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Amid the evolving characterization of work-life balance, Trevor Clementi has found his own means to achieve harmony between his personal and professional lives.

Clementi, a social media and web specialist at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, spends a considerable amount of time outside of work acting, assisting and directing at the Fond du Lac Community Theatre.

Clementi as Don Quixote in Man of La Mancha

“I’ve participated in plays and musicals as long as I can remember,” Clementi said. “Over the last couple of years, a number of people have encouraged me to pursue directing, and the Fond du Lac Community Theatre is very open to producing shows by new directors, so I decided to try my hand at it.”

From his earliest role as a “carrot” in his second-grade class play to coaching improv as a college student, Clementi has always loved the theater. Directing has always been a lofty goal.

His first step toward this goal came earlier this summer when he worked as an assistant director for the youth production of Elf Jr. He has since begun directing his first production, The Hound of the Baskervilles, to be performed at the community theater this fall.

“Personally, I am excited for the artistic satisfaction of beginning with only a script and eventually creating a fully realized, live-theater performance,” Clementi said. “I also am excited about the breadth of artists who will be involved with the show.”

Between designing props and scenery, meeting with the production team, and scheduling and attending rehearsals, he spends an average of 20 hours outside of his regular marketing and communications role at the University. Though he admits he wouldn’t be able to accomplish such a huge undertaking without the help of his production team working tirelessly behind the scenes.

“We have actors, theater technicians and a stage crew, but The Hound of the Baskervilles will also feature the talents of an animator, a sound designer and two live-musicians,” he said. “It’s very exciting to have the chance to patronize and promote the work of so many local artists.”

Clementi attributes many of his professional skills to his past experience in theater.

“I am very comfortable in front of an audience, whether I’m teaching, presenting or performing,” he said. “Acting is also a great exercise in empathy, because you’ve got to figure out a character’s motivation aside from what they say and do. I use the same thought process to better understand the people I work with every day.”

The feeling of creative accomplishment Clementi gets from theater energizes him and motivates him to be successful in both his personal and professional lives. His work at the community theater is time-consuming, energy-draining and often plain stressful, but when the time comes for the cast and crew to perform, it’s incredibly fulfilling.

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