Dr. Michael Boynton, an Associate Professor of Directing and Movement at JSU, has an MFA in acting, an MFA in musical theatre and acting, and a PhD in theatre and performance studies. This summer, he landed a role in a production of Shakespeare’s Love’s Labour’s Lost with one of the most important Shakespeare companies in the Mid-Atlantic region. 

What was your experience playing the role of Don Adriano de Armado in Love’s Labour’s Lost? 

I’ve actually had the pleasure of working off and on over the years with a great theatre company called the Chesapeake Shakespeare Company in Baltimore, Maryland. They’ve grown a lot over the years, and I’ve been a small part of that journey. Now they are one of the most important Shakespeare companies in the Mid-Atlantic! And I’m lucky enough to be on the roster of the Guest Artist Company. In the past, I’ve played many roles for them, including Orsino in Twelfth Night and Laertes in Hamlet. I actually had to turn down a role with CSC in Dracula, sadly, to move to Alabama and teach at JSU!

Anyway, they invited me to audition for them this summer, and for the first time in a long time, I actually had some time in my summer schedule. The director asked me to record some sides and email them to her for role considerations. I was immensely surprised to land the role of Don Adriano de Armado in Love’s Labour’s Lost, the big summer Shakespeare in the Park production!

I’m a big fan of this play, which is not produced as often as other Shakespeare pieces, so I knew I was really lucky. And I wasn’t expecting the big wacky role of the clown, Don Adriano! It was an immense challenge, but so much fun, too. I had to grow a very silly looking handle bar mustache for the role (which I had to wax every performance). I also worked very hard to give him a silly, over-the-top, Spanish accent, so I had to do a lot of intense research and rehearsal to get the pronunciations just right.

Anyway, it was a great summer run and a highly successful show! We had huge, sell-out audiences, not to mention some very positive reviews! In fact, I was often cited as one of the best parts of the show, so that’s always cool!

Where are you from and how long have you been at JSU?

I originally grew up in a very rural part of Maryland, near Baltimore. I’ve traveled a lot since college, though, and lived in many different places. I’ve been here at JSU now for about 6 years.

Do you have any hobbies?

I’m pretty quiet and boring, really. I enjoy theatre, movies, and television, of course, but those are both hobbies and work for me. My number one favorite hobby by far is video games. I grew up gaming, and it is a big part of my life and how I relax.

What is your favorite play?

As I tell my students, I don’t have a favorite play! Or a favorite movie or whatever. There are many plays I like, but they shift and change as I grow older and depend on my mood, what I’m interested in at the moment, etc. And I suppose you could say that my favorite play is always the one I’m working on at the moment!

What has been your favorite character to perform, and why?

Another tough question and difficult to answer. There have been some roles that were difficult, but very rewarding personally. Others have just been a ton of fun! Other favorites include roles that had a powerful impact on audiences, regardless of whatever I felt about them. I will say that I enjoy Shakespeare’s plays very much, so you can count some of those as some of my favorites. The same goes for roles: whether dramatic or comedic, there’s nothing quite so wonderful as playing a Shakespearean character.

Do you prefer acting or directing?

Another tough question. It’s kind of like comparing apples and oranges, really. Both have good qualities and tough qualities. I suppose I like to go back and forth between acting and directing, mainly because the grass is always greener. If I’ve been doing a lot of acting, I feel the urge to direct more, and if I’ve been doing a lot of directing, I feel the urge to act more. Although I will say that directing is a lot more stressful for me than acting. It’s a massive responsibility being the captain of the ship!

Why did you decide to study drama? Did you always plan on teaching?

I actually fell into doing theatre accidentally. I was much more a scientist-type in high school and most of college. But the siren call of the theatrical arts eventually drew me in and escape became impossible. So I suppose drama chose me, rather than me choosing drama. And funnily enough, the idea of teaching theatre and becoming a professor never crossed my mind until an old professor and mentor asked me if I wanted a teaching job. I was unsure if I would like it at first, but after my first class, I was hooked, and knew that I wanted to become a theatre professor.

What is your proudest accomplishment?

Wow, another tough question. I’ve won some cool awards, and that’s always nice. I’ve even worked on some famous Broadway shows. And that’s cool for the resume. But honestly, I don’t think much about accomplishments. I reflect back on the good memories and obstacles overcome, and that makes me feel content. I also think the best is yet to come. I try not to rest on my laurels, but immerse myself in good hard constructive work. I’ll leave it to the critics and historians to decide what my best (and worst) accomplishments are… In the meantime, there’s always more learning and growing and work to do.

Are you currently involved in any research or writing projects?

I’m actually in the middle of a bunch of research and writing projects. I’m reviewing upcoming books for potential publication for some important international publishers, I’m co-editing a special journal edition on historical fandom, I’m working on potential publications of my own (including a book on nerd culture), and I have my sights on a couple national conferences on popular culture this year. I’ve also been brainstorming some fresh ideas for new plays, as well, but we’ll see if I ever get the time to work on them!

What is the best thing about JSU drama?

JSU Drama actually has a bunch of great things going for it, truth be told. I think it’s a perfect balance between small university theatre and big university theatre, and really brings the best of both of those worlds. I think we have a fun, supportive, collaborative, family atmosphere, and yet we all work extremely hard and are very dedicated to the art and craft of making quality productions. I think JSU Drama is a real “gem of the hills,” as they say: we have a really strong and positive reputation in the state, the region, and even the nation… and who knew such great stuff could be happening here? 

What is your advice to JSU students interested in drama?

Come over to JSU Drama and participate. Come hang out, come play, come volunteer in the costume shop or the scene shop. If you have any interest in Drama, no matter what your major, you are always welcome to pitch in on a show or take a class that interests you.