The Cave Theatre may not bring in a huge audience, but it provides a solid stepping-stone for new actors and student directors to try out their skills before entering the real world.
Senior theatre production major Eric Martindale is trying his hand at taking complete control of a play for the first time with "The End of Civilization," which debuts at 7:30 p.m. tonight in Cave Theatre as part of the University Theatre's workshop production series for student directors.
"I've always wanted to direct," Martindale said. "This was a good first show for me."
"The End of Civilization" is from the compilation "Suburban Motel" by George F. Walker and centers around the character of Henry, an unemployed man with a wife and kids who becomes the main suspect in a homicide. Unlike many other production majors, Martindale's experience comes from both sides of the stage. He's acted in numerous theatre productions while he's been at Ball State University.
"Being an actor made me a better director," he said. "It taught me how to talk to actors, and to know when to shut up. But when the lights come up, my butt's not on the line. They'll remember the actors, not me."
Even though this was Martindale's first show, the cast had nothing but great things to say about him as a director.
"I think he's done a fantastic job, he's always there to help. He has been a flexible person, so we can bring things into rehearsal and negotiate with him. It feels like a collaboration," junior acting major Jason Fultz said.
Martindale is not the only one who is trying something new with the show. Three of the actors are new to the Ball State stage, and one of them is a first-time actor.
Freshman acting major Kelsey Kramer said she's glad this is her first show at Ball State, not only because the style of play is new to her, but also because she enjoys working with the cast and crew.
"I love the script and I love the people I'm working with and it all came very well together," she said.
Fultz, who was one of the two experienced actors, enjoyed working with so many new actors on the play.
"I think they're doing a terrific job and I was very impressed with their work," he said.
"They've given me a lot to work with and I hope vice versa. Plus, it's always nice to work with new faces."
Martindale said although the majority of his cast is new, he's had a good time working with them.
"They pull their own weight as actors," he said. "And the cast was no trouble; they were very easy to work with."
The play has very much been a collaboration. Martindale had to put his trust in the cast just as much as they had to trust him as a first-time director.
"He put trust in everybody to help him as it's his first time at directing," Kramer said. "I feel good that he's trusted me. He's never seen me act before so it was nice to see him act and know how it goes and then put that on me for such a deep character and an interesting play."
For tickets, see the University Theatre Box Office or call 765-285-8749.
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