10
ARTS & CULTURE
CCC hires new theater director
CLACKAMAS COMMUNITY COLLEGE WELCOMES JAYNE STEVENS
I was an artist in the residence. So this
was after I had gone to PSU and obtained
my undergraduate in theater. I came
back and for the 2007-2008 school year,
I did help teach the acting classes. That
was my first step into teaching and at
that point, I wanted to continue with
theater. From there, I went to get my
masters degree. During my time in the
master’s program, I did teach acting, but
never officially.
STORY BY DEAN BECHARD
CO-NEWS EDITOR
Jayne Stevens is the new part-time
theater director here at Clackamas
Community College. She has been at CCC
since Fall Term 2022 and has many plans
coming up for the Theatre Program. The
Clackamas Print interviewed Jayne
about her thoughts on becoming the new
theater director and her knowledge in
the field of directing.
TCP: How is the environment when
you’re teaching? How do you like it at
CCC?
The Clackamas Print: What is your name
and occupation?
Jayne Stevens: My name is Jane Stevens;
I am the assistant managing director for
Clackamas Repertory Theatre and the
part-time theater instructor at Clackamas
Community College.
TCP: Are you currently the full-time
theater director at CCC now?
Stevens: Right now Tm part-time. I hope
someday to be full-time. Tpe department
has been going through some changes
and I don’t think they’ve decided what
they’re doing at this point. For now, I’ll be
teaching this term and I will also teach
in the spring so file students who have
been a part of the program will have the
same instructor for the entire year.
TCP: What are your plans for teaching
here at CCC? Are there any upcoming
events that are scheduled?
Stevens: Yes. Little Women will be our
winter play that runs from March 2
through March 12. There’s the Student
Showcase performances; that’s where
the students show what they’ve been
working on all term. Also, in the
Repertory Theater, we have our annual
gala on April 15. That’s a fundraising
event where we raise money for our
summer productions.
TCP: When our students join the theater
program, do you think of any benefits or.
scholarships when they enroll?
Stevens: The department does offer
Portrait of Jayne Stevens promoting her production of Little Women. Photo by Grant Pauli.
tuition waivers and students can apply
for these. What that is, is it’s a waiver
that covers your tuition for the entire
term. That’s for classes outside of the
theater department, as well. So if a
theater student applies, gets the waiver
approved, they could get their tuition
paid for. The reason why the department
offers these is because we understand
the amount of time and commitment
that is required for successful theater.
We also understand that students have to
live and eat, so this way they can maybe
supplement what a part time job would
be. That way they can be apart of the play
and do the rehearsals.
TCP: When did you first start directing
plays?
Stevens: I started my theater journey as
a small child. I did community theater all
through high school and then I actually
came to CCC in 2001. That’s when I
started my path and took a theater class.
I really enjoyed it, and then I thought,
“Hey, maybe I will go to school for this.” I
continued on my education journey and
ended up getting a master’s degree in
theater from Portland State University,
During my time in that program, I did
a lot of directing. I also directed at CCC
as a student, but my first professional
directing job was in 2016 called “One
Slight Hitch” in the Clackamas ^Repertory
Theater for a comedy by Louis Black.
He’s a comedian who only wrote one play
and it was actually pretty funny. I
TCP: When did you start teaching at CCC?
Stevens: I started teaching Fall Term
2022. My positions were Production
Manager and Administrative Assistant
I wasn’t fully an instructor yet but when
you’re a director, there’s lots of teaching
moments between you and the actors.
TCP: When did you first start teaching?
Stevens: In 2007 I came back here and
Stevensr I feel like it’s pretty laid back.
I let students call me by my first name
Jane. I still get a little shocked when I
hear Professor Stevens or Ms. Stevens. So
I’d say I’m pretty laid back. I try to make
everybody feel comfortable because I
think when people are having fun and
feeling safe, that’s when the best work
happens. When we’re putting up walls
and retracting ourselves, then if s really
hard to express yourself artistically. So
I try to make people feel as comfortable
as I can so that we can make the best art
together.
TCP: Is there anything else you’d like to
share with the students?
Stevens: Another thing J didn’t say is
that the Clackamas Repertory Theatre
has the Season Auditions in early winter.
Students should know that it’s available
because what we do in the summer is all
paid. It’s a way that we can give back and
a new way that students can earn money.
We actually pay them to participate so
I think that could benefit them. Even if
you’re not a theater student, you might
still want to do that in the summer,' I
mean, making a play can be fun.
Jayne Stevens plans to become the
full-time director here at CCC and
encourages students to come visit the
theater for our upcoming winter play
in March, Little Women. Anyone who
is interested in joining the theater
program and receiving benefits, contact
jaynestevens@clackamas.edu via email.
This interview has been edited for clarity and
space.
The'Gladkftttifts Print
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February 2023