Twitter Response to TEDx Atlanta (1)

Twitter Response to TEDx Atlanta (2)

Review : Throw Pitchfork

It was a GREAT pleasure to see your work in THROW PITCHFORK at Columbus State University's Theatre-On-The-Park. Your ability to so completely and seamlessly inhabit these many divergent characters within a "dysfunctional" family, and to embody them with such imaginative and specific physicality, was a great boon to our theatre students lucky enough to see it. What a learning experience for our students, as well as an emotional roller-coater ride for all in attendance.

Steven F. GraverAssociate ProfessorCSU Department of Theatre

Review : The Little PrinceTammie Smith

“The production begins with actor Doc Waller rushing on the stage to give a quick but spirited introduc-tion to the play. Both lively and funny, Waller jokes with the audience, warning that actors would take and pawn cell phones should they interrupt the show. And with the presiding comedic element of the atmos-phere set, Waller quickly runs back off stage in preparation for the next hour and a half...

Popping into the play in an array of smaller roles is Doc Waller. While these lesser parts could become trivial, Waller's funky costumes, '80s dance moves and overall outlandish acting provide such a hilarious performance that he becomes the very epitome of comic relief and is an instant audience favorite — among children and adults alike. Waller's brilliant comedic style creates an interesting and important con-trast with the story's more serious and philosophical tone.”

Review : The Little PrinceWritten by Wendell Brock

Performed on a mound-shaped set meant to suggest the undulating sands of the Sahara and the curvy contours of the various planets the Little Prince visits, the play boasts some fine character work by the de-lightful Doc Waller (as the fox, the geographer, etc.)

Review : Throw PitchforkKeith Hill

“Amazed…”

Review: Fly’n WestKathy Ortiz

Waller delivered a stunning performance. He was very convincing in his role as a man who ruled his marriage with an iron fist. Many people cannot easily play the role of a villain whom, by the end of the performance, viewers feel sorry for rather than despise.

He made a major impact on the students, opening some of them up in ways I had never seen before, making me realize what it takes to get those certain students involved. This is the most important part of teaching, the reaching of "all" students. He had a few students come up to present their own works, after they had had the opportunity to watch him perform. He did not simply allow them to de-liver a monotonous performance, but he stopped them in media and corrected them, making them start their deliveryover, teaching them about inflection, posture, and tone. The secret was in the way he made them en-joy the experience with his exuberance and undeniable presence. What resulted was an absolutely enjoyable experience to the student involved and for the audience, which was certainly captivated.

I recommend "Doc" Waller without any reservations. Although my classes are writing classes, he made the classes realize the difference in works read by T.S. Eliot vs. Langston Hughes, two writers we are currently studying. They will certainly have new material to use in their assessment of these works. Words on a page are dead, until they are brought to life, or not, by the reader. This has taught my students that works with voice and real purpose come alive when read by the right reader. "Doc" Waller is certainly the "right" reader. He might even be able to wake up the words of Eliot - and when you can wake the dead, you have "schmaltz".

John (Johnny) Shelly Summerfield Jr.Asst. Professor of WritingColumbus State University

Doc worked with the art program of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Lee County as the Director of Perform-ing Arts. He was directly responsible for designing and implementing a Performing Arts tract within the art program and to produce a finished product. Within one semester, Doc was able to design a program that exposed our club members to a myriad of experiences and opportunities within the arts. During my 3 year tenure as Unit Director, our organization has not produced works that held the same level of significance or had as lasting an impact as Doc’s. Under Doc’s supervision and instruction, our club members learned cultural and contemporary dance, improvisation, various stage techniques and were ultimately able to perform in a revised version of, The Wiz, (adapted by Doc himself).

