January always feels a bit of a preparatory month, and this year more than most. Between pandemic considerations and winter weather I’ve appreciated working on several virtual projects the past few weeks, but I can’t wait to see what new opportunities February has in store. Among other changes I will finally be moving to be fully based in New York next month, and I’m so excited to be that much geographically closer to so many of my inspirations and collaborators!
Quote of the Month
“Audentes Fortuna Iuvat (Fortune favors the bold)”
- Latin proverb
Performances & Media I enjoyed this month:
Reading The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune
Visiting the very fun “Inspiring Walt Disney: The Animation of French Decorative Arts” temporary exhibit at the Met Museum of Art
Seeing the one-and-only Patti LuPone’s performance in Company
Live-streaming Jenn Collela’s solo debut concert at 54 Below
A few January snapshots!
Current & Upcoming
One of my new projects this month has been casting and preparing to start rehearsals for my second season with the Premiere the Play podcast. Produced by the LA-based Dean Productions Theatre, this podcast presents readings of brand-new plays by diverse playwrights from around the world in an accessible audio format. I directed Zig-Zag for the podcast’s first season in 2021 (more info on how you can listen to that below), and am thrilled to be taking on a new production this year with The Powers that Be, a suspenseful contemporary piece with the tense dystopian atmosphere of a Pinter one act. The play will be recorded this spring, and will be releasing over the summer along with the rest of the podcast’s new season.
I have also spent a good deal of time with new plays throughout January, as I continue to read for this year’s New Play-Reading Festival at The Growing Stage, as well as reviewing submissions for future seasons of the Premiere the Play podcast. It’s always a treat to work with fresh new plays just starting out on their development journey!
Recap: Zig-Zag for the Premiere the Play podcast
For anyone new to these updates, I thought I’d recap that my play for the first season of the Premiere the Play - released last summer - continues to be available for free wherever you get your podcasts (including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Anchor). Written by Philip Catherwood, Zig-Zag combines sci-fi-tinged world building with a very human central relationship to explore the consequences of political division and technological advancement in a dystopian future imagining of Ireland. In addition to a fully-sound designed audio performance of the play, the podcast also includes a bonus episode featuring an interview with the playwright. I had a blast working with this captivating and thought-provoking script, and I hope you will enjoy!
Comments