In this episode, we're catching up with new faculty member Annalise V. Caudle, who is an instructional assistant professor of lighting design. Annalise joined our department in the fall of 2021 and jumped in with both feet designing our huge production of LEGALLY BLONDE. In addition to teaching, she'll be creating lighting designs for our upcoming spring-semester shows, HAZEL—an original work created through our new Emerging Women's Playwriting fellowship, more on that later—and ROMEO & JULIET.
In this episode, we're catching up with new faculty member Annalise V. Caudle, who is an instructional assistant professor of lighting design. Annalise joined our department in the fall of 2021 and jumped in with both feet designing our huge production of LEGALLY BLONDE. In addition to teaching, she'll be creating lighting designs for our upcoming spring-semester shows, HAZEL—an original work created through our new Emerging Women's Playwriting fellowship, more on that later—and ROMEO & JULIET.
To learn more about Annalise and her work, check out her website here: https://www.annalisecaudle.com/
The Department of Theatre & Film is grateful for its patrons and corporate sponsors. As a department we are committed to the high quality instruction that our students receive. Investing in the students’ education and these quality productions helps us move toward our common goal of graduating successful, creative adults who are lifelong learners. If you are interested in contributing to these efforts, please visit: https://umfoundation.givingfuel.com/theatreandfilm
From the Department of Theater and Film at the University of Mississippi, this is Stage & Screen.
Katherine Stewart
Hello hello, hello and welcome back to Stage & Screen. I'm your host Katherine Stewart and on the show today we have Annalise Caudle who is a new faculty member as of the fall of 2021.
Katherine Stewart
Annalise is instructional assistant professor of lighting design, and she jumped right in designing our most recent show, Legally Blonde.
Katherine Stewart
We talked about that and many other things, so stick around.
Katherine Stewart
Here's Annalise.
Katherine Stewart
Hi Annalise, thank you so much for joining us on the podcast today.
Annalise Caudle
Hello Serge.
Katherine Stewart
How are you doing?
Annalise Caudle
I I am well, I'm well, I'm uh, adjusting to academia at a large university and and Oxford Ms, but so far so good.
Annalise Caudle
So yeah.
Katherine Stewart
Yeah, absolutely.
Katherine Stewart
So you are a brand new member of our faculty.
Katherine Stewart
Starting this semester, could you tell us a little bit about your background?
Katherine Stewart
Kind of where you came from and how.
Katherine Stewart
You got here.
Annalise Caudle
Yeah, absolutely.
Annalise Caudle
So I, uh, have a BFA in design with emphasis in lighting and secondary and scenic from the University of Oklahoma.
Annalise Caudle
Uhm, and I had a really smart mother that.
Annalise Caudle
It's like we're gonna have it where you're gonna have like shortest education possible and not pay for school that much.
The short
Annalise Caudle
So I graduated in three years.
Annalise Caudle
Uhm, uh, yeah, entirely credit that to my mother, uh, and.
Annalise Caudle
Uh, so I graduated at the age of 21 and I was like I am not ready to move to New York or to do like anything adult or.
Annalise Caudle
Real I know nothing.
Annalise Caudle
So grad school was the answer solution to that 'cause I just keep going to school and avoiding becoming an adult.
Annalise Caudle
Uhm, I also had a really a really, really great mentor and undergrad, and I thought like wow, wouldn't it be so cool to like stay in a university environment and to kind of.
Annalise Caudle
Foster education and do something like that their job.
Annalise Caudle
Of like seems to fit so well with my personality and just like viewpoint and and like they bring such passion and energy to work and so I wouldn't mind doing something like that.
Annalise Caudle
I and so I knew like for the long portion of my career, at some point I wanted to teach.
Annalise Caudle
I didn't know when, but I knew that should be a priority, so that was another advantage just like.
Annalise Caudle
Doing grad.
Annalise Caudle
And and then in grad school similarly, I finally got to officially start teaching and being a teacher on record.
Annalise Caudle
And again I had a like another really awesome mentor whose identity was even more similar to my own and I really could see like potential in my future with her and and and.
Annalise Caudle
Uh, had not only like a really great mentor and in relationship, but just someone to like aspire to be like and look up.
