AU alumna Kristen Cornwall is five years ahead of herself. Cornwall, who graduated this May with a degree in theater, began the summer intending to direct a show. She planned on eventually going to graduate school for directing, then starting her own theater company some time five years down the line. But a twist of fate and some disappointing producers changed her plans.
"I was going through a couple different producers and each kind of flaked out on me, and I decided that wasn't going to stop me from doing this," Cornwall said. "I picked a show and a designer and a venue ... and people kept asking me what the name of the company is that I'm working with and I was like, 'Oh, I need to start a company,' so I sat down and came up with a name and a logo and everything."
From this accidental beginning, Didactic Theatre Company has emerged, with its first production, "Moonchildren," to be put on at the end of July.
Cornwall, 22, is directing and producing the play, which is about eight college seniors dealing with the politically and socially turbulent world of 1965, as well as their own identity issues and relationships.
"It's a comedy, but it's deeply passionate," Cornwall said. "The more [the cast and I] get into it, the more we realize these are things everyone goes through. Where am I going, what am I doing, what are my morals, what are my beliefs? It's about what you're taught growing up vs. finding your own path."
Although Cornwall acted, directed and fulfilled other roles in productions of AU's Department of Performing Arts and the student group AU Players, this is a new endeavor with new duties.
"Directing the show you're involved with the cast, what goes on with the particular show ... Producing you end up having to make sure everything's running smoothly from every angle, you find the designers, you make sure the finances are running and you make the director happy to make sure the show goes on without any flaws," Cornwall said. "Starting my own theater company I had to come up with the name, the logo, public relations, on top of all the producing aspects. I have to make sure it will last, not just for one show - that it will continue indefinitely."
With all of these responsibilities, Cornwall has little time to rest.
"It's a lot of late nights. I've been up 'til 4 or 5 in the morning this week and last week, but I go to bed every night and I'm grinning ear to ear because I'm so happy with what I'm doing with my life," Cornwall said. "This is what I want to do for the rest of my life ... it's not what I expected to be doing now, but it just kind of fell into my lap."
Cornwall realized her career goals during her sophomore year at AU.
"I was able to direct 'How I Learned to Drive,' by Paula Vogel, and it was a very complicated script, very interesting script. That was my first show that I really enjoyed directing and that took me to a different level, and that's what I decided I wanted to do with my career."
The directing experience is not Cornwall's only reminder of AU. Of the 13-person cast, five actors are AU alumni and three are current AU students.
"I'm really liking the way things are turning out, everyone is giving it their best effort," said Chris Kosek, 20, an AU junior and character actor in Cornwall's production. Kosek has been involved in chorus, AU Players and the DPA production of "Kiss Me Kate," though he is not a theater major.
The cast and crew are also putting their efforts toward fundraising to make the production possible, Cornwall said.
"What I pride our company on is ensemble work ... they're a great team of people. They're just really hungry to do real live theater work," she said.
Though Cornwall had to pay initial costs of about $100 for tasks like copying scripts, the cast and crew held a carwash that earned about $400 for Didactic Theatre. The company is also making money by selling program ads and holding fundraiser parties. Also, they have relatively few expenses. The designers, cast and crew are volunteering. Their rehearsals, which started in mid-June, are conducted in a church that allows them to use the space for free.
"A lot of places we're getting free things for giving them a program ad and they're being generous," Cornwall said. "People like new companies, young companies, that are about the work and about the challenge of the art and that's what's great about the theater community [in D.C.]."
However, despite others' generosity, Cornwall does not expect to make a profit.
"I'm just looking for a good turnout and people to spread the word, so in the future we can make money. You don't make millions with the first production," she said.
Cast member and 2002 AU alumnus Jake Haselswerdt said he thinks the show will have a successful run at D.C.'s Warehouse Theater.
"Some pretty big-time productions go on there and I think the play has a broad appeal. It's very funny, it's very well written and we've been working hard on fundraising and publicity," he said.
Haselswerdt, 24, now a lobbyist, added that he knows how hard Cornwall is working.
"I know other people how have started companies - it's a lot of work. I have another friend who said that if she knew what she was getting herself into she never would've done it," Haselswerdt said. "I know it's a strain on Kristen ... but I'm glad she's doing it."
Dana Edwards, a 2002 AU alumna with a degree in theater, agreed.
"I think she's very ambitious and I think the younger you start the more you're likely to succeed because you can keep trying," said Edwards, 24, who works in the Warner Theater's administrative offices. "I'm interested to see where it leads. I think Kristen's a very strong-willed person and it's going to go places."
Cornwall hopes to do one or two productions in the fall and eventually go to graduate school.
"This isn't something I was planning on doing for another five years, but ... I can't give up this opportunity. It's really a dream come true."
The Didactic Theatre Company will perform "Moonchildren" July 29-31 at 7:30 p.m. and July 31 and Aug. 1 at 2 p.m. at the Warehouse Theater, 1021 7th St. near the Mt. Vernon Square Metro. Tickets cost $10 for students, otherwise $15. For more information call (202) 249-8146 or visit www.didactictheatre.com.
