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Local college student takes center stage as emerging director

Zoe Calhoun's '26 breakout senior year

Willimantic, CT (12/02/2025) — Eastern Connecticut State University theatre major Zoe Calhoun '26 (of South Windsor, CT, and Springfield, MA) is having a big senior year. In the fall 2025 semester, she directed two university productions: a reimagination of Jean-Paul Sartre's psychological thriller "No Exit" and a stage reading of "Happening," Nobel Laureate Annie Ernaux's biographical account of getting an illegal abortion in 1960s France.

Calhoun's work will be recognized at the upcoming Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival in Albany, NY, from Jan. 27 to 31.

Stacking Experiences

Originally an education major, Calhoun changed her major after a professor encouraged her to chase her dream of directing. She quickly proved herself in the communication, film, and theatre (CFT) department, earning leadership roles in multiple productions.

Calhoun's first production role at Eastern was spotlight operator for "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee," a spring 2023 mainstage production. Quickly finding a love for Eastern's CFT program, she began acting in productions such as "Blood on a Cat's Neck," "Zoomers," and "Women's House of Detention."

Her first directing experience came as assistant director for the fall 2024 production of "Eurydice."

"I always wanted to direct a show, but I didn't know where to start," Calhoun said. "This really helped me understand the process better."

Directed by CFT Lecturer and Lighting Technology Specialist Tim Golebiewski, "Eurydice" offered a modern, melancholic approach to the collection of ancient Greek myths of "Metamorphoses," delving into the stories of Eurydice and Orpheus in an "Alice and Wonderland"-inspired world.

"Love, loss, and memory - these are all things we will experience at some point, and everyone was able to connect to the show in different ways," Calhoun said.

Calhoun credited Golebiewski as a mentor during her work on "Eurydice." "He would meet with me to talk about the process and teach me the ropes of directing," she said. Golebiewski pushed her to direct a short play at the Kennedy Center for American College Theater Festival at Central Connecticut State University.

There, Calhoun was awarded Outstanding Director for a New National Playwright Program for "An Honest Lesson in Self-Defense," working with playwright Patricia Lynn and a new cast. "It was fun to work with new people, get a new perspective, and work with a playwright," Calhoun said.

"No Exit"

In April 2025, Calhoun proposed her own adaptation of "No Exit," beginning months of preparation. Rehearsals would be held from 5-10 p.m., five days per week, with constant coordination between departments such as set design, technology, and actors.

"It took up a lot of my time, but I enjoyed it," she said.

The play follows the story of Cradeau (Zavier Garcia '26), Inez (Zolah Daley '26), and Estelle (Bonnie Mentz '26), who are confined to a single room in the afterlife.

Calhoun's reimagining brought a comedic yet deeply reflective twist to the classic, leaving audiences contemplating the age-old question, "What do we owe each other?"

The goal of the play was to have audiences reflect on their own experiences, while providing an entertaining, unsettling, and intriguing performance. "Rather than offering easy answers, the goal is to make audiences think and reflect on their own existence," said Calhoun.

The play, originally written in 1944, was one of the original inspirations for the 2016 sitcom "The Good Place," which explored similar philosophical questions and instantly became a pop-culture classic for its witty and unserious takes on a complex story and characters.

CFT history and directing Professor David Pellegrini also played a major role in "No Exit." Calhoun noted that he helped the show come together and offered mentorship on the project. Pellegrini also taught Calhoun in multiple directing classes, which she credited in part for her success.

She also expressed deep appreciation for the community within the CFT department. "It was one of the reasons why I was able to make it through directing a show," she said. "The students you meet and the community you build are a foundation for you."

Aspirations and Advice

Calhoun encourages aspiring directors to forge their own directing style by reading a diverse range of scripts and exploring different directing styles. "There's this idea that as a director, you have to be harsh and be in charge," she said, attributing her own style to a more democratic type of leadership. "To be a successful director, I think there needs to be kindness."

As graduation quickly approaches, Calhoun hopes to find a career in theatre and is open to exploring a master's degree and continuing directing in the future.

Media Attachments

Zoe Calhoun stands before the set of "No Exit."

Zoe Calhoun photoshoot

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