Annalise Caudle
She was like, oh, this could be me.
Annalise Caudle
I absolutely can see myself in this role in physicians and and so that was really exciting from from there I I wanted to work professionally for a while and not jump straight.
Annalise Caudle
Into becoming a faculty member.
Annalise Caudle
Uhm, 'cause I I wanted to.
Annalise Caudle
Have relevance in the classroom and and I didn't want to just teach like my undergrad and graduate experience.
Annalise Caudle
'cause if that's.
Annalise Caudle
The case, then the students should just go to my undergrad or grad school.
Annalise Caudle
Like what what can I have to offer?
Annalise Caudle
And so I was working professionally.
Annalise Caudle
I assisted Michael Barnett actually on a summer stock, which is how I like first met him.
Annalise Caudle
Uhm, and he actually has worked with my same mentor, uh, from grad school so, so there was a little slight connection there and and it.
Annalise Caudle
Was a really grueling summer stock.
Annalise Caudle
So it was kind of like the like.
Annalise Caudle
We both survived and and and had.
Annalise Caudle
That camaraderie to it.
Annalise Caudle
We we had to like focus the show at like 3 AM.
Oh my gosh.
Annalise Caudle
Must be before attack and he he he.
Annalise Caudle
He was particularly like grumpy and and frustrated.
Annalise Caudle
And I was like I get.
Annalise Caudle
It yes, I would be grumpy infected too.
Annalise Caudle
Be like got it died and and.
Annalise Caudle
He was very appreciative.
Annalise Caudle
Like professionalism and and everything, and so it was great which where there's a completely human to be grumpy and frustrated 3:00 AM I.
Annalise Caudle
Think everyone was grumpy and frustrated.
Annalise Caudle
Uhm, anyway, so that's how I got to know my call in.
Annalise Caudle
While freelancing, Ole Miss needed the Department of Theatre and Film needed.
Annalise Caudle
A guest lighting designer for a musical.
Annalise Caudle
I think in 2019 like thing, right? Yeah, uh, and so I did that and got to know more of the faculty. Got to know some of the facilities. Got to kind of get a taste of the department.
Katherine Stewart
That sounds.
Annalise Caudle
And so yeah, when when COVID hit in in the industry shut down, I lost like 8 months worth of work in three weeks.
Annalise Caudle
And, uh, so I I wanted to work, uh, professionally like full time, a little bit more and have a little bit more experience to to bring.
Annalise Caudle
To the table but.
Annalise Caudle
He kind of just.
Annalise Caudle
Work with the cards like serves you and so that point was like, well maybe it is time to move to academia 'cause there's literally no other options.
Annalise Caudle
I was looking at being a receptionist for an atomic tryst, or this my goodness.
Annalise Caudle
So yeah.
Katherine Stewart
Oh, we're we're glad the optometrist lost you.
Annalise Caudle
They didn't even offer me the job, so this is great, which I mean.
Annalise Caudle
I went to school for this and actually liked this, so I think it all worked out for the best.
Annalise Caudle
I don't know how good of a optometrist receptionist.
Annalise Caudle
That would have been.
Katherine Stewart
So I'm curious how what attracted you to lighting design in particular, OK?
Annalise Caudle
I have really good.
Annalise Caudle
Uh, why not to like brag or anything like?
Annalise Caudle
That, but I.
Annalise Caudle
Quickly developed, I should say in high school, uhm like studio art skills like a sculpture and drawing and rendering and such.
Annalise Caudle
And there was actually a time in high school where I highly considered like majoring in in the arts.
Annalise Caudle
And becoming a studio artist.
Annalise Caudle
Uh, but I.
Annalise Caudle
Miss Collaboration and working on something bigger than myself and I feel as if that's too like isolating, just like working on your own art.
Annalise Caudle
And then I would pretty quick.
Annalise Caudle
I already question like everything I do in in life and so working on something bigger than me that's that has like a collaborative support system.
Annalise Caudle
It's probably healthier for me anyway, and I love the storytelling aspect anyway, so all that to say, I have a really particular eye when it comes to things and like.
Annalise Caudle
Highlight and shadow.
Annalise Caudle
That's really it.
