Ally Grund and Aaron Moyland
FAIRVIEW – If you want classical theater in this part of the country, there’s no place like the Alabama Shakespeare Festival (ASF) in Montgomery. For two Fairview High School seniors, it is their immediate post-graduation destination.
After auditions at four locations around the state, and a callback to the ASF headquarters in Montgomery, Aaron Moyland and Ally Grund were among a handful of students chosen to participate in the ASF State Youth Theatre 2017 production of Shakespeare’s “Two Gentlemen of Verona.”
For young theater enthusiasts, it is a major opportunity. ASF describes itself as “a fully professional regional theatre that produces around ten productions each season in association with Actors’ Equity Association, The Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, and United Scenic Artists Union. Productions of Shakespeare are at the artistic core of the company. Broadway musicals, children’s productions, American classics and world premieres round out the annual offerings at ASF.” In a press release, its State Youth Theatre program was described as “a two-week residency program at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival. Those selected work side-by-side with professional New York theatre artists for a two-week intensive in rehearsals and workshops. The program culminates with a public performance on the Octagon Stage at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival.”
Grund and Moyland, along with other students, will be housed at Auburn University at Montgomery, near ASF, and work at the theater from May 29 through June 10, when they perform what is considered by many scholars to be Shakespeare’s oldest extant play. Moyland will star in the production as Valentine, one of the two gentlemen who give the play its name. Grund will be the stage manager for the production.
Grund described her task as “being in control behind the scenes. I think that’s exactly how I would put it. When she asked me why I want to do this, I said, ‘I like being in charge!’ and I walked out.”
Moyland talked about his long road to acting. “I did acting in fifth grade, but I was really just standing in the back and singing. I always wanted to do the acting stuff out front, but my mother told me I was too young. Then in ninth grade I started acting. I kind of enjoyed it. In 10th grade, I was in theater class, but not acting. In 11th grade I auditioned and got a part, but didn’t get to do the role. In 12th grade I did ‘A Midnight Summers Dream,’ and that’s when I really started falling in love with acting.
“I didn’t really know what I wanted to do with my life until I started doing theater. Through being here, I’ve realized that I want to do theater for the rest of my life.”
Fairview Theatre Works Director Mark Dobbs shared that students take drama classes for many reasons: some have a serious interest in theatrical productions, while others are simply filling a required time slot in their schedules. These students are looking forward to working at ASF and being part of a group with a shared focus.
According to Grund, “It’s acting with people who actually want to be there, working with people that care.”
“I’m looking forward to being in Montgomery,” said Moyland, “and being around all those people that are wanting to pursue acting, and learning from them. I really enjoy the Shakespeare lingo, and acting it out. It’s really fun, so I’m going to enjoy doing this.”
Moyland plans to pursue theater as a minor at the University of Montevallo, and has not yet decided on a major. Grund plans to attend Jacksonville State University and major in biology, but says that theater is not part of her long-term plan.
To incoming freshmen with a dramatic flair, these departing seniors left a little advice.
Grund: “Try it. Just try it. If you don’t like it, you don’t have to be stuck there; but you won’t know unless you try it.”
Moyland: “If you feel like you want to do it, just go for it. Put everything you’ve got into it.”
For more information of the ASF State Youth Theatre program, visit https://asf.net/education/state-youth-theatre.
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