A Blank Canvas

Smoke billows upstage and pools along the theater floor, as the dimly lit stage begins to glow an eerie blue and we hear soft chanting in a whisper that sounds like it’s coming from behind an upstage veil. As the sense of mystery begins to grow, along comes our guide, our chorus leader, to pull us into the story… at least that’s how I see it in my mind.

As we prepare at The Conservatory to go “into the breach” once more, I am reminded how exciting it is to be part of a play, and in this circumstance, I am in the unique situation of being the director, and it is the images that I see in my mind that I will be charged with bringing to life on the to the stage. Currently, our black box theater, and our actors are serving as a blank canvas for our opening play of the ART season, Echoes of Troy, which draws from several Greek myths to create a drama based on the stories of those who played a major role in shaping the Trojan war.

As an actor, I love the sense of wonder and excitement thinking about how I will approach a new role, and the week leading up to a first rehearsal is a stimulating experience where I finalize my work on character and determine the choices that will guide me through the early part of the rehearsal process. As the director for this project, now it’s my job to help shape the choices that our terrific actors will bring to the rehearsal process, and make the images I see for the scenes match the work of the actors.

I am thrilled for the opportunity and can’t wait to get started. Starting on May 11, we have 92 rehearsal hours to bring the show to life. I’ll be updating weekly on our progress, so check back regularly to find out how it’s going!