SLG AllPages Digital - Flipbook - Page 19
as the president of the on-campus student
organization.
After directing three solo plays and assisting
with six others, Leblanc embarked on
directing her fourth solo play, currently in
progress through LSU’s student-run theater
since November 2023. She dedicated a
significant amount of time sifting through
numerous scripts to find one she felt
confident in, and eventually found Sheila
Callaghan’s “Dead City.”
“It’s a really amazing play about a
middle-aged woman who wakes up to
find her day is being narrated on NYPR,
and she goes through a journey of selfdiscovery and the city of New York,”
Leblanc said.
Set in 2004, Leblanc believes that this play
will be enjoyable for virtually anyone, but
especially those who are into the current
2000s nostalgia trends.
“I want the audience to feel less alone
and connect with the characters on
stage,” Leblanc said. “I also want people
to understand that you can find yourself
at any age. Samantha, the protagonist
in Dead City, ends the play with a better
sense of herself and the city she inhabits,
and she’s in her 40s.”
Just like Samantha, Leblanc has been on a
journey of finding her place over the course
of her time studying at LSU. She dips her
toes into various realms of the field, and
comes out having learned something new
about herself.
“Directing a play has taught me that I
have much better communication and
leadership skills than I thought,” Leblanc
said. “I always felt insecure about those
skill sets for some reason, but directing
really strengthened them and made me
realize that I’m much more of a natural.”
Her experience in acting, designing, and
directing laid the groundwork for her
desire to become an entertainment lawyer
after college.
“I really want to represent artists.”
Leblanc said.
She also wants to make enough money to
produce plays of her own, and donate to
local theater initiatives. “Obviously, it’s a
long way from here, but I’m extremely
determined because I love supporting my
community,” Leblanc said.
Her unwavering passion for directing will
radiate through her play, “Dead City” when
it takes the stage on February 20, 2024. The
production will continue its run until the
25th and is open to the public. Tickets for the
show are $12 for general admission, and $9
for students which can be bought through
the School of Theatre’s website.
Photo: Liz Leblanc and her late father
NEW ORLEANS | BATON ROUGE | MEMPHIS
LSUREVEILLE.COM/THEMAG | SPRING 2024 |
19
