Space — where survival depends on precise calculations and cutting-edge technology — may seem an unlikely source of wisdom about romance. But then, most people aren’t Georgia Tech aerospace engineering students like Scott, one of the two central characters in the new play Orbital Debris. The play premiered for a four-performance run in October at DramaTech, Georgia Tech’s student-run theater.
In the play, which kicked off DramaTech's 76th season, Scott learns about the importance of risk, in space exploration, and in love. The blend of science, technology, and the complexities of human connections exhibited in the play is a perfect showcase for what Melissa Foulger and DramaTech are trying to do with student-run theater on campus.
"Sometimes at DramaTech we say that we 'engineer theater,'" says Foulger, who is DramaTech's artistic director. "Yes, we can engineer things — but if there's no humanity and heart in it, we're losing something very basic about theater. We have to think about how we're going to bring the feeling — the humanity — into this world we're building. Because if the storytelling isn't there, then what we've engineered doesn't matter."
DramaTech’s 2024-25 Lineup
Following this special Georgia Tech season opener, DramaTech is now gearing up for a strong lineup of four productions, each chosen, planned, designed, and delivered entirely by Georgia Tech students.
"This lineup will push our limits, I think. The shows are edgy, in terms of the questions they explore," says Foulger, who is with the School of Literature, Media, and Communication in the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts.
She Kills Monsters, the next play in the lineup, premiered on Friday, Nov. 8 — complete with exciting set pieces reminiscent of Dungeons and Dragons. The play will run through Saturday, Nov. 23.
But Foulger is quick to point out that the sets are only part of the equation.
"Sure, we're going to have a five-headed dragon for She Kills Monsters, but we want people to walk away feeling like there's more to talk about than just, 'Did you see that huge dragon they created?'"
Engineering props, sound, lights, costumes, and sets that give shape to deeply humanistic stories isn’t the only way that the liberal arts and STEM fields connect at DramaTech.
The organization itself is comprised of students studying the STEM disciplines, the social sciences, and the humanities. Foulger says some, but not all, have done theater before.
"Regardless of what they're studying, most students join DramaTech looking for a creative outlet that's a little different from what they're doing academically," says Foulger. "It's a very supportive community dedicated to great storytelling."
Orbital Debris: The Story That Launched the Season
"Orbital Debris is a Georgia Tech show, with themes that really speak to a Georgia Tech audience," says Foulger. "We wanted to introduce DramaTech to new and returning students, and this play was a great way to do that.”
Like the speeding space fragments in the play's title, the socially awkward Scott collides with the play’s other protagonist, an unpredictable woman named Claire, who sells jam she makes from local mayhaw berries. Risk — in space and in life — emerges as a central theme as their fragile, chaotic relationship unfolds in a series of vignettes set in Scott’s apartment.
“Everything new is dangerous. Every new frontier ever navigated,” Scott tells Claire, who is horrified to learn that the first human mission to Mars would be a one-way trip. “And if it isn’t dangerous, you’ve probably waited too long to do it …”
As Claire reminds him later, the same principle applies to taking risks in love.
More than 12 years in the making, Orbital Debris has a deep history with Georgia Tech, says Foulger. To begin with, playwright, lyricist, and librettist Vynnie Meli developed and workshopped the production at Georgia Tech, working closely with Foulger and her students.
The show's Georgia Tech connections go beyond the liberal arts. Its technical and scientific themes are underpinned by Meli’s in-depth consultations with Georgia Tech alumni John Bradford (Ph.D. AE 2001), president of SpaceWorks Engineering, and Dr. Dan Buckland (AE 2004), deputy chair of the Human System Risk Board for the NASA Johnson Space Center.
DramaTech's Lineup
She Kills Monsters
Nov. 8 – Nov. 23
"A high-octane dramatic comedy laden with homicidal fairies, nasty orges, and 90s pop culture."
Edith Can Shoot Things and Hit Them
Feb. 13 – 22, 2025
"Three kids, all but abandoned on a farm in remotest Middle America ... making up the rules as they go." But the outside world won't leave them alone for long.
Spring Awakening
April 4 – 19, 2025
Winner of eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical
Eurydice
July 17 – 26, 2025
"A fresh look at a timeless love story."
Q&A With Orbital Debris Actors Shrey Patel and Angela Wrigley
Shrey Patel
Shrey Patel, who plays Scott in Orbital Debris, is a first-year master's student in computational science and engineering. We caught up with him to ask a few questions about Orbital Debris and his work in DramaTech.
What did you like most about working on Orbital Debris?
Working with the playwright early in the rehearsal process was my favorite part of Orbital Debris. This collaboration introduced a new aspect of storytelling through theater that I had never experienced before.
In previous shows, the director, the rest of the cast, and I were in charge of interpreting the script with our own lenses. However, working with the playwright allowed me to understand the original motivation behind the play, along with forming the narrative through my own perspective.
Further, my castmate and my director were helpful in updating the script as we came across dialogue that could be refined. Such an intimate look into the script was unprecedented for me as an actor.
You’re working on a master’s degree in a STEM field. What value do DramaTech and the arts bring to your academic pursuits and goals?
DramaTech and the arts at large bring balance to my life. While they don't have a direct impact on my academics, they provide a crucial service that gives me the energy to persevere through college. The monotony and rigor of academics often drowns my enthusiasm for learning, but this dip in positivity is supplemented by the energy I receive from acting.
I truly love acting and performing for people, so DramaTech has given me an avenue to express an important part of my personality that does not exist in my program. Participating in the arts enhances my creativity, and it gives a layer of soft skills that I can use anywhere in life.
What tips, thoughts, or advice would you share with Georgia Tech students interested in pursuing the arts?
My advice would be to go for it! If someone has even the smallest interest in the arts, they should explore it. Their effort doesn't have to grand, but enough for them to experience the transcendence of creativity found in the arts.
It's also important to know that different forms of art require a different physical and mental commitment, so I encourage people to try different forms but choose the one they are most comfortable with and make sure it's one that gives them joy.
Angela Wrigley
Angela Wrigley, who plays Claire in Orbital Debris, is a fourth-year industrial design student.
What did you like most about working on Orbital Debris?
I loved how intense this production was overall. While I have been in other shows before, I have never had this volume of material that I have had to learn. It was a fantastic opportunity to be able to challenge myself and see what I was really capable of.
You’re working on a bachelor’s degree in industrial design. What value do DramaTech and the arts bring to your academic pursuits and goals?
As a student in the College of Design, I value creativity very highly. While this particular production does not have a direct impact on my degree, being involved in the arts in general is something that helps keep me motivated to keep creating.
This is also why I am in Infinite Harmony, one of the a cappella groups here on campus. Although I am not getting a degree in an arts field, I still respect what they bring to my life and how they positively impact those around me.
What tips, thoughts, or advice would you share with Georgia Tech students interested in pursuing the arts?
I would say that the first step is putting yourself out there. While it may not be as common here since we are a tech school, there are tons of opportunities to get involved in the arts if you just know where to look.
I think that it is very important for everyone to have a creative outlet and to find ways to share what they have to offer with the world.