From the Director of Something to Keep Us Warm
Loss is a part of life, and so is how we cope with it. In Something to Keep Us Warm, Norma is struggling with a terminal illness, and it is affecting every aspect of her and her family’s lives. Despite this, her family must continue to try to lead a normal life, facing one of the hardest challenges we deal with as humans.
The difficult reality of a loved one fading away is something I have experienced in my own life, which led me to choose to direct this show. As you watch the performance I encourage you to think about grief, the many ways in which people deal with it, and how we move past it.
I hope you enjoy the show!
- Sonia Milsten-Ockene
From the Directors of Uncle Sam: The Musical
Dear Samuel Wilson,
Can you believe it? You’re in a musical! In all honesty, though, Sam, you could’ve kept better records of your activities. You really did marry a Betsey and knew a Captain Mann, and you really did work in a meatpacking factory in Troy, New York. You may have been the inspiration for that classic Uncle on the poster. But beyond that… there wasn’t much to work with. So we imagined what it must’ve felt like to reconcile your behind-the-lines role in the Revolutionary War with traditional standards of American patriotism.
Like you, we’re from Massachusetts, even though it’s a little different: Maine left the nest a few centuries back, we dropped the “Bay,” and Jews can live here now. But, like you, we’re growing up in a time where patriotism is often viewed as a partisan political statement. Many of our peers associate patriotism with an image of some guy saying, “‘Murica.” But we believe that contributing to the American cause doesn’t have to involve fighting in a war; it can mean something much more personal. Patriotism doesn’t have to be so “tough guy.”
As men in theater, we have grown up going against traditional masculine stereotypes. We’re always aware of the judgment we might receive for telling someone we perform, but we’ve learned to embrace what makes us unique. When brainstorming ideas for our show, we knew we wanted to investigate the one-dimensional masculinity that society perpetuates. Even more so, we knew that our show would have to be a comedy, both to play to our strengths (we’re pretty funny, Sam) and because humor is a lighthearted and accessible way to approach serious themes.
Sam, you lived through a revolution and the War of 1812 when this country’s existence seemed all but certain. At a time when disunity can feel like the norm, we think telling your “story” is more important than ever… even if most of it didn’t happen the way we wrote it. As such, Uncle Sam: The Musical is not a political statement; it’s our contribution to an enduring discussion of what it means to be American.
We’re incredibly thankful to the amazing cast and crew who brought our years-long dream to life, including our stage managers Ember and Hannah and the countless mentors who helped us refine and revise. And thanks, Sam, for the inspiration—keep in touch, pal, and enjoy the show!
– Asher Navisky & Ethan Diamondstein
