Let Every Woman be Master of Her Time
DON’T SAY IT! The so-called cursed “Scottish Play” will be gracing the grounds of BSU in November, introducing the campus to the fateful tale of Macbeth. But were you aware that our very own professor, and director, Katherine Alix-Gaudreau was also brought to this very institution by the hands of fate?
Originally, the role of director and adjunct professor was supposed to go to a good friend of Alix-Gaudreau, but he ended up being unable to take the position. So, with this opportunity at her fingers, Alix-Gaudreau contacted Heidi Bean, chair of the Theater Department here at BSU. And with that, we gained not only a professor, but a very talented individual.
Having gone to multiple schools Alix-Gaudreau has come to BSU with a BA in Theater and two Masters; one in Sociology with a focus in Criminology and Gender Studies, and another in Shakespeare and Creative Arts. With multiple degrees under her belt, she has also set her sights on a PhD in Theater; thus setting her on the path of tenure. However, this is not her first time in the role of a college professor.
Familiar to the ways of education, Alix-Gaudreau has taught theater at both Framingham State University and the University of Georgia in Athens. Having also worked with multiple non-profits, Alix-Gaudreau eventually came to start her own theater company. Situated in Marlborough, MA, the Ghost Light Players of MetroWest are currently in their ninth year of existence. For this worldly professor, “the most rewarding part of both teaching and directing is when I see someone take tools that I’ve provided, or resources that I’ve made available, or a lesson that I’ve tried to teach, when they take that for themselves and do more than they thought they could before, that sort of surprised moment for themselves…where they think ‘I can actually do something that I didn’t think I was able to do!’ That is incredibly rewarding for me.”
While teaching two Oral Interpretation classes and one Theater Lab, she is also the director of the play Macbeth, one of her duties as professor and one of the reasons that she took the jo in the first place. Although the play was originally supposed to be Tempest, Alix-Gaudreau had directed that show just last year. After taking a week to deliberate on what play would be best, Alix-Gaudreau ended up picking Macbeth. One reason being that it’s one of Shakespeare’s shorter plays, meaning less dialogue needs to be cut in order to make the show a reasonable length. Despite what some might say about performing the accursed play, Alix-Gaudreau is neither superstitious nor afraid.
“It’s a lot of opportunity for a lot of great parts; there’s some wonderful soliloquies, some great scenes, and it has witches! It has witches and murder and vengeance and all sorts of wonderful things. I thought it would be a really fun and educational way to introduce folks to Shakespeare,” Alix-Gaudreau said.
Deviating from the original Scottish setting, Alix-Gaudreau is considering having the tragic tale take place in an asylum/institutional setting, with the actors playing multiple roles in order to work more closely together as an ensemble. The play is to take place in a sort of theater-in-the-round, giving the audience a full view of the show. There will be heavy amounts of audience involvement, creating an intense and immersive experience for those brave enough to dive into the wicked tale of William Shakespeare’s Macbeth.
“I’m really excited to share Shakespeare with a new group of people. Even if they have never seen Shakespeare before or enjoyed Shakespeare before; they should come check out Macbeth, because I think it will be unlike anything they’ve ever seen before,” said Alix-Gaudreau.
Don’t miss the Shakespearean event of the semester, coming to the Rondileau Campus Center Auditorium November 21, 22, 23, and 24. And, don’t forget to give a warm round of applause to the fantastic Professor Katherine Alix-Gaudreau!
