On the Brink
I wrote this early Director's Note for the Educational Guide we are developing for teachers in conjunction with the production. Thought I'd share it here.
In October of 2005, just coming off of a thrilling experience directing Caryl Churchill’s Vinegar Tom, I wanted more. I hadn’t directed since Fall 2000. Trying to conceive, carry, give birth to, and then start raising my twin girls had pushed theatrical art to the background for too long. So I started to think about productions I might choose for Kennedy Mainstage. I first thought of Calderon’s Life is a Dream, an old favorite of mine. But the program needed something modern in the Fall slot. And Katrina had me thinking a lot about my hometown. So I thought of Streetcar Named Desire.
Growing up in New Orleans, Streetcar and Williams pervaded my life in numerous ways. I hung out every day in my Dad’s art gallery, in the building next door to where Williams wrote Streetcar in 1946. I have been up many times to Williams’ old studio. A few years ago, my Dad had the opportunity to acquire Tennessee Williams’ old coffee table, and he sent it to me here in Hawai‘i. What else? Oh, my parents live on Desire Street. (Their house and my Dad’s gallery were untouched by Katrina). I took the Bus Named Desire to high school every day. My best friend’s mother Cynthia Ratcliffe was an expert on Williams and his life in the French Quarter. I wrote my undergrad thesis on Williams, with a chapter on Streetcar. I’ve been to the Tennessee Williams Literary Festival and witnessed their infamous “Stella-Shouting Contest.” I can’t remember a time when I hadn’t seen the movie.
My first thought was that I wanted to somehow involve the artwork of my father, Johnny Donnels. Either his photographs or paintings. Check them out at
www.johnnydonnels.com
My scenic and lighting designers have been enthusiastic about doing this, and although they will not replicate his work, they are inspired by it. We will include a display of his work as part of the lobby display during the run of the show. And a documentary about Johnny Donnels will be screened, for free, on Oct. 26, 2006 at 6:30 pm in the Krauss Hall Yukiyoshi Room on UHM campus.
My second thought was that this is a classic work and would likely be something taught in Theatre and English classes around the island. That thought led to the Page to Stage program, in its pilot year, “linking your classrooms to our productions.” So many teachers have expressed an interest in sharing the script and production with their students. We have high hopes for a continued partnership with these schools.
I’m writing this note on the brink of auditions, so there is a long journey ahead. I have many ideas, but the adventure is in the exploration, and in enjoying the creativity of the others traveling with me. I’ll see you on the other side.
In October of 2005, just coming off of a thrilling experience directing Caryl Churchill’s Vinegar Tom, I wanted more. I hadn’t directed since Fall 2000. Trying to conceive, carry, give birth to, and then start raising my twin girls had pushed theatrical art to the background for too long. So I started to think about productions I might choose for Kennedy Mainstage. I first thought of Calderon’s Life is a Dream, an old favorite of mine. But the program needed something modern in the Fall slot. And Katrina had me thinking a lot about my hometown. So I thought of Streetcar Named Desire.
Growing up in New Orleans, Streetcar and Williams pervaded my life in numerous ways. I hung out every day in my Dad’s art gallery, in the building next door to where Williams wrote Streetcar in 1946. I have been up many times to Williams’ old studio. A few years ago, my Dad had the opportunity to acquire Tennessee Williams’ old coffee table, and he sent it to me here in Hawai‘i. What else? Oh, my parents live on Desire Street. (Their house and my Dad’s gallery were untouched by Katrina). I took the Bus Named Desire to high school every day. My best friend’s mother Cynthia Ratcliffe was an expert on Williams and his life in the French Quarter. I wrote my undergrad thesis on Williams, with a chapter on Streetcar. I’ve been to the Tennessee Williams Literary Festival and witnessed their infamous “Stella-Shouting Contest.” I can’t remember a time when I hadn’t seen the movie.
My first thought was that I wanted to somehow involve the artwork of my father, Johnny Donnels. Either his photographs or paintings. Check them out at
www.johnnydonnels.com
My scenic and lighting designers have been enthusiastic about doing this, and although they will not replicate his work, they are inspired by it. We will include a display of his work as part of the lobby display during the run of the show. And a documentary about Johnny Donnels will be screened, for free, on Oct. 26, 2006 at 6:30 pm in the Krauss Hall Yukiyoshi Room on UHM campus.
My second thought was that this is a classic work and would likely be something taught in Theatre and English classes around the island. That thought led to the Page to Stage program, in its pilot year, “linking your classrooms to our productions.” So many teachers have expressed an interest in sharing the script and production with their students. We have high hopes for a continued partnership with these schools.
I’m writing this note on the brink of auditions, so there is a long journey ahead. I have many ideas, but the adventure is in the exploration, and in enjoying the creativity of the others traveling with me. I’ll see you on the other side.
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