McConnelsville native directs final performance at Ashland University

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(Left to Right) Nathaniel Sayatovich, Ric Goodwin, and Jensen Glick, the costume designer.

ASHLAND, OH (05/01/2013)(readMedia)--  Acting in a theatre productions has an entire set of challenges; directing those actors has another. For senior education major, Nathaniel Sayatovich, from Mcconnellsville, Ohio those challenges have to be met and surpassed in order to put together a good show. Sayatovich is the son of Terry and Vicki Sayatovich and recently directed theatre professor, Ric Goodwin, and senior theatre major, Aaron Arnold, in a show titled "A Life in the Theatre." The show, written by David Mamet, follows two actors, a rookie and a seasoned professional, and the relationships between each other and acting.

"It's a unique show because it is so metaphysical and very minimalistic," Sayatovich said. "It presents all kinds of challenges for the actors but also for the director."

Sayatovich said that the rapid set changes in the show were the biggest challenge to overcome and require some unconventional thinking. Rather than build detailed sets, like the show had when it was on Broadway, they stripped the show down to two chairs and two black boxes to cut down on transitions and to allow the audience to use more of their imagination.

"I had a professor that once said, 'you need to trust in the imagination of your audience and trust that they will go with you' and thankfully, they did," Sayatovich said. The boxes would serve as a variety of props and required the actors to be creative with their performances.

But this isn't the first time that Sayatovich, Arnold and Goodwin have worked together; they've been together since 2009 when Arnold and Sayatovich arrived at Ashland.

Over their four years together the trio has built a great working relationship even though their positions and roles might change. The three have worked together in other shows such as "Equus," "Whistle Down the Wind" and "Of Mice and Men" in which Sayatovich starred as Lenny.

"Working with Aaron and Ric on this show was fantastic," Sayatovich said. "The playwright, David Mamet, writes with a specific tempo and for a lot of actors that would be a huge challenge but Aaron and Ric found it very quickly. There were moments when I could not tell if Aaron and Ric were talking or if their characters were talking, and that is a special thing."

This is the last play that the trio will get to work together on since both Sayatovich and Arnold are graduating and Goodwin is retiring.

"The three of us have a wonderful relationship. Aaron and I have been friends for years and Ric has been my professor and mentor since I started here," Sayatovich said. Sayatovich plans to pursue a career as a theatre teacher after graduation.

"A Life in the Theatre" may be a show about transitions between actors but for Sayatovich, it's a transition into a new phase of life.

"There's no such thing as a perfect show," Sayatovich said. "but this was the perfect show to end on."

Ashland University, ranked in the top 200 colleges and universities in U.S. News and World Report's National Universities category for 2013, is a mid-sized, private university conveniently located a short distance from Akron, Cleveland and Columbus, Ohio. Ashland University (www.ashland.edu) values the individual student and offers a unique educational experience that combines the challenge of strong, applied academic programs with a faculty and staff who build nurturing relationships with their students.