What’s next for David Craven?

By Erin Hayhurst

As part of his second semester as Artist-in-Residence for the CSC theatre department, David Craven has made the best out of a COVID-19 influenced semester. 

 Craven previously directed during the Fall semester of 2019, directing the productions of ‘Evil Dead: The Musical’ and ‘Miss Julie.’  

Following the end of this semester, Craven will be going back to his home in Atlanta to get ready for caroling season. Craven hopes for a somewhat more normal season this year after only doing about 43% of their usual season last year due to COVID-19 restrictions.  

“I have a caroling company in Atlanta, so I send out carolers- four part: soprano, alto, tenor base- carolers in 1840s costumes at Christmas time,” Craven said. “My company is 30 years old this year.”  

Along with directing, teaching and carolling, Cavin is also a playwright. The theatre department performed his play ‘What’s Next?’ in November 2020. While Cavin was not able to view the show since it wasn’t live streamed, he was excited about college students being able to play characters their own age.  

“I wrote it specifically for college students to play their own age,” he said. “I think that’s a big gap in theatrical literature. There is very little written for college students to play their age and not be involved with cursing, drugs or sex, as if those are the only three things young people do.”  

As the Artist-in-Residence, Craven teaches different acting and directing classes. His favorite moments from this semester involve watching students develop their skills and use them in productions.  

“It’s great watching students apply things directly from class into a show.” He said. “It’s amazing when you watch students not only absorb information, but apply it immediately. I always call it selfish learning. It lets you know that they’re saying ‘Well what does this have to do with me?’ and then applying it immediately to something else.”  

During his time teaching at CSC, Craven directed the productions of ‘70 Scenes of Halloween’ and ‘To Die For.’ This semester, he faced stricter guidelines, preventing audiences from attending the two plays because of COVID-19. Along with Theatre Professor Scott Cavin, Craven did not let these restrictions deter from the experience for both actors and online audiences.  

“Scott and I approached theatre as theatre,” he said. “We’ve directed the same as we would. You know- set design, direction, we’ve approached it the same as we would any play because, when all this is over, we’re still a theatre department.”