Students on Stage Thrill New Director

November 29, 2007

Carol Schlueter
cjs@tulane.edu

Shakespeare said, “The play’s the thing,” but in Gary Rucker’s mind, his theater students are what’s remarkable, especially as Rucker directs his first play with Tulane student actors performing through Dec. 7 on the Lupin Theater stage.

"How much they want it — it's just so refreshing," says Rucker of his eight-member cast for Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead, playing tonight (Nov. 29) through Saturday (Dec. 1) and Dec. 5–7 at 8 p.m., plus a 2 p.m. performance on Sunday (Dec. 2). "They're really dedicated to it, and they work so hard to make it a great experience."

Rucker himself is no stranger to Tulane and New Orleans area acting and directing circles. He has worked "for years" with the Tulane Patchwork Players and the Shakespeare Festival at Tulane, as well as performing in last year's acclaimed sellout Summer Lyric Theatre production of Little Me. Rucker is now in his second year as a professor of practice in the Department of Theatre and Dance.

Teaching fundamentals of acting keeps him busy on campus, but he successfully campaigned to work with students in a theater production this fall.

Rucker chose Dog Sees God, by Bert V. Royal, as a "good play for this age group of kids" that offers both comedy and tragedy, as well as surprises, for the audience. Described as a play with "teenage angst," the production "takes you all over the place — captures what high school kids are dealing with. They can make you laugh and make you cry," Rucker says.

The director will be splitting time between directing and acting roles as he opens on Friday (Nov. 30) in a local production of Tuna Christmas at the Rivertown Repertory Theatre in Kenner, La., starring in nine different roles with his friend and fellow Tulane faculty member Sean Patterson. More information about that production is available by calling 504-468-7221.

"I'm also working with Shakespeare (Tulane Shakespeare Festival) in January — acting in that as well," Rucker says.

But right now, he's very proud of the work of his Tulane students. He says to the potential campus audience, "Give it a chance and come see it. There are really talented kids in it. See the talent in Tulane's theater department —it would be a shame for people to miss it."