USI Theatre closes season with The Devised Project, devised by Joe Paulik

University of Southern Indiana Theatre will finish its 2022-23 season with The Devised Theatre Project, directed by Joe Paulik, Adjunct Instructor in the Philip H. Hagemann Performing Arts Department. The production will run Friday through Sunday, April 14-16, in the Mallette Studio Theatre, located in the lower level of the Liberal Arts Center. Shows begin at 7 p.m., Thursday through Saturday, and 2 p.m. for the Sunday matinee. 

This project seeks to ignite the spirit of play within our hearts. The COVID pandemic impacted everyone—all individuals had to retreat from public spaces and isolate for the collective good. The world of theatre shut down during this scary and lonely time. The community that theatre fosters is strong, and this performance allows the entire crew to scream, shout and make a mess. Interaction with each other replaces fear, and fun enters the stage. Each night of this performance, students will seek to ignite the spirit of play within all our hearts. 

Paulik is an alum of the Graduate Acting School at New York University and comes to Evansville after 15 years of acting in New York City. He has appeared on Broadway, off-Broadway and in theaters around the nation. Most recently, he was in the U.S. premiere of Ivo van Hove’s Network, starring Brian Cranston. He has originated roles for A.R. Gurney, Stephen Belber, Sarah Treem, Rob Askins and others. 

He also starred in the New York City premiere of Aaron Posner’s Stupid F-ing Bird, as well as the first regional production of Annie Baker’s John at American Conservatory Theatre (ACT), San Francisco. He received a Helen Hayes nomination for his work in Bad Jews at the Studio Theatre in Washington, D.C., and an Independent Reviewers of New England nomination for The Power of Duff at the Huntington Theatre in Boston. Paulik has worked at ACT, Berkshire Theatre Festival, The Guthrie Theater, Hartford Stage, Playwrights Horizons, among others. His television credits include The Guiding Light, The Good Wife and Person of Interest. Paulik received a bachelor’s degree in theatre from Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and a master’s degree in fine arts from New York University. 

Paulik will be joined by the following production and design team: costume lab students Madalyn Cottrell, Jade Griffy, Chloe Kummer, Blair McKown, Evelyn Pigman, Sophie Rosenbaum, and Jaylen Williams, all costume lab students; Joshua Stallings, Lighting Designer; Gavin Carter, Assistant Lighting Designer; Andrew Bryant, Austin Ferrari, Mel Hanebutt, Dakota Smith, Ashlyn Thornburgh, and Gavin Carter, all lighting/sound lab students; Lucy Brown, Grace DeVries, Rayn Miller, Kierstin Prewitt, Brynne Stephens, Abby Scheller, and Zoe Wainscott, all props and paint shop crew; Jaden Crouch and Avery Yates, head carpenters; Kirby Nolan, Cooper Craig, Ian Palomino and LillyBea Ireland, all carpenters. 

The cast includes USI students Gavin Carter, Madalyn Cottrell, Chloe Kummer, Rayn Miller, Alex Seifert, Dakota Smith, Brynne Stephens, Ashlyn Thornburgh and Via Ryan. 

The Devised Project is open to the public at no charge. Seating is limited. To reserve seats, email Jillian Jones, Administrative Associate for the College of Liberal Arts, at jsjones5@usi.edu or call 812-461-5219.