part, or you get told from others that you’re not as good as this or that. Learning to rise above that is an ongoing process, but I’ve gotten pretty good at it thus far. Overall, that’s the most important thing — constantly being able to push forward and keep learning even though there are reasons to say no and quit.

Tell us about Still Life."Still Life" came to me from looking for a monologue for my Rehearsal and

Performance class with Erica Tobolski. I came across this monologue of the character of Mark from Still Life, and it just triggered so many memories of my Marine Corps experience, the things he was going through and how I could relate to them. I wanted to learn more about his story. I’m also really into getting the word out about PTSD and wanted to use this play as a platform for getting that story out there.

What’s next after you graduate?I want to get a job doing set building in either Atlanta or Chicago, and when I’m there get what I can in terms of acting, voice and movement lessons, do some shows to get more acting experience. I’d love to keep working in film, really build on that experience and go from there.

Congratulations, Leroy, on all you’ve accomplished so far! We encourage everyone to check out Still Life, February 25-28 at the Lab Theatre. (Adults only, please, as the show contains language and situations that are not appropriate for children.)

Inset: Leroy as the warrior Ajax in "Ajax in Iraq." At right: Leroy in the scene shop painting sets for "Still Life."

Tickets for “Meteor” and “Ruptured Silence” sold separately. Box Office: 777-2551. Tickets go on sale Nov. 16!

NOV. 19-228PM NIGHTLY

Longstreet Theatre, 1300 Greene St. | Columbia, SC 29208803.777.5208 | theatre@sc.edu | artsandsciences.sc.edu/thea

UP NEXT ON THE MAIN STAGE

FEBRUARY 19-27 LONGSTREET THEATRE

written by BILL IRWIN & MARK O'DONNELLadapted from MOLIÈRE

directed by LOUIS BUTELLI

This adaptation of one of Molière’s final plays was an instant smash when it premiered Off-Broadway in 1997, and as reported in The New York Times, “would have gone over big with the same audience who first saw The Fourberies de Scapin in 1671.” Moliere’s

outrageous farce introduces us to the trickster servant Scapin, whose expertise in scheming is called upon by two young men, Octave and Leander, both desperate to

escape marriages arranged by their fathers. With the help of his accomplice Sylvestre, Scapin spins ever more elaborate deceptions to help in the men’s romantic pursuits,

and achieve some payback for himself in the process.

“…a generous gag-fest, packed with rib-tickling delights…” — San Francisco Gate

ILLUSTRATION BY SYDNEY HOYT