Nate Eppler’s family has been walking around with him for two years, and last Friday, he finally introduced them to The University of Memphis.
Eppler’s fictional family, The Joneses, are the primary focus of a play that is currently sweeping The U of M campus and has sold out on several occasions.
On Sept. 28, “Keeping Up With The Joneses,” a play written by Eppler and produced and directed by students made its theatrical debut at The U of M. The play has drawn large audiences and has been given excellent reviews by many who have seen the play.
Eppler, a senior theater major at The University of Memphis, said the play is the first theatrical performance The U of M has solely produced since 1995.
“The department liked the play, and decided they would produce it,” Eppler said.
The play examines the life of a family of geniuses.
According to Eppler, it took a government employee, a bird watcher and an aspiring superhero with an extremely high IQ to make up his family, and apparently it was all that was needed to warrant a smash hit theatrical performance for The U of M’s theatrical team.
In fact, the play has received such a positive response that the department plans to extend the showing of the play through next Friday.
The tragic-comedy, which Eppler plans to enter into the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival, is not the first play that he has written.
In fact, Eppler wrote a play called “Vote Jesus”, which was bought by the off-off-Broadway group, the Peregrine Company, based at the New York University Atlantic Theatre School.
Eppler took time off school in 1995 to help with the direction of the play, which was a comedy about political campaigns and religious oligarchy.
“It afforded me a great opportunity for learning,” Eppler said.
After returning to school, Eppler wrote “Keeping Up With the Joneses” in his 1999 playwriting class.
Directing the play is Michael Dziura, a graduate student in the graduate directing program.
“I think the play is going incredibly,” Dziura said. “The cast is doing a remarkable job.”
Appearing as the main characters are three senior theater major students — Jared Logan, David Williams and Julia Hinson. Dan Poor, a recent graduate of The University, is also in the play.
“I think it’s turning out well,” said Bill Lewis, stage manager. “We have been rehearsing for almost seven weeks and I think it’s ready for competition.”
Eppler said he did not want to be a playwright when he first started college.
“I just took one introductory course and enjoyed it a lot,” he said. “I’m really glad The University decided to produce the play. I’m very proud to be one of the few.”
Eppler said his experience has taught him to believe that everyone should try something out at least once - they may have a niche for something they didn’t think they could do.
