Celebrity Attraction: Theatre Arts’ Natalie Gaupp finds her voice with new play

Natalie Gaupp Theatre Arts

As an actor or director, Theatre Arts Senior Lecturer Natalie Gaupp often strives to stay true to the playwright’s words and intentions. As a writer, she has to adjust to other actors and directors making her work their own.

“You have to check your ego at the door,” said the award-winning playwright about her experience watching her original work, “Paparazza,” come alive last April at UT Arlington.

Gaupp said the collaborative process on her play gave her new insight into her craft. Theatre Arts colleague Dr. Dennis Maher directed the play, and brought his own notes and style into the production. Students served as actors, stagehands and technical staff and faced their own challenges with the new work. Gaupp said she learned as much about herself and her writing as her students did.

“The production process is priceless,” she said. “This [play] gave our students a wonderful opportunity. This enabled our young designers to work on a new project. I got emotional — in a good way — over the fact that this would give our students such an edge when they get into the professional world. They saw the wonderful rewards in bringing it all together.”

Maher said he enjoyed working with Gaupp on “Paparazza,” editing scenes and collaborating as the actors brought the characters to life. The work, he said, “energized the students” and allowed the department to consider including newer plays for future seasons.

“Plays are like snowflakes: there’s no two alike,” Maher said. “Some will direct themselves. The actors will grab ahold of it and not let go. You find yourself more of a spectator than director. Some [plays] are like pulling teeth. It all depends on the play and actors and situation you get yourself in.”

As the playwright-in-residence, Gaupp is enjoying more national recognition for her work. She has a growing list of theatre writing credits and has worked with several prestigious theatre workshops and schools around the nation. Earlier this year, “Bridezilla,” which she co-wrote with Fort Worth playwright Steven McGaw, played at Texas Women’s University’s annual New Play Festival. Gaupp has also been honored for her work as a faculty member at UT Arlington, receiving the Smotherman Faculty Award in 2010.

For “Paparazza,” a dark comedy about celebrity and Hollywood dreams, Gaupp said she embraced the feedback she received over the course of the play’s development and debut.

“I found myself listening to the audience and their responses to the play,” she said. “You get a sense of how the audience is responding to every little thing, what appears to be working and what needs to be taken out.”

Gaupp said she and Maher will continue to tweak the play and are considering festivals or literary competitions.