Florida State University

Spring 2011

​

Advisor: Dr. Irma Mayorga

​

This production came to fruition due to the temerity of Al Heartley's goal to produce works of African American theater in FSU's School of Theatre (of which there were none). As one of his primary mentors in the department, I was honored to collaborate with Heartley to aid him in an independent directing project and render a fully produced production of McCraney's paradigm shifting work. Heartley gathered and managed a full design team as well as recruited actors from both Florida State and Florida A&M University. 

​

Advisement included mentoring Heartley in the challenging theatricality required by McCraney's work, guiding Heartley and actors in non-naturalistic staging techniques, and intense involvement in the rehearsal process, fundraising, and the full technical production process. Mentorship also guided Heartley through a labyrinth of campus funding sources to raise funds for the production.

​

Additionally, at Hearley's invitation and fundraising efforts, McCraney made a historic campus visit to FSU to both support Al's endeavors as an emerging Black director and to witness the production.

​

​

​

​

​

Press for Al Heartley's Senior Project​

​

• "FSU Profile: Al Heartley"

​

​