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Arts & Life
The Clarion August 29, 2008
Interview: Theater Studies Coordinator Dr. Kelly Gordon
starting out? Too many to name!
by Jason DeCristofaro
Arts & Life Editor
This semester, Brevard College welcomes
one of its newest faculty members, Dr Kelly
Gordon, who is the new Coordinator of
Theater Studies. Dr Gordon comes to the
campus with an impressive list of
credentials and a background in theatre
performance and pedagogy. In addition to
having received a Ph.D in Theater from the
University of Georgia, Dr Gordon is also a
published writer of articles for The
Encyclopedia of Modern Drama and The
Dallas Morning News, among others. Prior
to accepting to her position at Brevard
College, she taught theatre history and
dramatic criticism at the University of North
Carolina at Greensboro (UNC-G). The
Clarion recently sat down with Dr Gordon
to learn more about her plans for the theatre
department at Brevard College and to gain
insight into the viewpoints of a person who
has been living and breathing the art of
theater and theater performance since her
childhood:
What is the earliest memory you have of
theater? When I was about six, I saw my
grandfather play Horace in Hello Dolly!
I remember the production very well and
still have the program. (I pretty much
have programs from everything that I’ve
ever seen.) My most vivid memory of
that event was getting a backstage tour
and meeting Carol Charming (Dolly), who
was (and is) larger than life, especially to
a very shy little girl. She is very kind
and, on that occasion, gave my sister and
I fake diamond rings.
Your grandfather was actor Eddie
Bracken, who was a film star during the
“Golden Age of Hollywood” and had an
extensive acting career that lasted for
almost 80 years. Was he an influence on
you when you were younger, and if so,
what advice did he give you about the
acting and directing business? My
grandfather didn’t offer advice as much
as he offered support. He was, I think, an
unusually loving man (who happened to
have impeccable comic timing; if you
don’t believe me, watch The Miracle of
Morgan’s Creeli). When I was working
on my doctorate at the University of
Georgia, the theater department brought
him in as a guest speaker. He encour
aged students to pursue a career in
theater, arguing that being successful in
the profession requires the same hard
work and discipline as being successful
in any other field. There are jobs out
there; it’s a competitive field, yes, but
that’s not a reason to give up on pursu
ing a passion. I am always surprised,
maybe because of my grandfather, how
many theater people, including profes
sors, discourage students from making
this career choice. Theater is not a place
to discourage people from taking a risk.
I do remember having a philo
sophical discussion with my grandfather
about acting when I was a freshman in
high school. I went to visit him, so
impressed with myself about my new
knowledge of Method Acting, which I
couldn’t wait to share with him. He
basically told me it was all nonsense.
Over time. I’ve come to agree with him.
But that day, on the porch, I was shocked
and a little hurt. He considered me a
strong actress, though, and that means
more to me than any philosophical
argument we may have had about how I
got there.
Are there any particular actors, plays,
playwrights and/or directors (stage or
screen), that inspired you when you were
What brings you to Brevard? Brevard
College, of course. I attended a small,
liberal arts school (Ohio Wesleyan
University) as an undergraduate and
have always wanted to teach at a similar
institution, where students do not have
to major in theater in order to be in
volved. And I love North Carolina. So,
when I saw the job posting for Brevard
College, I applied right away. The
mission of the college and the emphasis
on service particularly appeals to me, as I
am dedicated to working on socially
relevant theatre.
What are some ideas you have for the
Theater Studies Department for the
upcoming academic year here at Brevard
College? Professor Bell (our new
design/tech specialist) and I will take
some time to get to know the campus and
community before making any major
changes. But we know that we want the
department to be more visible. (We
already have a facebook page that many
students and alumni have joined.) I am
looking at ways to collaborate with other
departments. Theatre is good training for
anything; our students develop analyti
cal skills, their ability to speak confi
dently in front of large groups of people
and, most importantly, their imaginations.
All of these qualities are becoming more
and more important in the workplace.
(Read The Rise of the Creative Class) So,
our department should be able to serve
many students, whether they major in
theatre or not.
Do you have any plans to be involved in
the local theatre scene? Absolutely. It
is important for our student’s under
standing of professional theatre that
both Professor Bell and I stay active
outside of the college environment. This
year, I will focus on my work at school
and on making contacts in the commu
nity.
Do you have any advice for up and
coming thespians who want to make a
career in theater performance? I will
simply quote Thoreau here: “If you have
built castles in the air, your work need
not be lost; that is where they should be.
Now put the foundations under them.”