Stone remains director first, actor second

Scripts, blocking, set designs, directing and actors are all part of A&M-Commerce graduate theater student Holly Stone's everyday life. And she could not be happier.

While she did not actually begin acting until high school, Stone said she has always had a fondness for theater, especially musicals.

"I've always been into musicals, since I was a little child," she said. "I remember, at one point, I was three years old and at Denny's I jumped on top of a table and started singing ‘Annie' or something."

Stone discovered her joy for acting in high school.

"I was in a musical in high school and I really enjoyed it," Stone said. "I really liked the community that theater had. People are just so willing to bring you in and treat you like their family, and treat you like they're your best friend, even if they've only known you for like two months. I was just amazed by that."

Stone said she acted for some time before she learned anything about directing.

"I didn't know anything about directing and I had to take a class," she said. "So I took the directing class from Carrie Lee Klypchak and I was just amazed at how, even if you're not on stage, you feel like you're on stage because you work so hard on putting up a show."

Stone is hard at work directing the latest play coming to the university.

"‘Scams of Scapin' has just been amazing," she said. "Just working with everyone has been quite an amazing thing."

Junior theater major Micah Haynes will play the lead role of "Scapin" in the show.

"Holly is a very descriptive and illustrative director," Haynes said. "Her passion for theater completely engulfs her. Being able to express her ideas so ebulliently and then working with us to help bring those ideas to life is very inspirational and makes us excited to work."

For some, "Scapin" will be the first opportunity they have had to interact with Stone.

"She's very fond of improv, and I love how much creative flexibility she allows her actors and actresses," sophomore education major Joanna Firth said. "She is open, honest and adapts well to various situations, and I think she wholeheartedly loves directing. It shows in her work, and I'm thoroughly enjoying having her as my first director."

For some, "Scapin" is the most recent piece in a long line of actor-director interactions.

"I have worked with Holly quite a few times during my time here at the university," senior theater education major Matt Plummer said. "Every time I have worked with her it has been an enjoyable experience. She brings a lot of energy and ideas as a director and knows how to get what she is looking for out of her actors."

According to Stone, her favorite part of directing occurs when the play is performed.

"When I am sitting in the audience and I'm not watching the play and I'm watching the audience," she said. "And I'm just sitting there, watching their reaction to what we, as a collective, have put up, and seeing them [react]."

Stone has a clear idea of what she wants to do after earning her graduate degree.

"What I really want to do is teach junior college or community college acting and theater appreciation," Stone said. "I also want to try to get my foot in the door of a regional theater. It's hard to get a director position right out of college, so I know I'm going to have to put my foot in the door and slowly work my way up. After working with people and teaching them acting…and directing, the goal is to be an artistic director at regional theater."

Performance will be held in the studio theatre of the Performing Arts Center April 29-May 1 at 8 p.m., and May 2 at 3 p.m. Tickets are $3 for students, $8 for senior citizens and $10 for non-student adults. For reservations and further information call 903-886-5900 or email playhouseboxoffice@tamu-commerce.edu