Dru Smith- Poetry, Hip Hop, Writing, and Creativity with ADHD Medication

06/09/20 • 41 min

In this episode, we get real about some of the stresses that come with taking ADHD medications as an artist. We also talk about Dru's love of Hip Hop, getting misdiagnosed as having anger issues as a pre-teen, and keeping a sense of play and wild abandon even as an adult.

Here is some information on Dru:

Dru Smith’s artistic mission is to continually create art that aims to lessen the gap between those who are marginalized and those in power. He’s a director/writer/actor/musician who lives and works in Chicago. He co-wrote and co-directed Concerning Foster, a play about the desegregation of District 65 schools in Evanston, IL. He also co-created the play, I.D., which was a vignette-style production that asked hard questions about racial and cultural identity. I.D. received a remount due to its unprecedented success. While working as an actor, Dru has been seen on stage at The Gift, Urban Street Theatre Company, and Chicago Shakespeare Theatre - where he understudied the production of Othello: The Remix. He was also an ensemble member of the former company, Chicago Slam Works. There, he was on a team of artists who created slam-poetry-forward theater around different social justice themes, and he was also lucky enough to direct their final show before closing, Carrier. Dru received his BFA in Acting from SUNY Purchase before moving to Chicago, and is a proud graduate of The School at Steppenwolf. He serves as the Education Director for Mudlark Theater Company.

You can find some of his music on Bandcamp: Sir Andrew The Bard: The Prologue

Here is some information on Dru:

You can find some of his music on Bandcamp: Sir Andrew The Bard: The Prologue

Previous Episode

Georgette Verdin- Directing, Relationships, Working Through Shame, and Changing The ADHD Public Narrative

Welcome to the first episode! In this episode, we'll chat with talented theatre director Georgette Verdin about tons of things: being an artistic director, managing ADHD at home, communication in relationships, working through shame, structure vs spontaneity, etc. Check it out!

Georgette is a Chicago-based director, theater and speech educator and arts integration specialist. She is also the proud Managing Artistic Director of Interrobang Theatre Project, a critically-acclaimed storefront theater known for its gutsy productions, tackling socially-relevant topics. In 2019, Interrobang was honored with the prestigious Broadway in Chicago Emerging Theatre Award.
Georgette has taught kindergarten through college in her hometown of New Orleans, as well as Chicago where she has resided since 2009. She was the founding theater teacher at Polaris Charter Academy - an Expeditionary Learning School in Chicago's West Humboldt Park neighborhood - where she taught full-time for eight years. Select directing credits include TRIBES (Nina Raine), Jeff Awards recommended productions of OUT OF LOVE (U.S. Premiere, Elinor Cook), GRACE, RECENT TRAGIC EVENTS (Craig Wright) and TIME STANDS STILL (Donald Margulies), as well as the 2013 & 2016 Yale Drama Series winners, STILL (Jen Silverman) and UTILITY (Emily Schwend). Georgette has also worked with Goodman Theatre, Lookingglass Theatre, Facility, and Chicago Dramatists among others. Upcoming projects include associate directing Mat Smart’s world premiere, EDEN PRAIRIE, 1971 (Raven Theatre) and directing the world premiere of SEXBOT (Interrobang Theatre Project).

Georgette holds a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Performance from McNeese State University in Lake Charles, LA and a Master in Directing from the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University. She is an associate member of Stage Directors and Choreographers Society. Check out Interrobang Theatre Project at www.interrobangtheatreproject.com

Original music for this trailer was composed by Christopher Aaron Knarr. You can find more of his work at www.ChristopherAaronKnarr.com.

Podcast Artwork design by Joseph Ramski. For inquiries, please contact him directly at [email protected]

Next Episode

Charlie Irving- Spatial Awareness, Theatre, and Being Known As "The Hyper Kid" in School

Join us as we hang out with Charlie and discuss spatial awareness, her love of theatre, "naps" under the teacher's desk, fitting in as a kid, medications, and more!

Info on Charlie:

Charlie Irving is an actor and writer in Chicago. She is a company member of New American Folk Theatre and has appeared in many of their shows including HOT PINK and The Summer of Daisy Fay for which she received a Jeff nomination. She has also worked with theatres like the Factory Theater, Artemesia and Metropolis. She was trained at the Gately/Poole Conservatory. In January Charlie was featured in a reading of her first play CRUSH with The New Colony's Writer's Room that explored the relationship women have to porn. She is continuing to work on her writing during these crazy pandemic times and is excited for the return of theatre... whenever that may be!