Ashley McMurtry, communications senior, is writing and preparing to perform in her own one-woman show before she graduates in May.
While working on her degree, McMurtry has been acting with the IUS Theatre Department for four years.
She has participated in many of its productions, including “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum,” “Bustop,” “The Good Doctor,” “House of Blue Leaves” and “Shadow Box.” She has also performed in two student showcases.
Apart from her performances on the Robinson Theatre stage, McMurtry said she has also performed in the Actor’s Theatre of Louisville’s Juneteenth Festival and acted in the Broadway at Iroquois Park’s production of “Willy Wonka” in the summer of 2008.
Jim Hesselman, assistant professor of theatre, is helping McMurtry with her project and said the one-woman show will be the first the IUS Theatre Department has seen in at least a decade.
Though her one-woman show will be performed before she graduates, McMurtry said many of the details about her solo endeavor are still undecided.
McMurtry said the show will most likely be performed at IU Southeast, but she has not set a date for the show.
From absorbing inspiration and writing the show to rehearsing for the first time as a solo performer, McMurtry said she will be very busy.
“Right now I’m listening to material like Whoopi Goldberg for inspiration. There are so many things to pick,” McMurtry said.
Hesselman said he is assisting McMurtry explore sources of inspiration.
“Ashley is an actress-singer who also has written material for herself to use in auditions and performance, so we are going to start there,” Hesselman said.
“We have been exploring what women like Lily Tomlin, Whoopi Goldberg, Julia Sweeney, Elaine Stritch and Bea Arthur have done in their one-woman shows over the past decade or so, there are so many possibilities. The challenge will be to find the right fit for Ashley,” Hesselman said.
The plot of the show, McMurtry said, is still evolving, but her ideas are beginning to revolve around a single source of inspiration.
“I’m leaning toward doing my own story and reflections of my family,” she said.
“They have supported me 100 percent. They are so funny, there’s always comedy and a lot of good stories,” she said.
McMurtry said as the pieces of her production come together, her skills as a singer are sure to be included.
“I know there will be music, and I will be singing and I also hope that there will be a piano player” McMurtry said.
Though McMurtry is no stranger to the theatre, it will be her first time writing her own material for an entire production and performing without the support of a cast.
“I wrote a play in high school, but with this time it’s so time consuming, nerve-racking and scary, but exciting,” McMurtry said.
The challenges of performing sans the shelter of other cast members is daunting McMurtry said.
“It’s much easier [performing] with other people,” McMurtry said.
“You can catch each other if you fall, and it’s 50-50, give-give.” she said.
“When you perform by yourself, you can’t rely on anyone else, there’s no one in a booth with the script, and it’s just you for 30 minutes to an hour,” McMurtry said. “I have to be the one to keep the audience engaged.”
In spite of the challenges, both McMurtry and Hesselman said they are optimistic about the outcome of her show.
“I hope that it will be incredible and I’m going to give it 110 percent,” McMurtry said.
As for continuing her acting career in the future, McMurtry said while acting is all about if you’re in good, you’re in good, she would like to take her acting to Broadway someday.
“While I’m still young and I can pack up and go, I’d like to try,” McMurtry said.
In addition to continuing to act on stage, McMurtry said she would like to try her hand at film performing.
“I would love to make a movie and be the female Will Smith,” McMurtry said with a laugh.
“I’d like to be that funny, versatile and quirky person on film that everyone knows is a nice and genuine person outside of acting,” she said.
For the long term future, McMurtry said that she would love to be able to share her passion for the arts with young people as a teacher.
“I love seeing young people who have a passion be nurtured, especially in the arts,” McMurtry said.
“I would like to be able to teach them to know that their passion doesn’t have to die,” McMurtry said.
By AMY FAULHABER
Staff Writer
amfaulha@ius.edu