Directing Earnest

By Kim McCoy
Courier Staff

Many students at Monmouth complete some sort of senior project before they graduate. However, the rest of campus or the general public does not often see these projects. This weekend’s play is a senior project for one MC student.

Kat Koelbl, a Communication and Theater Arts (CATA) and Public Relations major with a concentration in theater, is directing “The Importance of Being Earnest” as her senior project.

All CATA majors are required to complete either an independent study or an internship before graduation. Koelbl chose the independent study, and started looking for a show she could direct.  

She chose “The Importance of Being Earnest” because she had read the book, and enjoyed it. She then discussed the idea with her producer, Bill Wallace, a professor in the CATA department, and he agreed that it would be a good show for this fall.

This is not Koelbl’s first experience directing. Last semester, she directed “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)”, as a final project for her directing class.

Koelbl has also been involved in theater at Monmouth since her freshman year.

She  was the assistant director for many of the plays her freshman year, as well as acting the role of Flipote in “Tartuffe.”  

When asked why she wanted to direct she said, “As an actor, you always have ideas, but you can’t say anything because you’re not the director. I wanted to feel what it was like to have complete creative control of a show.”

Koelbl had always wanted to try directing, and this independent study option gave her that chance. If she were given the opportunity to direct any show, she said she would choose “You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown,” which she has been a part of as an actress.  

Although she has enjoyed directing “The Importance of Being Earnest,” and her other projects, Koelbl does not plan on a career after graduation.

She hopes to get a job in public relations or communications, and audition for shows in the evenings.  

“The Importance of Being Earnest” is this weekend, with shows on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. The play is in Wells Theater, and general admission tickets are $2.