Annalise Caudle
Exciting, and so I just like the fact I had had a colleague describe at one time that the lighting design is like putting in watercolor paint on a set or an environment where you're you're like bringing it to life in in that way.
Annalise Caudle
And and I.
Annalise Caudle
Think that's really true, and so I.
Annalise Caudle
Appreciate how like how much variety there is and how how dynamic you can change it and how much you can change the tactile and visual elements of the scene.
Annalise Caudle
I also really appreciate how conceptual it is and like it's so intangible.
Annalise Caudle
And and it's kind of.
Annalise Caudle
It's kind of like.
Annalise Caudle
Well, I mean, I.
Annalise Caudle
I mean.
Annalise Caudle
Part of my job is like demystifying it and making it less intimidating and and more approachable for for sure because I think it's one of those like technology based ones that.
Right?
Annalise Caudle
And people are hesitant to necessarily jump on board with or or understand or, I think, sound and lights.
Annalise Caudle
Both are harder for people to to necessarily follow and move along with.
Annalise Caudle
You can.
Annalise Caudle
You can present a sketch for, uh, costume design or a model or something for scenic design, but but it's hard to show and talk about qualities of light effectively, and so I think that added challenge or or.
Annalise Caudle
Uhm, mysterious quality to it was really, uh, exciting and interesting.
Annalise Caudle
And yeah, it was cool.
Annalise Caudle
So very cool so.
Katherine Stewart
Uhm, what have been some of the highlights of your career so far?
Annalise Caudle
Uh, I, I mean, I guess the one of the biggest ones for me was I got to intern on a commercial production.
Annalise Caudle
It was the UM.
Annalise Caudle
Broadway premiere of the the production Prince of Broadway, which was produced by Hal Prince, and it was kind of like his own.
Annalise Caudle
Memoir and and it was a collection of a lot of famous and not so famous works of how Prince over the years on Broadway.
Annalise Caudle
So they're just like West Side Story in it and Evita and all of these different great shows anyway.
Annalise Caudle
So I got to intern as an assistant lighting designer or assistant to I should say I.
Annalise Caudle
I mostly did a bunch of paperwork and grunge work.
Annalise Caudle
But it was for Hal Binkley production, the late helping Flea.
Annalise Caudle
He was a lighting designer.
Annalise Caudle
And it was so awesome.
Annalise Caudle
To experience and and just be in the room and watch all of these extremely talented and and highly skilled collaborators working together and and they're at like the the the prime of their field, you know.
Annalise Caudle
And and the it's this common goal.
Annalise Caudle
And it's like so clean and professional and you're just like goodness like it's it's the difference between I guess like uhm.
Annalise Caudle
Like you're you, you.
Annalise Caudle
See someone do flips and it's really cool, and then you watch like the Olympic synchronized divers.
Annalise Caudle
And you're like that shouldn't be humanly possible.
Annalise Caudle
Like wow and.
Annalise Caudle
And if you got to experience that like live or something like that, and and I think that that kind of revelation happened for me in that room.
Annalise Caudle
You know there is a moment where.
Annalise Caudle
Uhm, they they realized like a transition didn't work or they needed different music.
Annalise Caudle
And and.
Annalise Caudle
Uh, uh, RBJ the the the composer, but it was like OK hold on a second.
Annalise Caudle
And just like thinking aloud and you like told the drums do this and like he was making music like on the fly for this and and and they were like editing things as they go and and the choreographer was like changing things with that music.
Annalise Caudle
And this is happening like like a night after a preview like a preview when they realized it didn't work and it was like this list 4 hour rehearsal.
Annalise Caudle
Check you're just like.
Annalise Caudle
Goodness, like I I know we're so used to theater where where?
Annalise Caudle
And you have this script and it's what it's given, but but when you're like creating something new and it's at this level and they're like no, let's figure out what works and like is, well, crazy.
Annalise Caudle
And like the conductor is is putting like notes into their into their their score with it.
Annalise Caudle
And like this is the score.
Annalise Caudle
That they're gonna perform with an audience for tonight and they're just writing handwritten notes of how the music changed the.
Annalise Caudle
Biggest and yeah.
I just like.
Annalise Caudle
Wow, like.
Annalise Caudle
This is awesome.
