Getting to Know Jeff DeVincent!
By Gwen Leahy
Bio:
From The Desk of Mr. Jeffrey DeVincent:
“I moved to Savannah about 27, 28, or 29 years ago (somewhere in there), and it truly feels like home. I’m grateful every day for the opportunity to teach extraordinary students at the incredible SCAD, and I also get to experience the pure bliss of directing at Bay Street Theater, which brings me great happiness. I share my life with four cats, and as an introvert, I cherish quiet moments. At the same time, I also love people when I’m directing shows! I’m a Virgo and don’t really enjoy long walks on the beach—actually, I avoid too much exercise! I’m a proud nerd at heart. My birthday was September 3—and, yes, you all missed it, but that’s okay. I love a good musical, but The Lost Boys is not on my list as a must-see. Away with all of those little rapscallions who are at least 30 in real life.
Mood Ring Status: Moody, with a strong chance of rain.
Religious Affiliation: Italian”
Q&A
Q: You have been lauded within the Savannah performance community as an "Actor's Director," with a large number of your previous casts praising you for how fun and easy you made the rehearsal processes while still putting out phenomenal shows. What is your advice to budding directors who aspire to maintain that positive homeostasis while still pushing the limits of their production?
A: Always keep clear ideas in mind, and make sure to actively involve everyone so they feel truly connected, invested, and excited to share their contributions! Sometimes, I allow them to think my ideas come from them. Sometimes, I surprise them with my ideas as new opportunities arise. People love being pleasantly surprised and having fun along the way! I find joy in inspiring learning and encouraging brilliance through tricks that spark imagination and enthusiasm, and I don’t tell them about what I’m doing. I just do it.
Q: You are a highly decorated performing arts educator, currently a professor emeritus at SCAD, but with over three decades of teaching experience. Do you have a favorite factoid or bit of advice that blows your student's minds whenever you bring it up for the first time?
A: I believe that anyone can act – – or speak publicly – – as long as they have the right encouragement and someone to believe in them along the way!
Q: As anyone who has attended one of your cast parties can attest to, you are an incredible chef. Do you have a favorite dish to cook when you are really trying to impress your guests?
A: I love to make Italian hot sausage with hard rolls! Seems to be a crowd pleaser, and they just fall apart in their mouths!
Q: You have a long list of shows in your directorial ledger... "Hair," "The Laramie Project," "Sweeney Todd," "Sunday in the Park with George," and "West Side Story" just to name a few. When you are presented with a show to direct, is there something specific you look for that makes you say "yes, this is for me and I want to tell this story," or is it more organic from show to show?
A: It's always an organic or visceral response and attraction, but to truly succeed, regardless of the show, I need to fall in love with it and find my passion for it. I’ve had to direct some commissioned clunkers for which I [was] paid… But I always find that I must find the love for them, no matter what. That is always possible.
Q:Breaking the fourth wall a little here, we have something very important in common... We both are die-hard cat parents. However, despite all of the cuddles and love, we also know what absolute menaces those of the feline persuasion can be. Please, if only for me, tell your favorite funny story about your furry babies.
A: Well, I adore them more than words can express, and they truly are my emotional support — but every morning, they make me laugh because they destroy everything in sight that I constantly clean while I’m sleeping. I also love that they have such distinct personalities, vastly different from each other — one is a lover and cuddler, one keeps me exercising and playing, one keeps me grounded by earning her daily, and the other one is being raised from birth, so she helps me focus on being a good parent!
Q: Finally, my favorite question to ask... Do you have a show that you have not yet participated in that you really want to direct or produce?
A: Yes. I still wanna do Hairspray and I still wanna do Xanadu. Both of which I’ve been pushing for for safely 10 years.
