Playwright and Director Chris Leyva on Directing Shane for Actors’ Theatre

By Scott Vezdos, director of marketing and development for Actors’ Theatre of Columbus

Chris Leyva is a playwright and director who loves telling stories about scrappy weirdos and flawed, lovable outsiders. He is thrilled to be directing Shane (July 17 – Aug. 10) and grateful to be part of the 2025 season, working alongside the wonderful cast, crew and leadership of Actors’ Theatre!

Scott: Describe your art and your creative process.
Chris: I’m a theater artist; I write and direct plays. At the heart of my work is collaboration. When I direct, I always begin by trying to imagine the play on stage with as few frills as possible. What does it look like in space? How does it move? What is the physical language of the characters and the world? If I can clearly see the play on stage, then I know I can direct it.

With Shane, I had specific images come to mind, especially for the ending, and that’s what made me say, “Yes.” Once I begin collaborating with designers and actors, that’s when the real fun begins. I’m a riffer – I love when others bring ideas I can respond to, build on and explore with them. I ask a lot of questions in rehearsal to help us discover the emotional truths behind the action. Throughout this process, I’m known to say “I’m really curious about…” over and over again. And that curiosity leads us toward uncovering the play together.

Scott: How do you recharge and/or refine your artistic process?
Chris: I recharge by spending time with friends and family. Long coffee hangouts with friends, lots of laughing and time with my wife and son playing games. Those relationships keep me grounded and joyful.

To refine my artistic process, I ask a lot of questions and stay curious. I experiment, meet new people and take in as much art as I can, whether it’s seeing theater, visiting museums, reading plays and novels, or just letting myself dream. Music is a big part of my creative process. I like building playlists for each project that helps keep me wrapped up in the world of the play. For Shane, my friend Grace Ellis made a playlist that perfectly captures the Western, mysterious, emotional tone, and it’s helped guide me throughout.

Scott: How long have you been acting/directing and what is the most important thing you’ve learned about yourself along the way?
Chris: I’ve been directing plays for 25 years, which is wild to think about! The last time I acted professionally was in 2001, but I’ve stayed connected to performance by being the Dungeon Master for my family’s tabletop role-playing games. That’s a kind of acting, too!

Stepping back on stage now feels daunting, but one of the most important things I’ve learned about myself is the power of letting go of judgment. There’s a real freedom that comes from listening deeply, from letting moments land and from being truly present. As a director and collaborator, I try to create an environment where people feel safe, physically and emotionally, so they can be vulnerable, push themselves, experiment and make bold choices without fear. Fear and judgment are the enemies of art and flow.

Scott: Describe the difference between acting and directing, and do you have a preference?
Chris: I absolutely prefer directing! I’m an introvert, and I struggle with anxiety, so acting is much more challenging for me. Both acting and directing are about exploring emotions and the internal lives of characters, but directing allows me to work on a macro level. I get to step back and see how the emotional arc of the entire piece is functioning.

As an actor, the focus is more micro as you’re inside your specific character and really paying attention to the relationships immediately around you. My brain loves being busy, seeing the big picture and solving creative puzzles. I adore structure – figuring out how a scene works, how to move characters to express emotion clearly while also managing entrances, exits and business. I love crafting stage pictures and building the visual world of the play. It engages me on so many levels, and that’s where I feel most alive creatively.

Scott: What role/production are you most proud of?
Chris: Honestly, I’m most proud of specific moments in each show I do. For Shane, I’m especially proud of some of the heart-wrenching moments created by Tyreese Bowman, who plays Shane, along with AJ Calderon and Briana Harger who bring the Starrett family to life. I’m proud of the work all the actors have brought to this production. Watching them dive deep into their characters and bring that emotion to life is absolutely thrilling. It’s a privilege to work with them, and I’m proud to have played even a small part in helping those moments come to life.

Scott: What’s the best advice you’ve been given?
Chris: My mentor Steven Marc Weiss once reminded me of Stanislavsky’s words, “Love the art in yourself, not yourself in the art.” That advice has stuck with me.

To me, it means two things. First, you have to have a personal connection to the work. You need to understand why it matters to you: why it fills you, moves you and energizes you. Second, you can’t let ego get in the way. Humble yourself. Stay open to the process and to the ideas of others. Every voice deserves to be heard, and great ideas can come from anywhere. And in the end, you can only control what you can control, so work on yourself. Better yourself. Be the best version of you.

Scott: What’s the best advice you feel you can give?
Chris: Don’t forget the audience. Make things clear for them. Keep your eyes fresh and think about what it will be like for someone seeing the show for the first time. Invite them in.

This is a shared experience. Don’t be selfish; share it with them! Pretend you’re giving your best friend a tour through the show. What would you want to show them? How would they see it? What might need to change to make it sing for them?

Scott: Describe one of your favorite moments working with Actors’ Theatre.
Chris: My favorite moments have been the conversations, discussing the show, laughing together and then watching a moment come to life through a new choice someone makes. When everyone’s asking questions, exploring and enjoying the process, that’s what feeds me. That’s what keeps me going when things get rough.

I’m truly grateful to have been invited to work on this show, and I’m so appreciative of all the heart and work everyone has put into it.

Shane continues ATC’s 2025 summer season through Aug. 10 (Thursdays-Sundays at 8 p.m.) in German Village’s Schiller Park.

This article is part of a bi-weekly column brought to you by the Greater Columbus Arts Council as part of the Art Makes Columbus campaign. Explore a calendar of events, public art database and artist stories at columbusmakesart.com. To learn more about GCAC grants visit gcac.org.