Dramaturgy
Dramaturgy
Swear on My Mother's Grave 2021-2022
Trailer
Images
Photo Descriptions
Slide 1: Poster Art. With a gray background, the title is up center curved, creating a grave stone. The date and time, along with the ensemble names are mid center. The bottom has blue, orange, and white flowers with green vines and a rib cage with two skeleton arms reaching towards the center of the poster.
Slide 2: A cast photo in a blackbox theatre. Six actors are wearing street clothes and masks all standing and holding "Mott's" fruit snacks.
Process
For my senior lab, I wanted to tell the biographical story of Mary Shelley using her novel "Frankenstein" as a storytelling device. I have had a long fascination with classic horror such as Dracula, Creature from the Black Lagoon, The Wolfman. I am also curious about the corruption Hollywood and other media places on these texts. What is the real legacy of these monsters?
Through an ensemble driven devisement process, we were able to fulfill this vision. Every member of this process had a say in the shaping of this show. The plot, the script, and the characters were all co-created by these talented students in seven weeks.
This is a work in progress, but this version has set the stage for the future vision of this show.
Project Description
Clear and cohesive communication is a cornerstone of my process. I knew going into this work, that there was going to be a need for pivoting and working in the moment. I decided the best way for everyone to stay in the know, was to create a virtual platform for communication.
I used Notion to create a visual reference guide and actor packet to inform on all aspects of the show. The actor packet is broken up into two separate categories. "I have time for" permits actors to spend 5, 30, or 60 minutes examining dramaturgical materials. "Additional Information" permits actors to explore specific areas of dramaturgy, such as historical figures, English history timeline, or feminist writers. This breakdown permits actors to take the materials into their own process at their discretion.
On this platform, you will also find a communal diary, director's notes, and design drafts that were archived throughout our process.
Notion
Photo Description:
An image of the Company Website. Purple Lighting at the top of the page. Below reads the title, "Swear on My Mother's Grave". Then there are two quotes from Mary Shelley. The main page has six boxes with different images. The the first row, from left to right, reads "Vision", "Timeline- Rehearsals", and "Communal Diary". The second row, from left to right, reads, "Dramaturgy", "Devisement", and "Design Team."
Credits
Directed by Claire Hayes
Stage Management by Esme Burrows
Ensemble: Sierra Reynolds, Paige Mesina, Gena Treyvus, Iona McGregor, Kacey Lindeman
Assistant Direction by Molly Sharfstein
Lighting Design by Oskar Westbridge
Lighting Design by Maday Favela
Marketing by Bella Cordova
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Produced by The Theatre School, Winter Lab Series
Funded by Jonny Barber