Meet the Cast of "The Fisherman and His Wife": Fisherman and Isabel
September 30, 2014 12:00 AM
Haley Flanders
by Haley Flanders, dramaturg
Fisherman and His Wife is currently up and running on BYU's Nelke stage. To celebrate our production, we wanted to give you the chance to get to know the cast that is bringing this story to life. Check back over the next few days to meet the rest of these talented students.
Name: Brandon Luke Bringhurst
Character: The Fisherman
If you could have a supernatural helper, what would you have? I’ve always thought the Blue Fairy from Disney's Pinocchio would be awesome!
What would you wish for? The ability to be in several places at once.
What is the overall message of this play? True happiness doesn’t come from power or possession; it’s found in the home and the people we love.
What has this message taught you? We often want so many things, from our casual pleasures to our deepest desires. But I learned in this show that finding that happiness inside myself can become a rich treasure that neither money or magic can give.
What was your favorite part of working on this show? I learned so many techniques from our brilliant director (Nestor Bravo Goldsmith) that helped me develop this character and communicate emotion to the audience. That learning process was definitely my favorite part. Of course, none of it would be possible without this wonderful cast and production crew! I’ve really grown to love them so much!
Name: Lizzie Mickelsen
Character: Isabel (the fisherman's wife)
If you could have a supernatural helper, what would you have?A Fairy Godmother.
What would you wish for? A cure for cancer.
What is the overall message of this play? Be careful what you wish for.
What has this message taught you? Sometimes what we think will make us happy right now isn't what is best for us in the long run. Sometimes the things that will make us the most happy are the simple things we already have that we have forgotten to appreciate.
What was your favorite part of working on this show? This has been the hardest show I have ever been a part of; and I have loved every second of it! I can't pick just one favorite part! I have loved getting to know my castmates and being able to work with them. Building this show as a team with Nestor as our guide has truly been an incredible experience. This show has pushed me farther out of my comfort zone than I thought possible and I am so grateful for that. I will remember this show for the rest of my life.
Before a show opens its doors to audiences, before there are costumes and props, before sets are built and actors are cast, it starts simply as an idea. This idea is known as the ‘director’s concept,’ which a director presents to the designers at the show’s first production meeting. After that, it is the designers’ job to transform that concept from an abstract idea to a physical manifestation that can be seen onstage.
One of the great things about working as a production dramaturg is the time spent in rehearsal working with the actors. For this production of 12 Angry Jurors, we spent quite a bit of time exploring the world of the play. To help the actors interact with the courtroom drama world of Boston in 1953, we created a dramaturgical website for the actors. We put a link to this website on QR codes that were printed and hung throughout the rehearsal space, so that the actors could have access to the website at any time.
One of the first things many people think of when they hear the word Christmas is gifts. Gifts and Christmas have been interchangeable for a very long time in our world’s history. But over time, what people think of as gifts has shifted. Each new era or generation defines it differently. There were monetary gifts such as gold, frankincense, and myrrh in the days of Christ, when all things were handcrafted and only the wealthiest of people could have precious ore or spices from distant lands. Or perhaps, during the great wars of the twentieth century, a gift of war bonds was precious when patriotism and the survival of the world made things like toys seem trivial to many. Now, everyone wants the latest iPhone or the newest technology. Throughout our lives, what we want also changes. Gifts shift from toys, games, and candy to technology or clothes–all inconsequential things that provide short-term entertainment. However, all of these things fade and have less impact on our true joy. Joy can really be found in the simple things of life.
