Page 21 - Southern Exposure - November '23

Southern Exposure, Page 21

artS & entertainMent from page 20
Palm Beach Dramaworks Names

Anne Mundell Resident Scenic Designer

Palm Beach Dramaworks is very different from how I grew up. I’m fascinated to ‘I better go practice what I preach.’ And students are
(PBD) is delighted to see what’s next.” phenomenal teachers.”
announce that A nne “We’re thrilled that Anne accepted our invitation,” said Mundell took early retirement in order to seek out
Mundell, an award- PBD Producing Artistic Director William Hayes. “She is new challenges. “When I was teaching, I was part of an
winning scenic designer a pleasure to work with, and has a wealth of experience amazing community of people with incredible ideas,” she
and distinguished professor and a rich imagination. She’s also very forward-thinking said. “That’s one of the reasons I was thrilled when Bill
emeritus, has been named and has an invigorating approach to scenic design. She asked me about this job. I’m looking forward to working
the company’s new resident simply has so much to offer PBD.” with another brilliant artistic community.”
scenic designer, effective Mundell, who grew up in and around Washington, Palm Beach Dramaworks is a professional, nonprofit
immediately. D.C., did her undergraduate work at Kenyon College in theatre company founded in 2000 and located in the
Mundell made her PBD debut in 2017 with Tom Ohio, and received a master of fine arts in scenic design heart of downtown West Palm Beach. Each season, the
Stoppard’s Arcadia, and subsequently designed the from Brandeis University. She went to Pittsburgh to work award-winning company produces five mainstage shows
sets for Peter Shaffer’s Equus in 2018, and Tennessee at Pittsburgh Public Theater just after grad school; her and offers a wide variety of programs for students at
Williams’ A Streetcar Named Desire in 2019. This season, plan was to remain there for two years and then head to the theatre and in schools. Committed to fostering the
she is designing the world premieres of Jenny Connell New York. “That didn’t work out, because I kept finding future of theatre, PBD has become a hub for playwrights
Davis’ The Messenger and Christopher Demos-Brown’s interesting things to do in Pittsburgh,” she said. in Florida and around the country to nurture their work
The Cancellation of Lauren Fein, as well as Arthur One day, a theatre colleague who also taught at Carnegie through initiatives including The Dramaworkshop and
Miller’s seminal Death of a Salesman. She is scheduled Mellon University asked Mundell to substitute for him in the Perlberg Festival of New Plays. PBD is a member
to do at least two shows a year at PBD. a class. She had no desire to teach, but she agreed to do it. of Theatre Communications Group, Florida Professional
“I’m very excited to have this opportunity,” said “I was terrible,” she said. “I told the students everything Theatres Association, the Cultural Council of Palm Beach
Mundell. “Everybody made me feel so welcome from the I knew about a particular topic, and I was exhausted. I County, and NNPN. www.palmbeachdramaworks.org.
first time I worked here, and I love the family atmosphere. thought, ‘Oh, it’s the end of the class, I wonder if there’s
I just retired from my professor job at Carnegie Mellon, time for questions.’ Then I looked at the clock and only
where I’ve been for 30-plus years, and it’s nice to have 10 minutes had passed. But they kept asking me back.” Your ad
another artistic home. And Dramaworks is such a good fit. She served briefly as the interim head of the School of
I really enjoy what the company does – you know, ‘theatre Drama, spent a decade as coordinator of design, and was
to think about.’ That’s the kind of work I love to do. I feel associate professor of scene design from 1988 until her could be here!
like we’re at a point in history where artists have to bear retirement. Throughout her career in education, Mundell
witness and tell stories that matter in ways that matter. continued her design work in theatres around Pittsburgh Call
That’s something that Dramaworks does. And everyone and various parts of the country, including Pittsburgh
here is willing to take risks with ideas, which is always Public Theater, Maltz Jupiter Theatre, Pittsburgh City
fun for me. I come from a poetic, gestural tradition and Theatre, Utah Musical Theatre, Carnegie Museum of Art, 561-746-3244
like to explore the world of the play in a way that isn’t Quantum Theatre, Hangar Theatre, Pittsburgh Civic Light
necessarily reproducing the actual physical space that the Opera, St. Michael’s Playhouse, Tennessee Repertory
story takes place, like a living room, for instance. I’m Theatre, Black Hills Playhouse, and Players Theatre or visit
also very interested in what theatre is going to be as we Columbus.
move into a new generation of artists who think and tell “Teaching and design became a feedback loop,” she www.seabreezepublications.com
stories in an aggregate way instead of a linear way, which said. “I would hear myself say something and think,

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