Northern Vermont's home for contemporary theater
Vermont Stage
  • Shows & Events
    • The Bake Off 2022 - God of Carnage
  • Subscribe
  • Donate
  • About
    • Equity and Inclusion statement
    • Past Productions >
      • The Lifespan of a Fact
      • Annapurna
      • The Thin Place
      • Winter Tales 2021
      • With a Little Help From Our Friends
      • Maytag Virgin
      • Popcorn Falls
    • Board of Directors
  • Where
    • Accessibility
    • Safety Precautions
  • Education
    • Vermont Young Playwrights
  • Contact
    • Work with us
    • Get Involved

Aly Perry on  Directing a "slice" of A NUMBER  in  The Bake Off

6/1/2016

0 Comments

 
Aly Perry
​Tell me a bit about yourself as a director.
Recently, I've been directing extensively with young performers … several middle schools, summer camps, and soon moving into becoming the drama director for Essex High School. As an educator, the directing goals center around skill sharing, team building, identity, and empowerment. As a director with adults, my ethos is similar, though deeply rooted in script analysis, movement generated content, play, and trust between all creative partners. As a director, I come with a vision, ask a lot of questions, remain open to discovery, and then carve out the meat with the editing knife.
 
At its core, A Number is about:
The risk inside relationship. What does it mean to be vulnerable? How do we mask who we are and what we want? What does it mean to be one's own? What does it mean to be recognized? To be a part, to be apart?
 
What is the most challenging aspect of directing A Number?
In the case of The Bake Off, it's time. We have a very short rehearsal schedule. Maintaining space for discovery while also driving decision making is the most awesome challenge! Efficient use of hours and talent while generating content with intention and clarity: what a fantastic opportunity for preparedness and urgency in the work. A lot of sparks fly, and we need to catch them quickly.
 
Are you approaching your section of A Number as mutually exclusive from the other two pieces?
In what world does mutually exclusive exist?
 
The script for A Number does not have many stage directions, or even much punctuation; do you consider this a gift or a challenge when directing your “slice” of The Bake Off?
A gift for vision and imagination. Churchill's words are coded, deliberate and rich with interpretations. Every problem is an opportunity.
 
What makes directing this play fun?
The actors who have given me their trust (and they have mine). Paul Ugalde and Andy Butterfield are some gorgeous and brutal clay to shape. We are having a good time in rehearsal, with a section of A Number that carries with it a landscape of aggression, abandonment, and discord. How does it feel to play with dialogue and action that never resolves? Full of potential, and the feeling of tilting on the edge.
 
What's your favorite line in the play?
"because if there was nobody there that would be terrifying and if you were there that might be worse but it's something I wonder"

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    January 2019
    September 2018
    April 2018
    October 2017
    September 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    October 2016
    September 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    June 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    October 2014
    September 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    October 2013
    September 2013

    Categories

    All
    Acting
    A Doll's House
    American Hero
    A.R. Gurney
    Art
    Bess Wohl
    Beyond Therapy
    Blackberry Winter
    Christopher Durang
    Costuming
    Curious Incident
    Dancing Lessons
    David Ives
    Designing
    Directing
    Dramaturgy
    Fun Home
    Greg Pierce
    I And You
    Jon Robin Baitz
    Karen Zacarias
    Katori Hall
    Lauren Gunderson
    Liz Duffy Adams
    Mark St. Germain
    Mothers And Sons
    Native Gardens
    News
    Nina Raine
    Or
    Other Desert Cities
    Part 2
    Playwriting
    Q&A
    Slowgirl
    Steve Yockey
    Terrence McNally
    The Bake Off
    The Call
    The Dining Room
    The Mountaintop
    The Quarry
    Tigers Be Still
    Tribes
    Vanya And Sonia And Masha And Spike
    Venus In Fur
    Yasmina Reza

Season Sponsors
Picture
main street landing logo
Picture
Join our mailing list