Professor Brendan Brassell takes us into the intricate world of the arts, and finding your voice amongst developing technologies and social anxiety.
By: Madison Mead
Writer
I had the pleasure of sitting with Professor Brenden Brassell, a theatre professor here at Vol State, who expands upon not just the role of theatre in the world but how we, as people, can use this to push our mental and technological boundaries. She’ll also inform us of the exciting upcoming show season, with some new additions to the theatre’s typical roster.
Like many of us from the area, Brassell grew up in her church’s yearly Christmas shows. Continuing through adolescence, she speaks of her fond love for performing found through VBS and various camps. But then comes high school, where she takes a leap out of her comfort zone.
“I was very much that introverted child, and I knew that theater was gonna help me sort of break out of that shell…I loved it. I found my people.” She goes on to talk about how performing had given her strong confidence, which is a powerful tool. This confidence brings her through high school, college, many summer camps, and eventually into teaching and directing, where she wishes to bring those tools of passion and confidence into future generations and instill the love of the arts.
With these many years of experience under her belt, Brassell shares a secret on how to evolve both in personal social settings and in the limelight. When asked how someone could overcome self-doubt or stage fright, she has two words: Eye contact.
“…look each other in the eye. That overcomes a multitude of fears, and it’s a life skill that you need. Just don’t be afraid to look somebody in the eye. It’s a small thing, but it gives you confidence.”
Naturally, I felt nervous to look her in the eyes after that. She goes on to explain how, in her Intro to Theatre class, she always gets a mix of two people. On one hand, you have people who have performed all their lives, and on the other, those who haven’t ever stepped on stage. But she encourages these students to see just what can be gained here: self-confidence, public speaking skills, and the ability to be a more well-rounded, culturally diverse individual. There’s a deep, rich history to be found within the world of theatre.
But with such deep roots, founded in times with no technology close to what we have today, how does the world of the arts keep up? Where is the future of theatre and these
Underlying skills headed? Brassell reassures that theatre, much like the world surrounding it, evolves and gets reborn in its own ways.
“This is not a new convention. We’ve been putting tech in theater, and it’s just getting
more and more involved, for generations now. It’s this idea of the wired world. And is it helping us to have all this technology at our fingertips, you know, or are we too inundated with it? Well, it depends on how you use it. And in the arts world, we’re trying to use it for good. You know, we are trying to because it exists.”
Everything is changing, she remarks, but Brassell continues on how theatre is not just a stage, it’s an art. It’s creativity, something that AI inherently lacks. So while theatre evolves to match the March of time, there will always be a piece of it that comes from us, the performer and audience.
Finally, she and I discuss the many opportunities she offers for all ages and all expertise, both here at Vol State and in the outside world. You can find Brassell in her Intro to Theatre class, an excellent choice for a humanities credit, or one of her alternative spring classes, Voice and Movement or Fundamentals of Costuming and Makeup. There’s also an adorable Children’s Theatre class that puts on its very own showcase, offering many learning and growth opportunities for any child.
The upcoming season for this year is extremely anticipatory as well! With not only the featuring of Vol State’s first musical since COVID-19, Good Man Charlie Brown, in March. April, we can look forward to the advanced acting class performing their own works, and in May, we have the long-awaited Fusion Arts Festival, a chance for anyone to stop by and experience the world of the arts! Outside of Vol State, you can find her at the Centerstage Performing Arts.
Academy, whether she’s teaching dance, theatre, or one of the adult troupes. Even then, she says, you don’t have to act! Volunteering or simply learning theatre is still a wonderful way to be involved and hone your skills of personal and social confidence applicable to everyday life.
Theatre, while ever evolving in our technological world, has the power to transform both the performer and audience, an idea Brassell employs quite well in her teaching and acting. It was a refreshing perspective to hear and a joy to have discussed it. If you’re looking for a kind and involved class, simply look at the spotlights on Professor Brenden Brassell!
Be First to Comment