Doyle brings experience and passion to theatre department
Kevin Doyle, professor in the theater department, elevates his profession by being engaged in numerous activities which help Utah State University as well as his own professional career.
When asked why he chose this university, Doyle said, “When I was acting, I came out here and met some students and faculty and I was drawn to the mountains. When a job came open, I applied. I had always intended to teach full time.”
Recently, Doyle directed Your a Good Man Charlie Brown, Footlight Frenzy and The Diary of Anne Frank. He played Cyrano in Cyrano de Bergerac as well as parts in a number of Old Lyric Repertory Company shows including Cash on Delivery and Forever Plaid.
“Kevin understands that no true exponent of the arts can ever rest on past laurels,” said Mark Damen, theater professor. “Therefore, he has continued his own training, sharpening the skills he already possesses and perfecting new ones (like stage combat), to keep himself abreast of the field and to remind himself that professors don’t only teach but learn, too.”
Doyle is planning many events for USU this year. On Oct. 11, 12 and 13, Actors From The London Stage will be coming. Last year, students may remember their performance of As You Like It. This year, they will present A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Doyle said that the cost is only 50 cents to students with activity cards. This event – as well as others in the department – is being sponsored by the Marie Eccles Caine Foundation and is a co-production with the English department.
In January, Doyle and the theater department are hosting Anne Bogart’s Saratoga International Theatre Institute.
“They are considered to be the premier modern theater right now,” Doyle said. “They’re huge.”
Doyle is also arranging for monthly visits from different theater professionals.
On top of that, he will be directing Romeo and Juliet this year.
“Where Kevin’s high achievement is best seen is not on the page but the stage, both in his own performances … and the plays he directs,” Damen said. “This year’s Romeo and Juliet, to be produced in December, will, I’m sure, speak much more eloquently than I or anyone can about Kevin’s skill and value in our community.”
Working with the students through their four years in the program is Doyle’s favorite part.
“Seeing them grow from driven, yet not quite focused, to where they are really confident and strong,” he said. “They can move anywhere they want.”
“Our students are asked to do quite a bit,” he said. “Yet many of them put in an extra 20 hours a week on rehearsals, construction, design and more. I really appreciate when they attack it.”
“I hope that a lot of [theater] students will consider graduate school. Everything is raised a notch and you make life-long connections with serious actors. There are lots of opportunities with all the people coming in. But, those who choose not to attend graduate school should hold every confidence that they will succeed as long as they take a strong professional approach to everything,” Doyle said.
Professionally, Doyle is an Equity actor. That means he is part of a professional acting union. Doyle said the union provides the actors, producers and directors some of the guarantees that simply do not exist in theater otherwise.
He took a one-year sabbatical and performed in Salt Lake City and in some commercials.
“Kevin brings an unprecedented level of professional experience to the theater arts department,” Damen said. “After having worked for many years as an actor, he speaks with utmost authority about the training necessary for a career in the theater. His students recognize this and respect his advice as the well-grounded wisdom it is.”
In his spare time, Doyle loves to go to the mountains. He skis in the winter and hikes and bikes in the summer.
Two weeks ago, he finished the Cache Valley Century Bike Tour, a 100-mile loop in one day.
Referring to the future, Doyle said, “I hope to continue to develop as a performer in Salt Lake City and expand my work outside of Cache Valley: Acting and directing summer plays.”
“I also would like to keep inviting top-notch companies [to Logan], and get a rotation of three or four of them,” he said.
“Kevin is a joy to work with – open-minded, willing to experiment, highly inventive, committed to collaboration. Furthermore, he holds himself up to the standards he demands of others. Whenever I’ve worked with him, I’ve always made substantive progress in my own appreciation of the arts, and thus I always look forward to working with him. I wish I could do it more,” Damen said.