The average Boys and Girls Club member comes from a low to middle socioeconomic background and has little to no exposure to the performing arts. Doc was able to take a very straightforward and strategic approach to motivate and teach our club members. He was able to tactfully create an environment of enthusiasm and inclusion amongst club members. Doc was able to immediately determine the social and emotional needs of his students and use those deficiencies as a way of connecting with the students. This approach strengthened Doc’s influence in the club members’ lives and eventually added reputability to the entire pro-gram.

Doc showed himself to be the utmost professional, always having done the pertinent research for his pro-gram and being thoroughly prepared. His method of teaching was very tactful. Because he was prepared, knowledgeable and concerned, Doc was able to adapt to whatever the situation at hand and use any teach-able moment to relate to and motivate a child. Doc did not limit himself to teaching within the club, he understood that to motivate a child to their maximum capacity that he needed to understand their environment. On a number of occasions he went out into the community, talking to parents and garnering their support, or taking club members to outside functions such as the local poetry night to further nurture the club members’ appetite and appreciation for the arts.

Doc was a delight to work with. He is a professional who is business minded and totally committed to his craft. Doc understands process and procedure and is a systematic thinker. He demonstrated the ability to lead as well as follow. Without a doubt, Doc’s deposit of talent has added to the quality of the program at the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Lee County.

Derika GaryUnit DirectorBoys & Girls Club of Greater Lee County

Artist Discusses Diversity and Reality TVby Emily Clever / ASSOCIATE COPY EDITOR

Diversity may be a delicate issue in areas like Alabama, but some in Auburn are attempting to stir up the conversation with a younger generation.

Six teenagers of Opelika and Auburn high schools met with local artist Doc Waller in Auburn’s Student Center Sunday to discuss diversity and unity.

“Unity is just coming together as a people,” said Mariah Sankey, junior at Opelika High School. “It doesn’t have to be different races or ethnicities. It’s just people, humans, the race. You don’t have to share the same interests, you don’t have to go to the same school, the same church. It’s just coming and bonding together as one.”

Waller attended Auburn for a little over a year before joining the U.S. Air Force. “I majored in not going to class,” Waller said. “I fell in love with the arts when I was in the military, and then when I got out of the military, that’s when I started my professional career.”

Waller has had a successful acting career and is the owner of the new nonprofit arts organization in downtown Auburn.

“I’m here today actually because diversity was going to be the topic, and I was going to try to help facilitate the conversation,” said Shakeer Abdullah, director of the Multicultural Center on campus.

Waller said the goal of this East Alabama Teen Summit meeting was to encourage the teenagers to think differently on subjects that aren’t always considered politically correct to discuss.

“It’s very rare nowadays that a young adult will light his or her own fire,” Waller said. “I think that that’s just because peer pressure is probably stronger and more potent now than it’s ever been. Becoming your own person and having your own identity in some circles when it comes to the youth is like crucifying yourself.” Waller said he believes reality TV shows like “The Real World” play a major role in shaping the identity of young adults.

“It’s just a bunch of these little different characteristics walking around,” Waller said. “Not people, just shells of characteristics. And that’s why you always have the angry black guy, the gay guy, the guy who parties, the girl who’ll get in the hot tub the first night; it’s every single season.”

Waller said these equations of personality are shaping how teenagers think.

“You have to be able to look at this stuff and realize, pull what’s beneficial from it and just throw

everything else away,” Waller said. “Youth can’t do that right now. They take everything in, and they sponge even the bad stuff, and it’s just like, wow.”

Brandon Wolfe, member of the Access and Community board at Auburn University, began the East Alabama Teen Summit, inspired by the former BET series, to “tap into the minds of young adults in the area,” Waller said.

The diversity summit was the fourth in the series.

The series began with a summit on the current state of hip-hop, and approximately 45 teenagers from the area attended, Waller said.

The next summit covered community service, followed by a summit on business and individual net worth.

The program will end with a party in April.

“If we can start to frame their thought process to think independently inside a group, having them speak out among everyone and really say something that’s on their mind, not based on everyone else’s opinion, that’s a strengthening tool,” Waller said. “That was our goal with this.”