Scott Russell

The Franklin College Theatre Department is starting off the new year with the play, The Poodle Trainer, written by Meghan McEnery and directed by Scott Russell. The performances will take place at 8 p.m. beginning Thursday, Mar. 7, through Saturday, Mar. 9 and at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Mar. 10. All performances will take place in Théâtre Margot in the Johnson Center for Fine Arts.

Can love blossom from a huge mistake? This captivating play focuses on the story of two people who meet at a circus and decide to party with Winky the Poodle Trainer, resulting in their lives becoming intertwined potentially for the better…or the worse. Explore how transformation can happen at any unexpected turn, and the different obstacles that can hold us back. Audience discretion is advised.

Scott Russell, instructor of theatre at Franklin College, will direct the play.  He is an Actors’ Equity Association (AEA) actor, a Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC) Fight Director, and a Full Instructor with Dueling Arts International.  He currently serves as the Resident Fight Director at the Phoenix Theatre of Indianapolis. Russell received his master’s in fine arts in theatre from the University of Arkansas, and is a graduate of The Conservatory at Act One Studios – Chicago. He holds an undergraduate degree in biology from Belmont University and spent many years as a cancer biologist. He is from Evansville, and currently lives in Indianapolis.

General admission is $12. Admission for each performance is $8 for students and seniors (55 and older). Franklin College students, faculty and staff receive free admission with a valid Franklin College ID. To reserve tickets, email tickets@FranklinCollege.edu or call (317) 738-8029 or (800) 852-0232, ext. 8029. Please claim reservations 10 minutes prior to the performance. The box office opens one hour before the performance. The Johnson Center for Fine Arts is located at the corner of Branigin Boulevard and Grizzly Drive in Franklin.

For more information, contact the Franklin College Office of Communications at (317) 738-8185.

By: Alona Gilpin ’24, Pulliam Fellow

POSTED Feb 7, 2024