Student performs in suspenseful world-premiere

Since the age of 5, Joseph Dumford knew he wanted to be an actor.

However, the senior theater major and recent lead character in “Life is Mostly Straws” hesitated before making the leap when entering Georgia College.

“I didn’t think it was an actual option because a lot of people go to college, get a business degree and go out and do business,” Dumford said.

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Dumford started out majoring in business and soon found out it wasn’t the right fit. He lasted a full semester in business and swiftly switched to majoring in theater.

“I said, ‘You know what? I’m going to actually go for it and be an actor,’” Dumford said about switching majors. “If nothing else, I can be a bum on a beach.”

He has worked on numerous plays before, including the GC production of  “To Kill a Mockingbird,” going into auditions for “Life is Mostly Straws,” Dumford was focused on his goal.

“I went in really wanting David because he was the lead,” Dumford said. “But once I got it, I was more enthralled with the character – it’s a character I’ve never played before and it’s incredibly different than what I’ve played before.”

Dumford faced challenges with the character of David, mostly due to the vast age difference between himself and the character, who is 40 years old.

Iona Pendergast, director of “Life is Mostly Straws” and adjunct professor, aided Dumford in perfecting his character.

“Dumford stands out as someone I sincerely enjoyed getting to know,” Pendergast said. “Joe is an inspiring student because he never showed his frustration when I relentlessly pushed him, though he sometimes responded with a seemingly sarcastic smile – the point was that he always responded.”

Dumford says Pendergast helped with commonly used techniques such as emotional recall, which he used when playing his character. He also says that dissecting the script and taking 20 to 30 minutes to work one line out really made the difference in the quality of the acting.

“Iona’s intelligence has been really instrumental in helping me get through this,” Dumford said.

This production is relatively small compared to others Dumford has been in. Dumford believes this allows for a more intimate cast – which he enjoys.

“I feel like the communication is stronger,” Dumford said. “When you have a big cast, there tends to be people who break up into groups and this process has been these four people, myself included, and that was that.”

Jordan Hale, senior theater major who played Noah, worked closely with Dumford. Hale and Dumford were even told to bond, to help strengthen the relationships of not only the characters but between themselves.

“It has been great working with him. He’s a really good guy to work with and his talent is there too,” Hale said. “It made my job easier, working with someone like him.”

Balancing school and theater has been difficult for Dumford, with rehearsal every day lasting from 6 to 9 p.m.

“Being a theater major, I don’t think a lot of people realize how much work we put in,” Dumford said. “It’s literally hours and days of work.”

Dumford speaks of not only classes required for theater majors but also rehearsals and 40 required lab hours that must be completed out of class.

Over the summer, Dumford added an acclaimed portion to his resume. He placed fourth in the MOFILM Cannes Lions: Video Competition 2011.

“My girlfriend, Kait, was in Spain at the time and the company gives you a brief,” Dumford said. “Chevy’s was ‘How far would you go to seize an opportunity?’”

Dumford storyboarded a short 60-second film attempting to deliver a cupcake around the world to his girlfriend. Dumford made the film for his class, Acting for Film, taught by Amy Pinney.

“It’s an incredible class,” Dumford said. “It helped me with my acting, because that’s what I want to do when I get out of college – I want to go into film.”

Dumford plans on graduating in December of 2012 and hopes to build his resume in Atlanta. Dumford’s end goal is to be famous, which Pendergast knows is in his future.

“I look forward to his inevitably successful career to which I will be able to claim, ‘I have worked with Joe Dumford.’”

Posted by AubrieSofala on Oct 6 2011. Filed under Features, Lead stories. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.