I saw As You Like It as a participating production for KCACTF Region 2. This production did some interesting work in terms of gender bending. The wicked duke was a female actor in a dress, but with a mustache–sort of gender nonbinary, I guess. Touchstone had half of their costume as a female and half male, […]
TW: This response mentions suicide. I’ve probably mentioned that one super fun thing I get to do is respond to college shows for the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (KCACTF). I enjoy traveling to these shows, talking with students about their work and their process, and getting a feel for the kind of work […]
I took the kids to see a student matinee of As You Like It at the American Shakespeare Center. This turned out to be a great move. The audience mostly consisted of high school students. My kids were about as well-behaved as any of them, and I wasn’t self-conscious about their wiggling energy. One thing I […]
Every now and then, I have an idea that feels in my head like it will be the best thing ever and then I’m so nervous that it won’t be the best thing ever that I get kind of freaked out when it’s time to try it. I talked about the silks a bit early in our […]
Today feels like the right day for reflecting on a Greek tragedy. After all, November 23 is traditionally the day when theater was born. Thespis of Icaria, near Athens, stepped out of a chorus and became the first actor in the mid-6th century BCE. Or maybe he didn’t, but that’s the story (and people definitely […]
This fall, counting my Labor Day Shakespeare road trip, I had the privilege of seeing thirteen plays (and I’m going to fit in at least two more before it’s officially winter). I saw plays from nationally renowned companies. I saw college plays. I saw plays by small professional troupes that are doing some truly amazing work. […]
This summer, everyone was posting their headshots from 10 years ago, as a funny. Haha, I thought. I’ll find mine and post it, too! Here it is: It’s a good picture! But…I was still using it. I just didn’t realize how old it was. This is pre-kids. It’s pre-gray-hairs, pre-eye-crinkles. This is definitely still how […]
Last night, Pigeon Creek announced its 2019 season, so I can finally say, officially, I’m going to direct Richard III! Check out the video for the rest of their season. Real talk: I actually considered taking the audio of the response after Katherine said my name (around 1:50) and making it into a ringtone. A girl […]
After Heidi saw Antony and Cleopatra (can I just pause for a moment and say how completely honored I am that Heidi, David, and Pam all made the drive to Grand Rapids to see it?), she said, “Shakespeare wasn’t kind to Cleopatra, was he?” I immediately responded, “History wasn’t kind to her. Shakespeare worked with what he […]
Antony and Cleopatra had its last performance at Pigeon Creek this afternoon. I haven’t seen the show in over a month, so I guess it shouldn’t matter to me that it’s over, but it has been on my mind today. People often are surprised that when I direct a touring show, I go home after […]