We recently connected with Lucien Douglas and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Lucien, thanks for joining us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

Creating my own solo performance piece–“A Shadow Among Strangers–Performing the Life & Works of Edgar Allan Poe.” I had this production in the back of my head for some time. When the Harry Ransom Research Center at The University of Texas at Austin contacted me about doing some Poe recordings as part of their web advertising for an exhibit celebrating Poe’s 200th anniversary (2009), I asked if I could also do a special live presentation of his works–poems, letters, stories–in their 130-seat theatre as a special event to be included in the semester-long celebration.

That’s when the creation and development of this program began. I had worked on a Poe show some years prior, but never got it off the ground. I even trashed that old script. So now I started from scratch. I remembered much of the material that I wanted to use. My extensive research into Poe’s life, helped me to find the narrative I needed to tie all the pieces together–I was focusing on poems, stories, and letters that were relevant to keep periods in his life.

After approximately 150 script revisions, I finally found my 75-minute presentation. It premiered fully produced in the Oscar Brockett Theatre in the Department of Theatre and Dance at The University of Texas at Austin in September 2016. I personally researched, wrote, designed (set and wardrobe), acted and have continually developed this work. I have a 65-minute version that I presented for the South Haven (Michigan) Summer Theatre Festival in July 2019. And I have a special 40-minute version that has enjoyed several presentations on Halloween in the Gallery at Chez Zee American Bistro in Austin. So, I have gotten a good deal of mileage with this very unique production.

I believe most people think of Poe as a strange, drug-addicted character. We all are somewhat familiar with his poem “The Raven” (which was the most popular poem in America in 1845). What most folks may not know is that he was orphaned before he was three, had a contentious relationship with his step-father who cut him out of his will, lived in extreme poverty (in spite of his talents), and sought the perfect romantic relationship through trysts with a number of women. In short, much of his life may have indeed been driven by a search for a mother figure, whom he seemed to have found in his widowed aunt–he then married his aunt’s 13-year-old daughter Virginia (he was 27 at the time). He did struggle with alcohol, but he was never a drug addict.

That’s the Poe that I present in my performance–the romantic soul, ever-searching for peace, romance, and public recognition: “To be controlled is to be ruined,” he said. “And my ambition is to be great.”

Lucien, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I have always loved literature and language. Particularly classical literature–Shakespeare. I have always found inspiration in speaking any text out loud.

I taught a course that I called “Your Voice, Your Self–Speaking with Confidence.” It was rather well-received by students in the Undergraduate Signature Course program at The University of Texas at Austin. The title speaks for itself; I am good at helping people do just that–speak in public with more confidence than they have previously known.

As for the artistic angle, I also like building things, and that’s what theatre allows one to do–go into a dark room and make magic, the kind of magic that entertains and enlightens its listeners. I especially like the challenge of bringing classical texts to life, helping actors to breathe life into it in a way that–no matter when it was written–it engages today’s audience. When an audience member can sit in a theatre and say, “Yes, I can relate to that person up there, there’s a piece of me in them,” then as theatre artists we are doing it right. I find a special reward in being a part of that process.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Achievement. Discipline. Stepping back and looking at the finished product and finding a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction in my efforts. The end product is never perfect, but I find a special satisfaction in taking the time and effort to get as close to that envisioned perfection as possible. There is also a special joy in collaboration with all the artists that go into a theatrical production: as a director, I take great pleasure in collaborating with actors, designers, writers, and all members of the technical crew. It’s a joint effort that takes a good deal of give-and-take. We learn to be good listeners, respectful of others’ points of view.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

I didn’t really “have” to pivot, but I chose to do so.

I decided to leave New York and pursue a PhD in Theatre at Michigan State University. Teaching had always been in my background–it was a significant part of my resume. I had taught and/or guest-directed productions at The Juilliard School, University of North Carolina School of the Arts, New York University, South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities, American Academy of Dramatic Arts, Wiest-Barron Television School, etc., I liked teaching, and had it in my head that I would like to work in academia finding ways to bridge the gap between university acting programs and the professional world.

I’ve been on faculty in the Department of Theatre and Dance at The University of Texas at Austin for many years now. I spear-headed the creation and development of the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting Degree Program. I also created our University of Texas Los Angles (UTLA) program in acting. This very unique program allows University of Texas senior BFA in Acting students to spend the spring semester taking their final twelve credit hours in professional studios in Los Angeles. Their work consists of four courses, that include advanced technique, scene study, camera, and the business aspects of pursuing a professional acting career. Now in its seventh year, the program has proven to be a fine “bridge” between the university and the professional world of acting.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.LucienDouglas.com
• Facebook: Lucien Douglas
• Email: [email protected]

Image Credits
Headshot Photo by Kathy Whittaker, Austin TX Poe production photos by Matt Smith, Lighting Designer, Austin TX