In between rehearsing scenes for Reefer Madness, director Gwen Sour ’22 (Parkersburg, West Virginia) was pleased with what she was seeing. But she also knew it was a good opportunity to share some ideas on how to tighten up the scene.
After a productive exchange, Sour thought it was prudent to make one more suggestion.
“Please, don’t catch anyone on fire,” she said remembering that the scene involved lighters.
When Reefer Madness debuts at 8:00 p.m., Friday, March 25th, at Marietta College’s Friederich Theater, Sour will become the first student to direct a mainstage production in seven years.
“It’s kind of insane right now, but not a bad insane,” said Sour, a Marietta High School graduate. “This is something I’ve always wanted to do, but in theatre, you are always learning. Right now, I’m trying to grab ahold of everything — the acting, the music, the choreography, the lighting, the sound.”
Sour has performed in many of the College’s productions, including the lead role in Well, by Lisa Kron. She was also an assistant director with Marietta College’s Andy Felt in a recent production of Macbeth.
“Gwen has certainly earned this distinct privilege,” said Felt, Associate Professor of Theatre. “She has done a fantastic job leading the collaborative team on this production and I’m incredibly proud of her continued demonstration of artistic skill and admirable work ethic.”
Naturally, Sour is focused on the five-show run of Reefer Madness. But in about a month, she will also become the first Marietta College student to earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts in the Directing track for Theatre. In 2018, the College launched updated versions of the BFA degrees in Theatre that designate emphasis areas in Performance, Design & Technology, and Directing.
“I came in as a Musical Theatre major, but once they added the Directing track, I had to change my major,” she said. “I still love musical theatre, but I feel like the directing degree is a jack of all trades degree and will benefit me even more. You need to be as diversified in your training as possible. I’ve painted sets. I’ve done sound design. I’ve helped with costumes. Working with different colleagues has helped me understand what is reasonable to ask of them when I’m directing.”
A key job for a director is guiding the creative vision for the show. On the set of Reefer Madness, Sour said she has enjoyed watching herself enhance this skill. She also credits the advice she has received from every faculty member in the Theatre Department.
“I have to start with Andy Felt,” she said. “I can’t say enough nice things about Andy. He’s not only an amazing mentor, but he also cares about you as a person. I was very fortunate to serve as an assistant director with him. Honestly, all of them have completely supported me throughout my four years and on this production.”
Leading the musical direction is her father, Peter Sour, who is also an instructor in the Theatre Department.
“It has been a weird goal of mine to work with him,” Gwen said. “Our non-verbal communication has been great.”
Sour received the 2020 Robert Evans Internship Endowment Award for her internship with the DOBAMA Equity Theatre Co., in Cleveland, Ohio, and she is also a two-time winner of the Ronald Loreman Scholarship in Theatre.
She has been thinking about her future following graduation, and she is looking for any opportunity to be involved in the theatre world.
“I’m trying to get anywhere physically that I can in theatre. Trust me, I will try to weasel my way into any professional or semi-professional work that involves acting or directing,” Sour said. “If that’s New York or LA … great.”
The opportunity to direct her peers during her final semester at Marietta has been special.
“I really trust everyone,” she said. “I consider myself lucky that everyone involved in Reefer Madness has faith in me to do this. Trust me, I have some anxiety right now, but I know it’s going to be amazing.”
Tickets for Reefer Madness can be purchased online. Other performances are scheduled for:
- 8:00 p.m., Saturday, March 26th
- 8:00 p.m., Friday, April 1st
- 2:00 p.m., Saturday, April 2nd
- 8:00 p.m., Saturday, April 2nd
“I would love to see people on campus who have never been to a theatre production to come out and support us,” Gwen said. “I don’t think other students realize how much hard work and long hours we put into this. Theatre is our passion, and our performances are amazing.”