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This
week began with our students experiencing a technical rehearsal
as they prepared for the showcase of their original play. The
students were both patient and professional as the Artsbridge
Project staff worked to create sound and light cues to highlight
and enhance the work of the students. As students continued
to add other technical elements (such as costumes), they worked
together to put the finishing touches on their scenes.
On Wednesday, May 5, 2004, Time Grows and Goes premiered on
the WPSD stage. The evening performance was attended by family,
friends, and ASL students from WPSD’s community classes. The
show went very well, and the audience response was very positive. Following
the performance, the students were the guests of honor at a reception
where they accepted congratulations, and answered questions about the
play-building process.
On Thursday, May 6th, drama students performed Time Grows and Goes two
more times for WPSD students and faculty, family, friends, and City Theatre
staff members. The morning WPSD student/faculty audience was entertained,
enlightened, and impressed by the students. Following the performance,
drama students fielded questions from the audience. When asked by one
of their peers why they had used the Visual Theatre style, one performer explained
that they wanted their performance to be accessible to everyone. “Theatre
isn’t just about Deaf or Hearing,” one student said. “It’s
for everyone.” Following the performance, several students approached
WPSD Drama Teacher, Amy Newland saying that they wanted to join drama and do
a similar project.
Throughout the production week, the Artsbridge staff from WPSD, Quest, and
City Theatre watched a significant change in the drama students. We are very
proud of the students and of their work. We are thrilled to see that
pride in the faces of their family, friends, and teachers. But most importantly,
we are thrilled to see that pride in the faces of the students themselves.
Read an excerpt below from the playbill of the performance.
About the Show
Time Grows and Goes is an original production that
was created by the ten students you will see performing in the piece. These
students began their journey almost three months ago. Their process
has included the creation of an ensemble, learning the basic elements
of visual theatre, exploring specific topics through improvisation, developing
their technique as artists and performers, and experiencing the production
process from start to finish. Any one of these things would be
enough to concentrate on by itself, but these students worked on all
these elements simultaneously! As with any artistic process there
have been days filled with success, and other days marked with challenges. The
students have not only grown as individuals (and artists), but they have
grown together as an ensemble—realizing the strengths they each
bring to the project, and pushing beyond their own self-determined limits.
When the ensemble originally settled on the topic of “Time,” they
seemed both relieved and overwhelmed. There were so many possible directions
and avenues to explore. Where to start? What to choose? As they
continued their work, they found themselves facing their own issues of time
in the creation of their piece. The process seemed to mirror our everyday
lives—filled with too much to do, and not enough time to accomplish it
all; juggling schedules and responsibilities and always feeling behind. You’ll
notice that many scenes in the production address how time influences and affects
the different aspects of our lives, and, more importantly, how precious each
moment of time is to us. The artistic process has reminded us that it
is not really how much time you have, but what you do with
that time. We appreciate you spending your time with us, and we hope
you enjoy the show!
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Students
rehearse their scenes during production week.
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Quest
Affiliate Artist, Monique
Holt directs students during a rehearsal. |
WPSD
Drama Student poses with her family following the performance. |
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The
Artsbridge cast, crew, and staff. |
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Epilogue |
