Reflections on the Together Workshop

The development of a theatrical piece is an act of faith that never ceases to amaze me. Artists come together with hope, excitement, some trepidation, a few words and a lot of wondering. With Together, the question was not: What we will bring to life? But more: How can we help the playwright with her process? I had made it clear to the team that we were not working towards a finished product. We were playing, just for the sake of it.

The academic year had been bustling, creative, frenzied and inspired and we were crawling towards the end, with final exams just days away. Somehow the reality of fatigue levels did not register as I planned the workshop of Together. Perhaps I was too caught up in the excitement of preparation or maybe I was in denial. But it never occurred to me that our team of sixteen wouldn’t find the energy and passion to play. And they did. In droves.

We were one playwright, nine actors, a dramaturge, a stage manager, a scenic designer, a movement director, a director, a sound designer, an assistant playwright and an assistant director. From the moment we gathered together for the first time, there was a palpable presence in the room. We all recognize that rare and beautiful magic when the creative process freely flows. It is our reward, a heady cocktail of joy, respect and concentration. A mysterious blend of engagement, harmony, and instinct. Collaborative ease mixed with a little danger and a lot of laughter.

That week in April, life-long practitioners worked alongside young artists in an equalizing environment. No stars, no status, no money, no guarantees. Just a bunch of passionate theater-makers in service of a good play with the courage to take a chance and dive in. In spite of exams. By the end of the week, an unfinished play matured and we all felt a little more fulfilled as theater artists.

Together
by Alexandra Collier
An Inkubator New Play Development Workshop
April 25- April 29 2016
Department of Dramatic Arts
University of Connecticut

Cast
Michael Bobenhausen, Darren Brown, Shavana Clarke, Madison Coppola, Vivienne James, Aidan Marchetti, Jennifer Sapozhnikov, Kristin Wold

Creative
Director: Helene Kvale
Movement Director: Marie Percy
Scenic Designer: Tim Brown
Dramaturge: Molly Hamilton
Sound: Andrew Berardi
Stage Manager: Nicholas Greika
Directors Assistant: Angelika Bacha
Playwrights Assistant: Emma Matthieu