“The art of teaching is the art of assisting discovery.” —Mark Van Doren
By Jeilianne Vazquez & Ethan Baez
We recently sat down with some of the GTA faculty to ask them what they have learned over the last year and what their plans are for the upcoming summer break. Read on for our conversations with Professor of Theatre Larry Cook, Associate Professor of Theatre Pamela Workman, Professor of Theatre Elisa Carlson, and Senior Instructor of Theatre Terri Becker.
Larry Cook, Professor of Theatre, UNG
What is your role at GTA?
Larry Cook: Mostly, I teach now. I still get to design and work in the shop on shows a bit, too. I suppose if I had to pick just one, I’d teach. While I love working with my hands and creating, I can do that on my own anytime I’d like—and I have. Teaching has the singular joy of allowing me to have a part in the formation of young artists. I was telling someone just the other day that the real payoff is when you’ve been in it long enough to see your once young and emerging artist students now, as fully developed artists in their own right. Sometimes with students of their own. So, yeah, teaching, and continuing to learn myself, is my favorite part.
What lessons have you learned this year?
Larry Cook: That I still have a lot to learn. And, I have yet to outgrow the mean streak of procrastination and laziness that is within me. It’s a daily struggle but I keep working at it. Maybe one day…
What are you looking forward to next year?
Working with Michael Jablonski again in production. I love Michael’s approach to, and energy in, production and I’m thinking Urinetown will be lots of fun and a potent piece of theatre for this time in American culture. I’m also looking forward to finding out what GTA is next semester. In many ways we’ll be starting anew for the second time in two years. That is exciting and terrifying all at the same time. There will be challenges but what a great time to be in GTA!
What do you do over the summer to relax?
Larry Cook: I like to be outdoors. So I spend a fair amount of time in the summer camping, canoeing, hiking, rock climbing, etc. I also like to accomplish home improvements in the summer.
What words of inspiration do you have for students?
Larry Cook: Best advice I ever got: “Learn everything you can.” In my experience, there is no such thing as a “waste of time” spent learning—no knowledge is wasted. For a theatre artist this is especially true. Our craft is as old as humanity, so anything that is encompassed and created by humanity is a part of theatre. The history of theatre is the history of humans. I could give numerous examples but here’s an easy one: when an actor/director/designer analyzes a script, one of the primary things they are looking for are the “whys.” Why did this character do or say this specific thing at this specific moment in the story. Psychology is the study of why sentient beings, mostly humans, do what they do. Why wouldn’t a theatre artist want to be well-versed in psychology, sociology, anthropology and the like? Even though, on the face of it, these things have nothing to do with theatre. Math and science are all over the design/tech side of theatre. History is any theatre artist’s bread and butter. So I hope my words inspire GTA students to take this advice: “Learn everything you can.”
Pamela Workman, Associate Professor of Theatre, Brenau
What is your role at GTA?
Pamela Workman: I’m an Associate professor of Theatre and resident costume designer of GTA. One of my favorite parts about my job is that it’s never the same. Every semester is completely different and it comes with its own highs and lows. The research for the show is different, the production team is different, the actors are different, so I’m never bored with the work. From a teaching aspect, I really enjoy seeing my students grow throughout a semester, usually starting off from a place of “I can’t do this” and gradually evolving into “I’m confident with makeup now!” which is really awesome.
What lessons have you learned this year?
Pamela Workman: People are completely different humans on the screen than they are in person. I also learned that if you have the right supportive network, you can literally get through anything, and through that experience, I’ve learned what it’s like when people step up for you, opposed to when they are going to be stagnant.
What are you looking forward to next year?
Pamela Workman: Hopefully next year we’re more streamlined. We’ve had a pseudo year back after a pandemic, and it’s taken a while to get up and running but I really want us to get back into full swing and get our audience built back up and let the let people know that GTA just took a little break, but we’re still just as determined to bring theatre to the community.
What do you do over the summer to relax?
