Revolution in 1
nytheatre.com q&a preview by Katie Palmer
September 27, 2012
What is your job on this show?
Director.
Where were you born? Where were you raised? Where did you go to school?
I was born in San Diego, CA, which, people might not realize, has an amazing theater scene. From youth musicals to juggernaut regional companies, everything is represented in San Diego. But still I had not been exposed to what I found as I earned my BFA at Playwrights Horizons Theater School at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. The world of downtown theater making was revealed to me: experimental, original, collaborative and diverse. I marvel at, and strive for, the openness and skill to allow the piece to take on whatever form, shape and content it needs, as opposed to a cookie-cutter production.
What was the last show you saw that really excited you, and why?
I get excited to find merit in almost every theater piece I see. I work hard to make every attempt to meet the creators’ artistic vision head on, and I can always find something to learn. The Porgy & Bess revival stands out to me recently. I did not know the story walking in and the final 30 seconds of the first act left me almost in tears – they were so happy. Porgy and Bess got exactly what they wanted and were overcome by it. It was an overwhelmingly joyous, hopeful moment that I just knew couldn’t last. The hope they carried coupled with the despair I felt for them mesmerized me.
How did you meet your fellow artists/collaborators on this show?
My partner in THEATER IN ASYLUM, Paul Bedard, and I met first day of freshman year of college and our collaboration is going on its 7th year. More than half the cast has performed not only in previous THEATER IN ASYLUM pieces but was also in a part of the development of Revolution in 1 since January 2012. We love that we have established a rapport with such a great group of actors. We have two new additions to our THEATER IN ASYLUM family for this piece and not only have they jumped right in but they’ve also made us re-assess our communication and structuring models in a way that will make us grow. Oh, and my sister’s in it! So I’ve known her for a while....
Which “S” word best describes your show: SMOOTH, SEXY, SMART, SURPRISING?
Surprising… I hope that you find we have a pretty unique take on “revolution”, both theatrically and thematically.
If you had ten million dollars that you had to spend on theatrical endeavors, how would you use the money?
That is such a difficult question. I would spend it on:
1) Theater Education programs in schools for grades Kindergarten to 12th grade.
2) A foundation to support small, independent, low-budget theater companies so money doesn’t have to be a hindrance to pursuing dreams and expressing one’s self.
3) Apartment co-ops in various locations across the nation for actors’ to have a place to live at a reasonable rent.
4) Providing pre-and-post workshops as well as show tickets for underprivileged community members who might not go to the theater, or have the context for it.
5) And ultimately start a revolution where theater becomes an integral, vital part of the national conversation. Theater is the place everyone goes when we expect to be challenged, entertained, reflective and ripped open.
