According to the national poetry-reading contest, Poetry Out Loud, every line and word in a poem has meaning. This was confirmed during a visit from Kate Coombs to the actors of Water Sings Blue.If we can understand the tones and connotations of words, possible symbols, and moments of irony and humor, we will find meaning and new life in poetry.
Then, we can share that meaning and life with others. When reciting poems, clear diction is needed. Recitations should not be sing-song, but should express what meaning the reciter has found. Vocal inflections, breath, and tempo all are tools reciters can use, and were tools Water Sings Blue director Teresa Dayley Love focused on, when working with her cast.
For many, High School Musical is a nostalgic film that brings back memories of our days in high school, of struggling to fit in, figuring out who we are, and developing friendships that shape and change us. It teaches us that “we are all in this together,” a theme we’ve embraced throughout this production.
The debate over whether The Cherry Orchard is a comedy or a tragedy began with Chekhov himself and his director (and sometimes friend) Konstantin Stanislavsky.
The creative team began working on this production a little more than a year ago. In my role as production dramaturg, I was happy to create a website of resources first for the creative team, and then when we went into rehearsals, for the cast. And now that we are opening the show, the resources offer valuable perspectives to our audiences as well.