Annalise Caudle
It's it's kind of like the I.
Annalise Caudle
I imagine that that's the inspiration or the feeling that like you get in like any Aaron Sorkin show like newsroom or like West Wing.
Annalise Caudle
When, like all these people do something awesome, you're like, I'm part of something bigger than myself and this is like so cool.
Annalise Caudle
It's kind of like that moment so.
Annalise Caudle
I mean, I've had a lot of really rewarding experiences in my career, I think.
Annalise Caudle
One that was.
Annalise Caudle
One of the most notable ones of like.
Annalise Caudle
Really, really distinguishing and really reaffirming for me that the arts is more than a hobby, right?
Annalise Caudle
And if, like there, there can be a professional reason to get a degree in theater, and certainly it doesn't have to be Broadway and and you.
Annalise Caudle
Know like not everyone is going to get a Tony Award or something like that, but that there is.
Annalise Caudle
Uhm, like a craft to this and it's really clean and and when done properly is truly inspiring.
Annalise Caudle
So yeah, wow.
Katherine Stewart
You are doing the design for some of our upcoming productions.
Katherine Stewart
Yes, yes and you had to kind of jump right in as soon.
Katherine Stewart
As you got here.
Annalise Caudle
Right, right?
Katherine Stewart
Are there are there certain hallmarks of your design style that people might be able to experience when they see these shows, or or do you want to talk about these shows at all?
Annalise Caudle
Uhm, well the the the the the.
Annalise Caudle
Shows for next semester.
Annalise Caudle
We're we're just on the cusp of talking about, so I I don't necessarily know if I have the full context.
Annalise Caudle
To to to.
Annalise Caudle
Really discuss our approach.
Annalise Caudle
Other than that, I'm excited and and.
Annalise Caudle
Uhm, really grateful for the opportunity I.
Annalise Caudle
Yeah, I last year I was an adjunct shadow at a small private university and they did have some theater spaces, but they were smaller and it was similar to like Fulton Chapel.
Annalise Caudle
But but even smaller where it it definitely didn't feel like a theater fully.
Annalise Caudle
Necessarily it is, uh, found space, which is awesome and and great.
Annalise Caudle
And I definitely know like working with your resources or creatively, but there was a moment where I like walked into the Ford Center for the first time to come to see the space that we're working in in designing it for Legally Blonde.
Annalise Caudle
And I was struck by the quality of the air, and I was like, ah, this is my first time in like a year and a half to walk in a theater like this capacity and I I just like had to take a pause or a moment like wow.
Annalise Caudle
Yeah, I remember what this feels like like the the air is is is comfortable and and comforting.
Annalise Caudle
Yeah no so I think for me I was kind of overwhelmed with the sensation of of.
Annalise Caudle
Getting to collaborate again in such a scale with so many people that also want the production to be as successful and capable as it can be.
Annalise Caudle
Which is really awesome.
Annalise Caudle
Uh, yeah, no.
Annalise Caudle
But in reference to like hints of me or something I I mean it.
Annalise Caudle
It's Legally Blonde, right?
Annalise Caudle
So we'll we'll.
Annalise Caudle
We'll definitely have fun color and and it screams and and calls for like pinks and all of that.
Annalise Caudle
And so you certainly see that that right it it?
Annalise Caudle
It definitely won't look like a Tennessee Williams product right along those lines.
Annalise Caudle
Uh, but no, I think what was harder for me actually is is I I've done this show before.
Annalise Caudle
I've I've designed this musical before and so coming at it.
Annalise Caudle
Where like just listening to the soundtrack again and getting into the headspace, really trying.
Annalise Caudle
I will try my best to eliminate.
Annalise Caudle
Like the the preset cues or any any.
Annalise Caudle
Notions that I had specific to a singular production and really trying to come at it with fresh eyes.
Annalise Caudle
You know, and and.
Annalise Caudle
'cause I mean you could argue.
Annalise Caudle
That like, there's so many productions of like Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, that all look the same and you could like copy and paste a lighting design on it.
Annalise Caudle
And and that's true.
Annalise Caudle
And I think in a lot of ways there's a very clear approach to how you might do Legally Blonde, that that fits well and nicely.
