An Octoroon
Fall 2017
KCACTF Region IV Participating
Production
Faculty Directing Award
Selected Festival Production
Two National Awards from the
Kennedy Center, including:
Distinguished Performance in a Play
Distinguished Achievement -
Integration of Music & Performance
Selected for Piccolo Spoleto Festival
in Charleston in 2018
Production
Faculty Directing Award
Selected Festival Production
Two National Awards from the
Kennedy Center, including:
Distinguished Performance in a Play
Distinguished Achievement -
Integration of Music & Performance
Selected for Piccolo Spoleto Festival
in Charleston in 2018
Photos by Abbey Hoekzema
Director’s Notes
I have never had an experience like the one I have had directing An Octoroon. I have never been surrounded by a team of students and colleagues so eager not only to put on a remarkable play, but to delve into the history, legacy, and shame of difficult topics in our history with such enthusiasm, patience, humor and grace. The collaboration of this process has been remarkable and humbling. I will always be grateful for it.
This production has also given me the opportunity to work with some distinguished alumni (Tim Earls, Zo Haynes, and Kelsey Alexandria) who have all contributed their talents in the realms of Set Design, Light Design, Choreography and Assistant Director. It is a privilege to work with these artists who have taken time out from their careers in Los Angeles and Atlanta to make theatre here in Statesboro.
I also want to thank our Emeritus professor Mical Whitaker, for his advice and encouragement in this process which has gone on for a year. From inviting me to speak about the playwright in his African American Theatre class, organizing and participating in the panel discussions about the play, and his willingness to lend his ear whenever I have called on him, his support has been invaluable. Mical built a legacy here at Georgia Southern that I am always mindful of and hope to do my part to continue.
Nicholas Newell
I have never had an experience like the one I have had directing An Octoroon. I have never been surrounded by a team of students and colleagues so eager not only to put on a remarkable play, but to delve into the history, legacy, and shame of difficult topics in our history with such enthusiasm, patience, humor and grace. The collaboration of this process has been remarkable and humbling. I will always be grateful for it.
This production has also given me the opportunity to work with some distinguished alumni (Tim Earls, Zo Haynes, and Kelsey Alexandria) who have all contributed their talents in the realms of Set Design, Light Design, Choreography and Assistant Director. It is a privilege to work with these artists who have taken time out from their careers in Los Angeles and Atlanta to make theatre here in Statesboro.
I also want to thank our Emeritus professor Mical Whitaker, for his advice and encouragement in this process which has gone on for a year. From inviting me to speak about the playwright in his African American Theatre class, organizing and participating in the panel discussions about the play, and his willingness to lend his ear whenever I have called on him, his support has been invaluable. Mical built a legacy here at Georgia Southern that I am always mindful of and hope to do my part to continue.
Nicholas Newell