2008 Woodie Awards
Traynor, Blades join drama dept.
Charity Jones
Issue date: 2/2/06 Section: News
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"I started drama and theatre in high school, and carried on with it through college. So the decision wasn't so much whether or not to do theatre, but was more about which area I wanted to go into," said Randall Blades, teacher and director of costume design for the JSU Drama Department.
He worked as an actor and set designer before he moved on to costume creation and design. Later, he worked with the Atlanta Opera and in the costume shop in the movie Drumline.
Whether it's piecing together an outfit from outdated clothes and accessories, or designing something completely new, the costume creators and designers are every bit as essential to a show as the actors who wear their creations.
Eric Traynor, who synthesizes and directs music for JSU Drama Department productions, such as the upcoming musical "Crazy for You," has quite a bit of experience under his belt.
He worked as the artistic director for "Storybook Theatre," a children's production company in North Carolina that performed at JSU summer shows.
He is currently teaching Intro to Theatre and working on implementing a children's theatre program at the school.
Unlike Blades, Traynor said he had no idea he had a talent, or even a passion really for theatre until he took a college speech class with Dr. Steven Whitton.
Dr. Whitton recommended he audition for the upcoming play "The Rainmaker". Traynor was cast, fell in love with drama, and changed his major from pre-med to fine arts.
In his 20 years in professional theatre Traynor has had to work hanging lights, sweeping floors, striking sets, acting, directing, writing and stage managing as well as directing the music.
Having worked as hard as he has, Traynor has one piece of advice for aspiring drama majors: "Learn everything you possibly can while you're in the university…so that when you go to work somewhere you make yourself invaluable."