Faculty director cast in new student production
Theater professor James Brandon plays 'the director' on stage alongside son
Betsy Woodruff
Issue date: 4/16/09 Section: Arts
James Brandon, associate professor of theater and director of forensics, will take a new responsibility in the theater department's production of Luigi Pirandello's "Six Characters in Search of an Author," which opens tonight. Instead of directing the show, as is usual, he will portray the character 'the Director' in the play, alongside his 6-year-old son.
"I've been looking for an opportunity to act again," he said. "The last time I was on stage was eight years ago."
Though he has not acted since most of the cast was in middle school -- and before his son Jacob, who plays "The Boy", was born - Brandon feels undaunted by the task.
"Directing and acting are very similar because you're always thinking about character choices," he said.
He believes his age lends authority to his performance as the Director, he said.
"I walk into the room, and I'm in charge," he said.
He also said enjoys working with the production's actual director, his student Natalie Scarlett, a senior theatre major.
"I don't make any suggestions," he said. "It's her show."
She mentioned that she might like him to act as the director early in the first phases of working on the production.
Though the acting itself has not presented a problem, the change of roles had an unexpected challenge: Memorizing lines, which was much more difficult than it was eight years ago.
"I guess I've lost more brain cells since then," Brandon said.
This performance has also brought a challenge he never faced before in his theatre career: acting alongside his son, Jacob.
"I can't be 'Dad' at rehearsal," he said. "I have to do what I have to do as an actor. We had some students in the cast be kid wranglers."
He wears glasses when playing his character, and he used them as a visual tool to explain his acting to his son.
"When I wear the glasses, I'm not your dad," he remembers explaining to Jacob. "When I take them off, I'm your dad."
Jacob's ability to handle the change -- and the play's mature subject matter, which includes prostitution and suicide -- impressed his dad.
"Kids are surprisingly sophisticated. They understand pretend," Brandon said.
For Jacob, the biggest challenge of the play is boredom at rehearsals.
"Sometimes, I just get bored of sitting and trying to listen because I just don't feel like sitting on stage," the young thespian said. "I just want to scream!"
His favorite part of the experience has been getting to know the other cast members. Freshman Brian Thomas, who often babysits him, is his best friend on set.
"He has flip-flops and his body's all skin-colored," Jacob said. "He carries me like a baby."
"I've been looking for an opportunity to act again," he said. "The last time I was on stage was eight years ago."
Though he has not acted since most of the cast was in middle school -- and before his son Jacob, who plays "The Boy", was born - Brandon feels undaunted by the task.
"Directing and acting are very similar because you're always thinking about character choices," he said.
He believes his age lends authority to his performance as the Director, he said.
"I walk into the room, and I'm in charge," he said.
He also said enjoys working with the production's actual director, his student Natalie Scarlett, a senior theatre major.
"I don't make any suggestions," he said. "It's her show."
She mentioned that she might like him to act as the director early in the first phases of working on the production.
Though the acting itself has not presented a problem, the change of roles had an unexpected challenge: Memorizing lines, which was much more difficult than it was eight years ago.
"I guess I've lost more brain cells since then," Brandon said.
This performance has also brought a challenge he never faced before in his theatre career: acting alongside his son, Jacob.
"I can't be 'Dad' at rehearsal," he said. "I have to do what I have to do as an actor. We had some students in the cast be kid wranglers."
He wears glasses when playing his character, and he used them as a visual tool to explain his acting to his son.
"When I wear the glasses, I'm not your dad," he remembers explaining to Jacob. "When I take them off, I'm your dad."
Jacob's ability to handle the change -- and the play's mature subject matter, which includes prostitution and suicide -- impressed his dad.
"Kids are surprisingly sophisticated. They understand pretend," Brandon said.
For Jacob, the biggest challenge of the play is boredom at rehearsals.
"Sometimes, I just get bored of sitting and trying to listen because I just don't feel like sitting on stage," the young thespian said. "I just want to scream!"
His favorite part of the experience has been getting to know the other cast members. Freshman Brian Thomas, who often babysits him, is his best friend on set.
"He has flip-flops and his body's all skin-colored," Jacob said. "He carries me like a baby."
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