all shook up

Journalism 1-Story 3

All Shook Up

Her love of theater began when she went to see a student show–now she can call

herself a director. Laura Amoruso, a senior at SUNY New Paltz, directed the Miami

Theater Players production of “All Shook Up,” which opened Nov. 19 at New Paltz High

School.

Amoruso is a native Staten Islander, and grew up participating in small shows and

school productions, as well as dancing competitively with her dancing school for almost

ten years. Today, she believes theater to be her true

passion, as she one day hopes to earn her masters

degree in teaching English and in teaching Drama.

She first encountered the Miami Theater Players her

freshman year when she attended their production of

“Urinetown.” From then on in, she wanted a role in

the organization. Amoruso auditioned two times

before being cast as Nancy D, the thin nurse, in their

Spring 2015 production of “A New Brain.”

Now director of the organization, Amoruso created her own vision for the show,

with the help of her executive board members and cast. She started her days off early in

the morning, working through into the night. “My usual day is I wake up and there’s

some issue that I have to take care of.”

Amoruso is still a full time student, having to balance school work and the

production. “Directing is my job on top of the 18 credits I’m taking and get my teaching

certifications and graduating. I don’t really start my days past 8 a.m. and then I’m going

and going until I go to bed. But I’m really enjoying what I’m doing, and I have to remind

myself that I love creating theater and getting it to people that might not have had the

opportunity in the first place.”

Her responsibilities with her cast range from blocking scenes, giving notes, and

figuring out the emotions she wants conveyed behind the lines. “My opinion is the one

that matters the most because I’m the ‘head honcho,’ if you will. My job is to direct the

show but to also be in charge of everything else.”

The challenges of working with a large group can be troubling, and Amoruso

states, “Unfortunately, our board is not as unified as I’d like. The biggest struggle is just

diplomacy, keeping everyone happy, and having to bite your tongue. You need to keep

working with these people regardless.”

A key element of the Miami Theater

Players is they offer students who are non-

theater majors a chance to be in a show that is

not associated with mainstage productions at

SUNY New Paltz, which can be selective.

Who are her biggest influences thus

far? Amoruso pays thanks to her high school drama teacher, Bronwyn Fugate, and her

voice teacher from SUNY New Paltz, Liz Gerbi. Amoruso looks up to Fugate and her

teaching style, stating, “I use her personality traits with my cast because they work; she

got things done. She influences a lot of my directing and life and teaching choices, and I

appreciate her friendship.”

Liz Gerbi, another mentor in Amoruso’s life, thinks she should pursue acting as a

career, and not just an extra curricular activity. “She wants me to pursue theater so much;

she believes in my talent and passion and is constantly telling me that I have more love

for this than people who are studying it, which is think is interesting.”

As for “All Shook Up” which closed last week, Amoruso believes it was a huge

success and worth the time and effort she and her cast put in. “My work was reflected in

what was put on the stage…It really was the most incredible experience.”

Blog Post:

Her love of theater began when she went to see a student show–now she can call herself a

director. Laura Amoruso, a senior at SUNY New Paltz, directed the Miami Theater

Players production of “All Shook Up,” which opened Nov. 19 at New Paltz High School.

“I’m really enjoying what I’m doing, and I have to remind myself that I love creating

theater and getting it to people that might not have had the opportunity in the first place.”

As the show closed, Amoruso believes it was a huge success and worth the time and

effort she and her cast put in. “My work was reflected in what was put on the stage…It

really was the most incredible experience.”

Tweet 1:

SUNY New Paltz student Laura Amoruso will direct the Miami Theater Players

production of “All Shook Up” this fall.

Tweet 2:

First time director Laura Amourso believes, “My work was reflected in what was put on

the stage…It really was the most incredible experience.”