During his short time in Lincoln, Rough Magic Productions artistic director Jack Carpenter has gained a reputation for staging edgy, fantastical works.

He’s also become known for doing them well.

So much so, Lincoln actors tend to trip over themselves for a chance  to work with him.

Consider the cast list for Rough Magic’s upcoming project. It’s a who’s who of local talent: Jeremy Kendall, Sean Schmeits, Amy Jirsa, Joel Story, etc.

“He’s amazing,” said Jirsa, who recently starred in the Carpenter-directed “Mr. Marmalade.” “Honestly, in my entire acting career, he is one of the best directors I’ve worked with.”

Sadly, Carpenter is bidding Lincoln and Rough Magic goodbye, but he will exit with a bang.

He’s directing Rough Magic’s 2007-08 season opener, “The Epic of Gilgamesh, As Told by Mr. George Smith, Associate Curator of the British Museum (Deceased).”

Rough Magic founder Gregory Peters, who recently moved to Chicago, penned the script. It’s the tale of the epic hero of the same name who is, as mathematically and improbable as it may seem, two-thirds god.

Peters’ play spans thousands of years as it follows the parallel journey between Gilgamesh and George Smith, a Victorian who discovered and translated the tablets bearing Gilgamesh’s story.

The playwright weaves the stories together to create an “epic” tale with giant scorpions, mythical monsters, inconsolable and disgruntled gods, ancient Sumerians and reserved Victorians — all played with pith, humor and humanity by a 12-member ensemble.

Carpenter, 30, is leaving to begin a master’s degree program in directing at Illinois State. He’s thrilled to go out on another script produced by his close friend.

The duo collaborated last August on “K,” Peters’ original play about writer Franz Kafka.

“Greg knows if he writes something strange, that I can figure out a way to stage it,” Carpenter said.

Indeed, Peters was quite complimentary of Carpenter’s abilities.

“(‘Gilgamesh’s) style and structure are due in large part to Jack,” the playwright said. “Our experience together, the fact that I was writing it for him to direct, and his feedback through the work-shopping process had an enormous and beneficial influence on the final result.”

Carpenter came to Lincoln in January 2003 from New York City, where he was a voice student of Ariel Bybee’s, artist-in-residence at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s School of Music, who maintained a studio in the Big Apple.

She encouraged Carpenter to check out UNL after he decided to pursue an undergraduate degree, which he acquired in December 2005.

Carpenter’s plan was to study theater, with an emphasis on acting. His course changed direction in the spring of 2004 when he co-directed a UNL Theatrix production of “Pterodactyls,” a dark comedy chronicling the demise of a family and, by extension, the human species.

“I discovered community and collaboration,” he said. “We were all working toward one goal.”

He was hooked.

For Theatrix, he directed “Burn This,” “The Illusion” and “Corpus Christi,” playwright Terrence McNally’s controversial piece about a Christ-like figure who is gay.

His Rough Magic credits include “K,” “Kid Simple” and “Mr. Marmalade.”

Jirsa said his background as an actor helped Carpenter become successful.

“Actors work in very emotional places,” she said. “He understands that. He’s great at communicating with actors.”

As evidenced by his resume, Carpenter’s interests lie in edgy, contemporary and often fantastical works.

“I don’t care for realism much,” he said. “Half of what Rough Magic has done is because of my tastes. It’s what we do. Greg writes, and I direct.”

Reach Jeff Korbelik at 473-7213 or jkorbelik@journalstar.com.