Gordon w. innes
Gordon W. Innes is a graduate of St. John's University class of 1965 and is one of the former presidents of the Chappell Players organization. Spending one semester in grad school at St. John's, he went on to NYU where he earned his Masters in education with a specialization in Dramatic Literature. Mr. Innes went on to have an esteemed teaching career spanning thirty-five years and touching and improving the lives of every student he taught. Since his retirement, he continues helping others by working with the Lighthouse Guild, a program that works with the blind, where he reads to the visually impaired, describes movies, and records texts. Mr. Innes took the time to sit down with us and shed some light on what being in the Chappell Players was like years ago.
Who are you and what significant contributions have you made to the organization?
My name is W. Gordon Innes. As a member of Chapel Players (that’s the way we spelled it then) from 1961 to 1965, I was the Historian, Treasurer and President.
My name is W. Gordon Innes. As a member of Chapel Players (that’s the way we spelled it then) from 1961 to 1965, I was the Historian, Treasurer and President.
Innes circa 1965
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How was the transition from college to the real world? How was life after graduation?
The transition from college life to the real world was relatively smooth, putting me on the other side of the teacher’s desk. After graduating in ’65, I attended one semester of grad school at SJU, then transferred to NYU where I earned an MA in Education specializing in Dramatic Literature. In 1967 I began teaching in a Junior High School in Woodside, Queens, retiring in 2002 after thirty-five years in the classroom. Did being involved in the Chappell Players prepare you for life after college? How so? Being involved with Chappell Players, believe it or not, prepared me for life in the classroom. I had five audiences a day, changing scripts, room for improvisation, and immediate feedback or reviews. Thirty-five years of performances boasts quite a resume. |
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What is your favorite CPTG memory or performance?
I have many fond memories of CPTG performances, but three stand out from my senior year. First, how could I, at age 20, have the nerve to direct a play by Harold Pinter? Then there’s playing Creon in Sophocles Antigone and Alf Doolittle in Shaw’s Pygmalion. Worlds apart, but I was very fortunate to be part of the creative juices of those three playwrights. Have you been able to remain involved with theatre as much as you hoped/wanted? I’ve remained involved with theatre since graduation, and thanks to my work with Chappell Players, have the confidence to pursue my work directing and acting. It all started when…but let’s summarize. Directing at a summer camp – 5 shows in 5 weeks – no stress! Directing 4 musicals with Junior High students – a delight. Fourteen years as Artistic Director for parish productions. I then moved to the other side of the proscenium performing in community theatre with Parkside Players in Forest Hills and Regional theatre with BroadHollow and Studio Theatre on Long Island. Since my retirement, an added delight has been connecting with the Lighthouse Guild where I read to the visually impaired, describe movies, and record texts. I have also joined HAI which gives me the opportunity to describe live theatre to visually impaired audience members. |
Innes as the role of Creon in Antigone
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"I’ve remained involved with theatre since graduation, and thanks to my work with Chappell Players, have the confidence to pursue my work directing and acting."
What is professional theatre like compared to what you did with the Chappell Players?
I can only compare CPTG experiences with regional theatre work. One difference stands out immediately – much shorter rehearsal schedules. I remember we had many weeks to prepare at SJU as opposed to four where you have to learn, work and execute very quickly.
I can only compare CPTG experiences with regional theatre work. One difference stands out immediately – much shorter rehearsal schedules. I remember we had many weeks to prepare at SJU as opposed to four where you have to learn, work and execute very quickly.
Do you have any advice for Chappell Players going through college or those who have already graduated?
Sometimes giving advice is overrated and the advice is dismissed – don’t we actors always know better? So, briefly, learn your lines. To me, that’s first. Then there’s Hamlet, III, ii, 1-45. There’s much in there to take to heart.
Sometimes giving advice is overrated and the advice is dismissed – don’t we actors always know better? So, briefly, learn your lines. To me, that’s first. Then there’s Hamlet, III, ii, 1-45. There’s much in there to take to heart.
