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SCENE
| April 22 | Send features
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One for the money
Theatre fraternity members put
on a student-run show to support their group
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| The Shorthorn: Casey Horn |
| Theatre performance freshman Elizabeth
Whittington, plays Anne in The Death of Zukasky. |
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By Jenice
Johnson
The Shorthorn Scene editor
Their enthusiasm could only be matched
by the warmth and bright sun of the day. They couldn’t have
asked for better weather to promote a rare event.
Passing out blue fliers early Monday afternoon with the words The
Death of Zukasky, Alpha Psi Omega members stopped every person on
the Central Library mall, smiled, chatted a little and let passers-by
know about the new production.
Director Paul Logsdon said the play is the first all-student-run
production in the university’s history. The Death of Zukasky,
which he describes as a fast-paced corporate comedy, runs at 8 p.m.
Friday and Saturday in the University Center Rosebud Theatre.
Profits from the event go to the theatre fraternity. If 150 people
buy the $5 tickets, Alpha Psi Omega will break even. The total cost
of the production was $600.
Members said producing an event such as this boosts a theatre major’s
résumé, proving he or she can “step up”
to responsibilities and gain more skill.
“We’re doing this because everything we do is all up to
us. Everything rests on our shoulders,” said 24-year-old Logsdon,
a theatre senior.
Producer Matt Groff said working on the play benefits students interested
in starting their own theater groups.
“There isn’t a set formula like in department productions.
We’re setting our own schedules and deadlines,” the theatre
senior continued. However, theatre freshman Anthony Bowling joked
that he’s “doing it for the ladies.”
Bowling, who plays A.C. (a scheming employee trying to take the
boss’ position), doesn’t joke about his passion for acting
— in theater or film, no matter where it may take him.
“This is what I see myself doing,” the 20-year-old said.
“From what I’ve heard, L.A. is the hot-spot [for acting],
but I have some friends who go to UT-Austin who said theater and
independent films are becoming a big thing there.”
Twenty-six-year-old Groff, who expects to graduate in December,
plans to go to New York to attend graduate school at Columbia University
and become a theater director.
Making reference to the Bravo channel’s “The It Factor,”
a reality show about struggling actors, Logsdon said you’re
more likely to see him on “Behind the Actor’s Studio.”
“I want to act — correction: I will act. I had a dream
the other night where I was walking down the red carpet talking
to Matthew Broderick, so I guess I’m going to L.A.,” Logsdon
said with a smile. He also said he doesn’t want to limit himself
to only theater or film — choosing to do both. “I won’t
allow myself to do anything less than what I want to do for the
rest of my life.”
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