Annalise Caudle
Within similar to like Hello Dolly where there's there's often like a clear approach, uhm?
Annalise Caudle
Uh, but I also think it's one of those shows that you have to really try hard, like not to stereotype it, or it literally defeats the purpose of like what the show is trying to.
Annalise Caudle
Bring to the table up.
Annalise Caudle
So no, I keeping an open mind and and and and doing my best to maintain the quality of the show.
Annalise Caudle
Uh, that I was developed before I came on, uh, my.
Annalise Caudle
I came on later in the process, so I'm also.
Annalise Caudle
Uhm, trying to maintain like my own artistic integrity while also making sure they don't like shake the trees or or just do something because it's the way I do it but but acknowledging and respecting that like a story has been developed before I got here and that I'm trying to tell that story and not something of my own.
Annalise Caudle
Uh, so yeah, no.
Annalise Caudle
I don't know if that really answers any.
Annalise Caudle
Of your questions but.
Annalise Caudle
But yeah, I mean I I I often find that I'm a chameleon and my approach to things, but this is like a people pleaser.
Annalise Caudle
But also I I.
Annalise Caudle
Feel I, I feel strongly that if anyone in in theater tries to tell you that there are absolutes or ways in which you always have to do things like that person is taking shortcuts and not.
Annalise Caudle
Respecting like the art form.
Annalise Caudle
Uhm not to get like crazy deep or something like that or like but but uhm my very first class in in in like college.
Annalise Caudle
Some whole university I went to Community College.
Annalise Caudle
That's how I had like the smart mother and everything but my my very first theatre class in particular was intro to acting in in in the professor.
Annalise Caudle
It was like what is the purpose of an actor and everyone trying to like?
Annalise Caudle
Do smart answers or something like that.
Annalise Caudle
And and answer, I think well, certainly applies directly to actors I I like to say could apply to like all theater artisans or the people that like work in storytelling with us.
Annalise Caudle
Is that it's to?
Annalise Caudle
Remind us what it means to be human.
Annalise Caudle
Which is which?
Annalise Caudle
Is again such a deep in in in a huge topic, but this is one of the first things I talk about in intra design.
Annalise Caudle
And with something like that, that's so relatable and personal.
Annalise Caudle
And and like there, there are no absolute like right or wrong answers necessarily when doing things or having an approach.
Annalise Caudle
And so you kind of just.
Annalise Caudle
Have to dissect.
Annalise Caudle
And based on the people that you're working with and like our our perspective or just how the world has changed and how I have changed, I as a human being has certainly changed in in the four years since I last did this show.
Annalise Caudle
Right?
Annalise Caudle
Goodness, the world like shut down and so like yes of course.
Annalise Caudle
Uh, so. So yeah, uh.
Annalise Caudle
So with that like human elements, yeah, like we're not robots, so so I I definitely wanna approach it new now the there's probably a lot of qualities that will look similar, like pink and.
Annalise Caudle
Blues and stuff.
Annalise Caudle
But yeah, certain certain beats might hit different and just responding to it as it goes.
Annalise Caudle
So yeah, sure.
Katherine Stewart
Sure, sure.
Katherine Stewart
So you just you hinted at something that leads into my next and last question, which is about teaching.
Katherine Stewart
You're also teaching and you're teaching a.
Katherine Stewart
Bunch of classes.
Katherine Stewart
Are there are there certain?
Katherine Stewart
Certain things that you hope students will always take away from or experience in your classes.
Annalise Caudle
Uh, yeah, I mean I, I definitely I'm.
Annalise Caudle
I'm I'm very passionate about my work, particularly like lighting design and and the storytelling and and the support of like art form of design and so harnessing.
Annalise Caudle
Uh, that passion.
Annalise Caudle
I think the production side of theater can sometimes seem less.
Annalise Caudle
Glamorous or exciting in comparison to the performance?
Annalise Caudle
But but as the people pleasing introvert like I get so much satisfaction out of out of helping support this story through like my own artistry and such.
Annalise Caudle
And so grabbing that, but also again acknowledging like the humanity within all of us, I think one of the mentors.
Annalise Caudle
I had a like within their teaching philosophy said something that's stuck with me and that I maintain is said.
