Theatre Outback welcomes alumnus
Former MCC student to direct first production of semester
Sean Dixon
Contributing Writer
Bryanna Tauscher, a 26-year-old Mesa Community College alumnus, will be directing “Wait Until Dark,” the first main stage production at MCC’s Theatre Outback.
The play, originally set in the 1960s, will be updated to the present-day and focuses on a blind woman who is targeted by three con artists who attempt to use her blindness against her.
Tauscher received her bachelor’s of arts in Theater Arts from Arizona State University in 2002, and is currently working toward her master’s degree in Theater Teaching and Outreach from the University of Arizona.
Despite the lengthy commute between Mesa and Tucson, Tauscher has no regrets about her hectic schedule.
“I love directing, but I don’t want to go to New York or L.A. I want to be a director/teacher. I love to watch actors grow,” Tauscher explained.
“Directing is such an absolute rush — a loss of control. There’s nothing more terrifying than being a director on opening night: you’ve done your job and it’s time to let go. And there’s nothing more thrilling than seeing yourself reflected in your actors and their work.”
Lyn Dutson, director of the Theater Department, explained that Tauscher was selected based on her experience in the college’s student director’s class, her work in directing and producing other student productions at MCC, and the plays she directed at ASU.
“We (the theater faculty) had discussed bringing in an alumnus for a main stage show for a while, to utilize our students who had taken the directing class here, and Bryanna’s name came up immediately,as a result of her work at MCC and ASU. ” According to Dutson, Tauscher read several scripts before choosing
“Wait Until Dark.” It’s a very challenging play,” Dutson explained. “It’s challenging for the actress who has to portray a blind character. It’s challenging for the director, who has to choreograph an entire scene that will take place in the dark. It’s a challenging technical design because of that scene.”
Jeff Slaker, an MCC alumnus and friend of Tauscher’s who has worked in several student productions with her said, “She’s an extremely-gifted director. She’s very good at helping actors develop their characters. She always makes them look good. With the lead character of “Wait Until Dark” being blind, Tauscher has an idea of what she wants from the actress playing the role.”
“I don’t want to focus on [the character’s] blindness. I want to develop how she plays her other senses. She’s recently blind due to an accident, and a lot of the play is about her becoming more self-reliant. Eventually, her blindness makes her stronger, and gives her an advantage over the people trying to hurt her.”
“Wait Until Dark” will be performed at the Theatre Outback, October 7-9, at 7:30 p.m., and again, with a Sunday matinee, Oct. 10, at 2 p.m. The matinee will be signed for the hearing impaired.
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