The Dogtor - Cami DiVenere
As a returning student director, it’s amazing to be given this opportunity again! The Dogtor has been a great opportunity to showcase my growth since Lights Out! as a writer, director, and leader in the department. I’ve grown more confident in my abilities as a director and more sure of myself when making executive decisions. Overall, I’ve been excited to compare my two separate experiences and see just how far I’ve come!
The Dogtor, as a concept, stems from a guilty pleasure I think we all have: doing nothing! There have been plenty of times when I’ve just wanted to be like my dog and stay at home instead of going to school or take a nap instead of going out. So, when I was looking for concepts to write about, I thought it was a great starting point! One thing I didn’t get to add into Lights Out! was a moral thread, but I just wasn’t adept enough at writing to pull it off in a One Act. With The Dogtor I wanted to prioritize this concept rather than scrap it! And I have nobody better to thank than my amazing cast for being able to bring goofiness and heart to this production. Thank you!
Directing a One Act has been a great opportunity for me and a great measure for how I’ve evolved as a writer, and I’m excited to continue writing in the future! I hope you’ve enjoyed my journey in this department as much as I have! I hope you have a terrier-ific time!
Red Light Green Light - Ivy Ridenhour
When I heard about the opportunity to write and direct a play, I knew I wanted to do it, but I had no clue what to write about. I thought about a drama on a train or a magical adventure. I wrote multiple first scenes. And flip flopped from one idea to another until finally, I decided to just pick one and stick to it. I picked Red Light Green Light, a kind of silly parody of a Hallmark movie that warped into this funky show about crossing guards and alien lands.
I’ve done a lot at Freedom Theatre, but this is definitely the most unique and new experience for me. It’s been new as in scary. Writing and sharing a story has been nerve wracking, and directing people on stage felt like walking for the first time. But it’s also new as in exciting. It’s thrilling to watch as the story comes together, to watch as my cast brings the characters to life, to watch as technical elements come in that expand the show way beyond the scope I had originally imagined.
To everyone who’s worked on the show, thank you for all your hard work, and break a leg today. To everyone who’s here to watch, get ready for a fun time!
