My latest directing project is with the Brandeis Theatre Company, directing this play written by Jesse Kellerman.
Basic information: performances March 16-26 2006, in the Laurie Theater at the Spingold Performing arts Center. More info about the show and the season here.
So what's it about? A chance accident brings together a collection of characters whose lives intersect in strange and unpredictable ways. Through tragedy and guilt new relationships are formed, truths are confronted, choices are made, and lives are changed.
That's more like what happens. What it is about is character. Jesse Kellerman serves up fascinating and human flaws in Texas-sized portions. We have a cab driver with a rough past who faces a crime that could destroy is future. A high-strung businesswoman turned accomplice. A single father whose only son is near death, but rewards the attending physician with his undiluted wrath. An airline booking agent who hand-delivers her homemade pie to difficult, stranded customers. That's just some few of the people in this play, I didn't talk at all about the vagabond street magician.
One of the eye-openers about this process (haven't started rehearsals yet) is how front-loaded the schedule is. With all of the academic overhead, like balancing work on the show with coursework, and grading schedules, etc. the design process began months ago. It's not a bad way to work, but different than the more hectic last-minute schedule of the small professional theatre company. The good news is the bulk of the design concept is complete, and I should have some examples to post here before long.
Oh, and if the name Kellerman sounds familiar to you, both Jesse's father Jonathan and mother Faye are accomplished writers of the Mystery/Thriller genre.
Jesse himself is promoting his debut work of fiction in the novel form, Sunstroke.
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