Jaley Hoyt

I do not know that any theatre experience will top Gruesome Playground Injuries, and at least not for a long time. Being able to be in this two-person cast was a responsibility and an honor that I do not take lightly.

This is one of the few roles where I did not simply feel like a character. I felt like an actual fully realized person, with a history, a family, and an amazing amount of complexity. Playing Kayleen on stage opened my eyes to an entirely different human perspective, and I feel incredibly humbled.

This kind of show reveals the magic of Pittsburg State University theatre department. I got to work very intimately with Michael Rodriguez, my co-star, Cooper Dammrich, the stage director, and Dr. Cynthia Allan, the director. Michael and I understood the gravity of the show and how much it hinged on our performance, so we studied the script more than I ever have in any show previously. We knew every motivation, every line, every feeling, and everything in between. We often met up to an hour before rehearsals to run lines and blocking. Granted, this started due to a desire to prove ourselves to Dr. Allan. Yet it became more of a desire to due justice to the beautifully written script.

Speaking of Dr. Allan, getting the opportunity to work one on one with her to hone my skills and learn from her was something that makes me very grateful. She has achieved so much, works very hard, and desires and expects success from every one of her students. I saw an entirely different side of her during the show process. She claimed that Gruesome was the best show she had ever directed. That is the highest compliment I will ever receive, from the woman I respect the most. This show improved my acting tenfold, and made me feel like I can do it professionally.

On the note of professionalism, the crew for this was completely perfect. Made up of my peers, they all worked incredibly hard and did not seem to harbor any resentment against me for being cast (which I was paranoid about). They collectively buckled down and worked hard, and constantly strived to help Michael and I. I was sick during the process; they would make me tea. I needed a prop set in a particular spot or an electronic cigarette charged, they would do it without hesitation or malice. I am not one to order people around, for that is not my place, but they would all go out of their way to ask if they could help. The quick changes were smooth, the moulage makeup was precise, and the show only came together because of how professional and team oriented the crew was. This is what real theatre feels like, and I can not wait to experience more of it. My only regret for Gruesome is that not a lot of people came to see it, for it was not well advertised. The crew was a well oiled machine, and their phenomenal work and the playwright's genius deserved to be seen by all of Pittsburg.