Annalise Caudle
Uhm, when when I teach right?
Annalise Caudle
Or when I mentored students and I'm fostering, uh, education and growth.
Annalise Caudle
I'm not trying to create like a bunch of different mini Annalise is like the world can't handle that in the 1st place.
Annalise Caudle
That's that's far too many.
Annalise Caudle
Uh, but but I'm not trying to like clone.
Annalise Caudle
Little people that.
Annalise Caudle
Have all of my aesthetic and think my way and and and and design my way.
Annalise Caudle
I I want to like each of the individual artists and students truly develop their own.
Annalise Caudle
Uh, like aesthetic or approach or or.
Annalise Caudle
Sticks within design?
Annalise Caudle
Uh, and it's more of just giving them the tools to best.
Annalise Caudle
Set them up for success.
Annalise Caudle
Yes, and the confidence in what they have like in in undergrad, I started to really develop my I.
Annalise Caudle
I would say and my ability to like fine tune and look at things and but it wasn't until grad school that I was able to really confidently talk about my work or or speak to things and collaborate, you know?
Annalise Caudle
And so like.
Annalise Caudle
There's there's an approach I'm still learning to this day, you know, and I think that's another thing is that they know that like when I'm in that classroom, I'm just capable of learning things as they are, you know.
Annalise Caudle
Uhm, I mean I.
Annalise Caudle
I acknowledge that I am a pretty young.
Annalise Caudle
For for faculty here or just on the campus at large, so I'm sure they're very aware of that, but, uh.
Annalise Caudle
Yeah, I think that.
Annalise Caudle
Answers your question.
Annalise Caudle
I don't know.
Annalise Caudle
Yeah, sometimes I.
Annalise Caudle
Sometimes I get lost.
Annalise Caudle
In the thought of like wait, there was a question in the 1st place that was supposed.
Katherine Stewart
No, that was great.
Annalise Caudle
Right, right?
Annalise Caudle
OK.
Katherine Stewart
Yeah, well, wonderful.
Katherine Stewart
Thank you.
Katherine Stewart
Thank you again.
Annalise Caudle
Yeah, thanks for yeah.
Katherine Stewart
And a nice conversation.
Annalise Caudle
Thanks for the chat.
Annalise Caudle
I'm a very nasally voice and I always hate hearing it so I don't know if I'll go back and listen to this because I hate hearing myself talk, but.
I I I.
Katherine Stewart
Totally understand where you're coming from.
Katherine Stewart
I also do not like my voice and.
Katherine Stewart
Do not like Spirit recorded at all.
Annalise Caudle
Like have you ever had to like?
Annalise Caudle
Listen to your own voicemail after like five years of not listening to it?
Annalise Caudle
You're like good.
Annalise Caudle
Gracious is that what people have been listening to with every time?
Annalise Caudle
Yes, I miss a call that's terrible.
Katherine Stewart
It's yes, it's awful.
Katherine Stewart
I'm totally with you, but.
Katherine Stewart
I I, your voice does.
Katherine Stewart
Not sound particularly nasal to me, oh.
Annalise Caudle
Great, very good.
Annalise Caudle
Very good, well, you're editing this right, so maybe you can make me sound like like Scarlett Johansson or something like that where?
Katherine Stewart
I don't know.
Katherine Stewart
I'll do my best.
Annalise Caudle
Yeah, no worries.
Annalise Caudle
Don't worry you don't have.
Annalise Caudle
To do that, you don't have to do.
Katherine Stewart
Oh, thank you again.
Annalise Caudle
Oh yeah, yeah, absolutely thank you.
Katherine Stewart
This has been fun.
Annalise Caudle
Oh no.
Katherine Stewart
And I'm I'm sure we'll talk more in the future about your designs for upcoming shows 2.
Annalise Caudle
Oh absolutely, I always do the hand wave regardless.
Katherine Stewart
And yes, OK.
Katherine Stewart
Once again that was Annalise Cottle brand, new professor of lighting design in our department.
Katherine Stewart
You can learn more about Annalise by checking the links.
Katherine Stewart
Our show notes and we'll be talking with her again next semester about the upcoming shows she's designing for until next time this is Stage & Screen.