• Home
  • Performances & Events
  • Audition
  • Programs
    • For Kids >
      • Choir
      • Camps >
        • Summer Drama Camp
    • Internship
    • Women's Project
    • Acting Up
    • Trips
  • Support
  • About
    • Tickets
    • Blog
    • Programming Archives
    • Board Members
    • Policies
  • Contact
Hamilton-Gibson Productions
  • Home
  • Performances & Events
  • Audition
  • Programs
    • For Kids >
      • Choir
      • Camps >
        • Summer Drama Camp
    • Internship
    • Women's Project
    • Acting Up
    • Trips
  • Support
  • About
    • Tickets
    • Blog
    • Programming Archives
    • Board Members
    • Policies
  • Contact

THE ONE I'M WORKING ON

9/16/2023

0 Comments

 
Picture
The One I'm Working On   by Thomas Putnam


​Sometimes someone will ask me what my favorite production has been to direct. I typically answer “The one I'm working on.” It's the one I'm immersed in. The one I'm talking to and through and about. Indeed, some plays intrigue me more than others for a variety of reasons, but most usually due to a fascinating story told in a highly theatrical way. Underneath the Lintel, Of Mice and Men, Every Brilliant Thing, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime, The Elephant Man come to mind. The current one is on this list.


Elephant's Graveyard is a tough pill to swallow. I was eager to direct it, but it sure scared me in terms of how to present it. There's no actual dialogue (except for about 10 lines between the Marshall and the Preacher); the rest consists of 13 people speaking to the audience, telling the story through their eyes. It could be disastrous, but therein lies the challenge.


Where to place the actors on the stage, somehow making their proximity to other characters and the audience relevant? Finding the rising and falling action of the story line. Exploring the tempo of those various actions. Where to use sound effects created by the percussionist and guitarist? How to make this tragic story relevant to us today?


Of course it all started with who to cast in each role. We lucked out, again. These actors have worked hard and have been eager to engage in the exploration of this story. Each one has been more than willing to accept direction and, in turn, to bring their own sense of their character to life.


The process is stimulating and fun, and meaningful and well worth the effort. Now, how to market this show so that we can share the result of this effort. Hope you can join us next week.

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    July 2025
    June 2025
    May 2025
    April 2025
    October 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022

Hamilton-Gibson Productions
Providing opportunities for people of all ages to enrich and empower their lives through community performing arts.
OFFICE
29 Water Street, Wellsboro, PA 16901
PHONE
570-724-2079
EMAIL
[email protected]
  • Home
  • Performances & Events
  • Audition
  • Programs
    • For Kids >
      • Choir
      • Camps >
        • Summer Drama Camp
    • Internship
    • Women's Project
    • Acting Up
    • Trips
  • Support
  • About
    • Tickets
    • Blog
    • Programming Archives
    • Board Members
    • Policies
  • Contact