Smart Actors and the "monster"

The Blog team was able to briefly corner Aaron Willoughby and ask him a few questions about his work as Tawnya Pettiford-Wates’ assistant director on Les Liaisons Dangereuses, and his unusual graduate thesis topic.

How is it working with Dr. T and the cast?

Working with Dr. T is a different experience than working with most directors.  Her style of crafting a unique production comes from her actors and their work along with her own vision.  She instilling the idea of a “smart actor” in her productions putting responsibilities and the creative process in both her hands as well as each an every actor.  Dr. T also has an amazing way of taking specific individual notes to be incorporated to everyone: actors, stage managers, and even tech crew.  She tries to change a note into a concept that can be translated into everyone’s jobs.


What are some of the challenges of working on Les Liaisons Dangereuses?

This show is a monster...as far as the language, themes, costumes, and the period it must encapsulate.  To give this show the production it deserves, the cast, crew, and design team need to fully live in the world of the play – the elaborate, and ornate world of 17th century French aristocracy.  Coming together with great individuals to make this show possible is something that can’t be praised enough. I can’t think of a better team to tackle this massive show.

Share with us the topic of your graduate thesis. What research and projects are you working on that will specifically influence it?

My topic for my thesis is Video Game Theatre.  I have been talking with video game industry individuals, music composers, graphic designers, and “nerds” of all kinds to come together and create a new theatrical piece fusing video games and theatre.  Over the next few weeks, I will be creating a brand new script for a play that will fuse the CIC’s of video gaming: Community, Interaction, and Competition.  I am still researching ideas, concepts, and effective uses of technology into the production, but my main goal is to bring together those who love theatre and those who love video games under the same roof and find the common elements in both!


You spent some time in Japan teaching English. How did your time overseas affect your perspective on art and theatre?

I was in Japan, Osaka to be exact, for one year.  While there, I was given a place to live, a weekly job schedule, job training, and exposure to a new way of life.  As a person who is always willing to explore, I highly recommend to anyone just to travel!  Simple as that.  I never studied Japanese in college but was drawn to the culture, atmosphere, traditions, and arts of that amazing land.  I was fortunate enough to see several theatrical productions and the experience was both unique and moving.  I learned the power and responsibility of both an actor and a human begin to explore this wide and expansive world.


What is some advice you can give to some of your fellow students here at TheatreVCU?

The best advice I can give to both students and faculty is to simply have the mindset to keep exploring and experimenting for as long as you live!