For someone who practically never works with a dramaturg, I sure love dramaturgy. I love learning about the text, learning all of the history and backstory and background and cultural themes that contribute to the rich tapestry of the play. I haven’t thought of myself as a dramaturg, despite pretty much every dramaturg I know […]
Katherine recently sent me a review by Bridgette Redman of Encore Michigan, which for some reason didn’t end up getting published. Bridgette said we could share some of it on our own websites and promo materials, so here are some of my favorite bits. Running now at Pigeon Creek Shakespeare Company’s multiple locations, their “Antony and Cleopatra” is a love story and Katherine Mayberry and Scott Lange as the titular couple sizzle with tempestuous passion. Let the whole world make their demands, let armies and navies clash, these two are meant to be together and nothing […]
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 […]
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 […]
Little-known fact: I’m something of an expert in auditory signalling in early modern plays. That is rarely particularly useful, so I don’t trot it out much, but my friends and Pigeon Creek Shakespeare let me nerd about it with music director Scott Lange on a promo video for Antony and Cleopatra!
One thing I’ve noticed in my work on Antony and Cleopatra is how careful the youngest actors are about getting consent from each other before they touch each other. This is new; I don’t know if it’s because of movements like #metoo or #notinourhouse, but it’s definitely different. I’ve always been careful about ensuring that actors get […]
This weekend, our family went to Chicago and visited the Field Museum. We were mostly there for the dinosaurs, but were pleased to discover that they have a great collection of ancient Egyptian artifacts. Of particular note for my current project were the following discoveries: First, most of the jewelry and statuary was blue. Blue […]
One major turning point in Antony and Cleopatra is when Antony explains to Cleopatra exactly what will happen if she ends up trying to make a deal with Caesar. Prior to this point, Cleopatra seems to think that either Antony will win, or she’ll be able to talk her way out of whatever situation she finds […]
I just got my first look at our show poster for Antony and Cleopatra. I can’t remember the last time I loved the show art quite this much. It was shot and edited by Sarah Stark. One of the things I am loving about this show process is that we all are on the same page, […]