Directing
Steel magnolias
Steel Magnolias by Robert Harling
With Steel, my focus was on relationship and exploration of joy and grief, connection and armor. I worked on a safe environment and spent time creating relationships between the actors. Rehearsals were based on deep emotional recall and release. I balanced tempo, rhythm and timing with emotional ebb and flow.
In design, we focused on a functioning, intimate set, closer to Naturalism. Colors chosen to mirror the outside world, while creating an overall feeling of joy. When the grief hits, the juxtaposition of death against yellow, makes the pain angrier and still hopeful, calling in the strength of these women.
We created a black box on the stage and brought the audience into the space - like having people over for dinner, so they could feel the palpable energy of the relationships, with the safety of a fourth wall and without the disconnect of a procenium.
Production Staff:
Producer: Jessie Hersman
Director - Karen Shuman
Stage Manager: WIll Lofus
Set Builder/Design: Ed Nowak
Props Master: Paul Degan
Lights and Sound: Mike Patrick
little shop of horrors
With this show, my focus was on tone, a balance of cheeky and horror. For example, I added bloodied nurses performing ballet in "Dentist," exploring the sexual aggression of the character and giving the audienece a catharsis once he dies. Additionally, I found untapped moments of comedy and struggle. I used ensemble much more than traditional staged versions. Their function represented the world that Seymour wanted to succeed in and Audrey wanted to escape.
Production Staff:
Producer: Lindsay Grandt
Director/Choreographer - Karen Shuman
Music Director/Conductor: Dan Ermel
Stage Manager: Sally Nowak
Set Designer: David Geinowski
Set Builder/Design: Ed Nowak
Costumer: Stephanie Urban
Lights and Sound: Mike Patrick
shrek
Shrek is one of my favorite shows and stories. David Lindsay-Abaire and Jeanine Tesori capture the balance of humor and vulnerability wrapped in beautiful harmonies and lingering lyrics. For me, this story was a gentle mirror, reflecting our current societal energy and engagement. It was important to pull out the moments of judgement, self-loathing, and ways to heal. My focus was to highlight and dig into the relationship of Shrek and Donkey. Donkey is the hero we should strive to be; and while silly, his being is one of integrity and acceptance, using love to solve conflict. Through Donkey, Shrek discovers how to accept himself and love from the outside world. So often we carry the burden of how we established self understanding in childhood and are unable to shed the weight of that identity. This journey shows the power of friendship and acceptance, while emphasizing accountability and community.
Production Staff:
Producer: Ryan Nowak
Director - Karen Shuman
Music Director/Conductor: Dan Ermel
Choreographer: Kristine Stickney
Assistant Director: Dede Ginsberg
Stage Manager: Lauren Price
Tech Director: Chris Morgan
Set Builder/Design: Jason Clark
Lighting Designer:
Sound Designer:
Costumer: Jade Andrews
Props Master: Chris Finch
Cinderella
R&H's Cinderella functions close to a sung-thru. I gave the scenes a distinct undercurrent of tempo, treating the dialogue like song.I focused on finding the moments of levity juxtaposed against the reality of losing a parent and the magic of staying true to your being no matter the clothes on your back. I use color a good deal when directing, diving into the mood, effect, and heightening of emotion it can create.
Production Staff:
Producer: Lindsay Grandt
Director - Karen Shuman
Music Director/Conductor: Aaron Kaplan
Choreographer: Bryan Wlas
Stage Manager: Adam Sherman
Set Builder/Design: Bob Stilton
Lighting and Sound Designer: Alec Kinastowski
Costumer: Heather Acuna
adams family - teen
Addam's Family has been a favorite of mine. I loved finding nuances of character within a pretty structured framework. The show has a tendency to lag, so a big focus of mine was on tempo and rhythm. As with all teen shows I direct, we sat in discovery a good amount of time. We examined comedic timing, with emotional recall. While coaching new and younger actors, I focus not only on teaching technique and character development but protecting the performer's emotional well-being as well.
Production Staff:
Producer: Lindsay Grandt
Director - Karen Shuman
Music Director: Dede Ginsberg
Choreographer: Andrea Ermal
Stage Manager: Amy Milman
Set Builder/Design: Bob Pinta
Lighting and Sound Designer: Alec Kinastowski
Miss Illinois Pageant
(Miss America)
As the Executive Producer and Artistic Director, the creation of the pageants throughout the week was my area. I headed the artistic and tech teams, as well as building the five different shows from ground up. I chose music, helped create lighting, blocked show, and wrote the script. I was responsible for anything that happened within the theater, from creation of show to performance time, overseeing rehearsals, guest appearances, talent tech, music, sound, video and lighting. By my tenth and final year, our team was tight knit and well-oiled. We were known in the pageant world for having a professional and engaging week of shows. This was a fast-paced week, creating a new show each day while working simultaneously on the following shows.
Production Staff:
Executive Director: Ashley Hatfield
Executive Producer: Karen Shuman
Director - Karen Shuman
Choreographer: Hannah Bohn
Teen Choreographer/Asst Stage Mgr: Haley Young
Stage Manager: Zach Bohn
Set Builder/Design: Josh Benson
Lighting : Josh Benson
Sound Designer: Cam McCurdy
Matty Jacobson Photo
Josh Benson Design
