Spring Break
Inside the Actors Studio: Director Doront'e Evans
Bethany Dykes
Issue date: 2/20/09 Section: Art & Entertainment
Doront'e Evans is anything but a senior musical theatre student at Shorter College.
He came to Shorter in the fall of 1997 and left after his sophomore year in the spring of 1999 to take a break and chase a dream. After spending some time as a performer and choreographer, in the fall of 2006 he felt he should come back to finish what he started.
After a six year hiatus, Evans returned to Shorter in the spring of 2007, made his comeback debut in Pippin as the Leading Player and has not stopped since.
In his recent years at Shorter he has become the founder, director and producer of Black Tie Affair and The Wiz, coming up in March.
Of the two shows Evans has coordinated and directed they feature something the School of Arts has never done: an all-black ensemble.
"Last year the idea of Black Tie Affair initially came about because there are a lot of African Americans [in the School of Arts] and there is never an opportunity to showcase us together," said Evans.
However, he is more than a director of these productions, but rather he is a mentor and director in the musical abilities of the students he directs.
"He is the greatest, most talented guy I know," said sophomore Amethyst Gartrell.
Evans believes in the students in his shows, which is why he chooses the roles and songs for them that he does.
"I make a list of songs I like and then I go through and match the performers to the song. I match them with songs I think will be challenging for the them either vocally or personally," said Evans.
His favorite performance from Black Tie Affair was "Sunday" from Sunday in the Park with George because of the message conveyed in the play and song.
"The idea of blank canvas allows for so many possibilities, and that's how I feel about these students," said Evans about the song.
Doront'e Evans is an actor, student, mentor, director and teacher all in one body, which is a great accomplishment.
Evans, who graduates next December, will perform in his senior recital alongside Tré Appleby in May.
He came to Shorter in the fall of 1997 and left after his sophomore year in the spring of 1999 to take a break and chase a dream. After spending some time as a performer and choreographer, in the fall of 2006 he felt he should come back to finish what he started.
After a six year hiatus, Evans returned to Shorter in the spring of 2007, made his comeback debut in Pippin as the Leading Player and has not stopped since.
In his recent years at Shorter he has become the founder, director and producer of Black Tie Affair and The Wiz, coming up in March.
Of the two shows Evans has coordinated and directed they feature something the School of Arts has never done: an all-black ensemble.
"Last year the idea of Black Tie Affair initially came about because there are a lot of African Americans [in the School of Arts] and there is never an opportunity to showcase us together," said Evans.
However, he is more than a director of these productions, but rather he is a mentor and director in the musical abilities of the students he directs.
"He is the greatest, most talented guy I know," said sophomore Amethyst Gartrell.
Evans believes in the students in his shows, which is why he chooses the roles and songs for them that he does.
"I make a list of songs I like and then I go through and match the performers to the song. I match them with songs I think will be challenging for the them either vocally or personally," said Evans.
His favorite performance from Black Tie Affair was "Sunday" from Sunday in the Park with George because of the message conveyed in the play and song.
"The idea of blank canvas allows for so many possibilities, and that's how I feel about these students," said Evans about the song.
Doront'e Evans is an actor, student, mentor, director and teacher all in one body, which is a great accomplishment.
Evans, who graduates next December, will perform in his senior recital alongside Tré Appleby in May.
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