Gavin Mayer

Name: Gavin Mayer

Position in School of Theatre: 3rd Year Master of Fine Arts – Directing Candidate

Hometown: Denver, Colorado

1. How did you get your start in theatre?

At the age of ten I spent the summer after 4th grade attempting to play baseball for the third time.   After being selected as my team’s MVP (for sitting the bench the majority of the season) I realized that playing sports wasn’t necessarily my calling.  I had done a few small plays here and there and had discovered that I enjoyed it and was much more successful in the theatre than I was in baseball and decided to put my full energy into performing and never looked back.

2. What is the best performance you have ever seen OR what is the craziest thing that has happened to you during a performance?

I was directing a production of Copacabana at the high school at which I used to teach.  I was watching from the balcony and two of the three actors had set themselves for the next scene in front of the curtain during the blackout but the third never appeared.  After the fourth or fifth repeat of the scene change music I began to worry that something had happened to the actor.  I ran backstage to check on him and found him casually changing his clothes for the finale.  He had completely forgotten about the scene he was missing.  Rather than believing me, he thought I was kidding.  After about two minutes of my convincing him, he suddenly remembered and realized I was right and finally made to the stage in front of a restless audience that was beginning to worry themselves as they had been listening to the same 32 bars of music for four minutes.

3. If you could have any career outside of theatre, what would it be and why?

I truly enjoyed teaching high school.  I always found it so rewarding to watch the students come in as insecure freshmen who found a way over their four years of high school to tap into their talents and become strong performers and thoughtful, kind people by the time they graduated.

 4. What inspires you in your free time/ what do you do for fun?

I always look forward to spending time with my family and friends.  Being from Colorado I enjoy spending time in the mountains, especially during the winter months.

5. What brought you to Florida State?

I had always heard people speak about the high quality of the theatre program at Florida State and once I met the head of the directing program, Fred Chappell, I was completely sold on the program.  The incredible mentors, the varied directing projects and other production opportunities at the school are incomparable to other MFA programs at other schools.

6. If you could give an aspiring theatre artist any piece of advice, what would it be?

Go forth and create your own opportunities.

7. If you could have any super power, what would it be?

To be to be able to fly so my luggage is never lost again!