Experienced director still surprised by dedication to theater

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Courtesy photo by Rick Lopez Andrew Cass

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IF YOU GO

V-Day Wilton 2010, a benefit production of Eve Ensler’s “The Vagina Monologues”

WHERE: Unitarian Universalist Church, 20 Elm St., Milford.

WHEN: 7 p.m. Sunday, March 13.

COST: $10.

MORE INFORMATION: Call Nicole Colvin-Griffin, 654-6201.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the third in a series of three interviews with the winning student writers and directors of the Riverbend School of Theater Arts fifth annual One Act Playwriting Workshop and Festival. The theme for this year’s competition was Making the World a Better Place.

Andrew Cass, 18, of Milford is a home-school graduate.

Question: How did you come to participate in the contest?

Answer: I have been involved for the last two years and was excited to participate once more before going off to college.

Q: Were you surprised to win?

A: I was just relieved to have finished the script by the deadline. Winning was a wonderful bonus.

Q: What is the name of your play?

A: “When the Lights Come Up.”

Q: What is your play about?

A: The lives of six individuals who are involved in a local theater production and the impact that it has on both their external community (being their town and local theater) and their internal community of actors.

Q: What gave you the idea for this play?

A: This year’s theme (making the world a better place), as well as personal experiences in the community theater community. Also, other experiences and struggles in my life inspired some of the conflicts that the characters are up against.

Q: How was your first experience directing?

A: Much more frightening than this time around, which is my third time directing. Working with a very small cast made things easier in one respect, but I have learned a lot this year about being responsible and accountable to people in the area of commitments and schedules. Every directorial experience is a learning experience, but I would say that this one was especially so.

Q: Was there anything that surprised you about this experience?

A: Nearly everything that goes on in theater is surprising. The commitment and ability of the actors with which I had the pleasure of working surprised me, as well as their ability to work together. I am always impressed by that. I also was pleasantly surprised at what can happen when I forget about past mistakes and forge ahead. I have had to do a lot of that in this experience.

Q: What are your hobbies?

A: Acting, singing, dancing, writing, reading, filmmaking, blogging and other various and sundry forms of expression

Q: What are your future goals?

A: To become involved in creative projects with wonderful people, to help orphans and widows in their distress, and to do whatever is asked of me.

Q: What is something most people don’t know about you?

A: I once auditioned for the PBS kids show “Zoom.” Clearly, I didn’t make it, but it was a fun day.