i am always interested in the ways we use movement to create characters and tell stories; working on a musical seemed to me to be a natural extension of the work i've been up to. and so it is! granted, i didn't expect my first foray into musical theatre to be a rap/hip-hop musical retelling of a greek tragedy by aeschelus. but i mean, go big or go home, right?
so how is it?
first, i have to tell you, it is a thrill and a relief to be working on a project that doesn't need me to be the sole propelling force behind it. there is incredible freedom and pride that my self-produced work has given me, to be sure, but it's been pretty fun to have a stage manager who calls actors when they're late, and a producer (and heck, a university) to handle space rentals, lighting design, etc. my job is literally only the movement. and the team and the cast are so wonderful. there's also the more subtle and personal pleasure of people i've only just met actually taking the movement i'm giving them and giving it back to me. that's just really cool.
secondly, this project lies in contrast with much of my career in that most of the performers are actors and singers first. for choreography projects, i typically work with dancers with similar training to mine; on the same note, i am usually hired to perform by those who value working with a skill set and training that i have. here, though, the important thing is each person's character outside of the movement. then it's up to me to translate both the character's essence and the quality each actor brings to his or her character to create a set of gestures and a movement personality for that character, played by that actor. it has forced me to be more specific with how i speak about my movement. it has illuminated for me how i cue improvisation, how i specify an emotional motivation with gesture, and how i teach movement with maximum efficiency.
and i get to enjoy some pretty cool moments: the very first stumblethrough in rehearsal, i got to see my work (and the work of the rest of the team) in order for the first time, and the arc i created in my mind played out in front of me... there's magic in that.
and i know it's dorky, but i still can't discount these old new york theatres. there's a little magic in the space.
(another personal note: actor's equity is sweet. breaks for everyone, all the time!)
anyway. it's about time for you to see all this for yourself!
THE SEVEN
February 12-15th
The Connelly
(E. 4th Street between Ave A and Ave B)
get tickets here (super affordable - $15 or FREE with any student ID!)
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