Blood Wedding

I am listening to my Andrés Segovia CD which I bought when I was working on the UCSC BarnStorm production of Lorca's Blood Wedding. My friend Mike composed the music for the production under a short notice and with an unfortunately un-poetic translation. (I have through that production learned the importance of a good translation!) Wolfgang, Caleb, and I had a great time coming down from rehearsals by playing Uno and drinking my test batches of sangria. McCann can testify to the madness!

I learned so much from that project. We ran in repertory which was a huge strain on the actors, who were all managing a full-time enrollment in courses as well as doing the productions. It was a visually arresting production, but...as I mentioned, the choice in translation was not the best. And I didn't make enough time at the beginning to ensure the actors understood my approach to the text. I also learned, once again, that I need to trust my instincts and set clearer expectations from the beginning so we can all work together successfully. We did eventually do some flamenco which affected some of the actors strongly in how s/he carried her/his body. It was a neat transformation to witness.

It's nice to remember the project. It was madness at the time and I know I could've done it better, but it was a learning process and definitely served that purpose. It will be good to get back to production. The last thing I directed was the RTE Fundraiser performance last year which was quite fun. And I will direct Neil LaBute's This Is How It Goes for them next fall when I return to California. It's nice to have that in the future: finish my dissertation, move, and then get back to work.

And I keep thinking of projects to reunite with some of the amazing folks with whom I have already worked. I have a couple ideas for musical stuff with Mike and quite a few ideas that involve Wolfgang, Leah, McCann, and Melissa...not to mention the stunning actors we'll need. That's one of the great things about theatre: I can keep finding projects that nurture my soul as well as those of others in the field as well as those who are potential audience members. It's a unique and fascinating art-form in that way...such potential for affecting so many.