The production you will see this evening is the "cornerstone" for the theatre students this summer. Students spent the first several weeks of the summer term in ensemble building, skill advancement, and personal exploration. Students began writing saturday at the end of the second week of class. A roughed in copy of the script was ready on July 8, the show was cast on July 9, and the first day of rehearsal was on July 10-- just one week ago.
Our devising process included the exploration of various truths and observations about humanity. Students created character labels, developed plot points, considered movement, and developed a theatrical piece oriented towards ensemble storytelling. Through individual, small group, and large group writing sessions the script you will see this evening took shape.
Theatre instructors, Keaton and Harvey, directed scenes and transitions while trying to support the students exploration as team members and artists. Keaton and Harvey designed the "in the round" staging to challenge the students and honor the cylical nature of the story. The scenic and lighting design ideas are a combined effort of students, instructors, Alex Velto(GSE Staff), and Bill Brown(Meredith College Staff). Props and costumes represent another combined effort of students and instructors.
This summer we have
- turned non-dramatic pieces of theatre into performance pieces,
- explored rasa boxes, physical storytelling techniques, & puppetry,
- studied and practiced the rich history of North Carolina's outdoor theatres,
- expressed ideas through writing and sound,
- discussed the value of theatre,
- relied on ensemble building,
- visited local theatres,
- developed personal narratives in multiple ways, and
- focused on the mantra, "nothing to prove, everything to share."
While it is impossible to capture all that we have learned, explored, and reflected on this summer, hopefully this production will give you a glimpse into the joy we found creating together.