Pamela Workman: Well, relaxing is not relaxing. I have three boys so for fun we like to go hiking or kayaking or other adventures like that, but personally I find enjoying the space around a waterfall to be really relaxing. I have also recently bought a fixer-upper, and so I spend the summer going through small to-do list goals that I can accomplish. I actually hang out with the Beckers (Terri and David) and the Morrises (Celeste and Darrell) a lot as well. We all like to get together when we can and go on excursions which is a lot of fun. I do read more over the summer. Right now I’ve started reading the Bosch novel series and it’s been nice to dive into something that’s not related to theatre because that’s what I’m always reading anyways.
What words of inspiration do you have for students?
Pamela Workman: For one thing, whether it’s on your phone or you have a physical copy, have a schedule book and fill it with everything you’ll be doing in a given week. Scheduling and prioritizing is something that I see students often have trouble with, so if you start out with just having a schedule book that you put everything in, even including your free time, it can do wonders for you. I mean, Terri and I were planning on going to the movies Sunday, and we have it on our schedules. If we don’t, we will either forget or just not do it. Our brains hold a lot of information, to the point where it can be overwhelming, but keeping an extensive record of your schedule can really help with that. It’s exhausting to have to keep a schedule book but if you want to succeed, then you kind of have to, because our brains only hold so much information. I also want students to understand that professors have their classes done in such a way because there’s a growth arc, so if you don’t do projects at the beginning of the school year, as a student you are taking away from yourself the educational process to grow to your full potential. I think that is highly important for students to understand. I personally think by not pushing yourself you’re doing yourself a disservice, and you should value yourself and value your mind enough to go out there and try. I’m not saying that you need all A’s by any means, because the world is not all A’s when you leave the institution, but take full advantage of your education because this is the best place to challenge yourself.
Elisa Carlson, Professor of Theatre, UNG
What is your role at GTA?
Elisa Carlson: I’m a Professor of Theatre, teaching voice, speech, senior seminar and acting classes. I’m also a Resident Director for GTA and usually direct a play each season. One of my greatest joys is when a student has a breakthrough in their training and accomplishes a critical goal in their creative journey.
What lessons have you learned this year?
Elisa Carlson: I’m not sure yet, but I will say that this year I’ve experienced a lack of patience with and acceptance of myself when I’m having a difficult time. Really working on that. I think being kind to ourselves is important. Artists who spend too much time listening to their inner critic spend less time freely exploring and expressing their artistry.
What are you looking forward to next year?
Elisa Carlson: I think the GTA season is exciting and look forward to directing Pygmalion, by the great George Bernard Shaw. Shaw has been a research focus of mine for years and while I’ve coached dialects/text and acted in many of his plays this will be my first experience directing one. I can’t wait.
What do you do over the summer to relax?
Elisa Carlson: I love to travel, hang out with friends and family, and work in my garden.
What words of inspiration do you have for students?
Elisa Carlson: I’ve noticed that theatre-makers who calm their inner critic make room for excellence and joy. Try it and see.
Terri Becker, Senior Instructor of Theatre, UNG
What is your role at GTA?
Terri Becker: I am a Senior Lecturer at University of North Georgia, and I am also the Lighting and Projections coordinator for GTA as well as the resident lighting designer.
What lessons have you learned this year?
Terri Becker: Returning from Covid is hard. There is a gap in student knowledge and a motivational gap as well. Students struggled in practicum classes and we were not even running full tilt yet. It was an experience learning how to deal with this and still get a show up on time.
What are you looking forward to next year?
Terri Becker: Knowing what I am doing. Both Brenau University and University of North Georgia are making changes at the highest level that will affect our departments. What those changes will be we can only speculate. Like with anything, change works slowly. I am not very patient so it drives me crazy!
What do you do over the summer to relax?
Terri Becker: Try not to spend money. Just kidding! In May, I’m usually split between a sad attempt at gardening and playing the newest DLC (Downloadable Content) of Elder Scrolls Online. In June, we get a week at the beach, then in July it’s prep time for the next year. I have ADD so it is as important for me as it is for my students that I have my classes all set up and planned out before the semester begins.
What words of inspiration do you have for students?
Terri Becker: Go out to the university social events and spend face to face time with new people. It is important to practice your face-to-face social skills. Theatre is a face-to-face art, even for technicians. Also, get a hobby that takes you outside and enjoy the sun!