Northern Vermont's home for contemporary theatre
Vermont Stage
  • Shows & Events
    • Airness
    • Venus in Fur 2023
    • The Bake Off 2023
  • Donate
  • About
    • Equity and Inclusion statement
    • Past Productions >
      • Winter Tales 2022
      • The Pitmen Painters
      • Women in Jeopardy!
    • Staff
    • Board of Directors
  • Where
    • Accessibility
    • Safety Precautions
  • Education
    • Vermont Young Playwrights
  • Contact
    • Available Jobs
    • Get Involved

John Jensen on directing the 2nd section of "Beyond Therapy"

6/5/2014

 
Picture
Tell me a bit about yourself as a director.

I think directing is terrifying.  As an actor you are responsible for your part of the whole.  As a director you are responsible for EVERYTHING!  An acting coach of mine used to say, 'Take a risk, Safe is dead.'  The times I have 'risked' directing have been some of the most rewarding experiences I've had in the Theatre.

What do you find challenging about directing your section of Beyond Therapy?

There is a fine line in Durang plays, if you go too far with the comedy I think it moves out of the realm of reality and into the absurd.  Durang quotes the playwright Joe Orton in his extensive author's notes, ' Unless its real it won't be funny.'  Walking that fine line is the challenge for the actors and me.

What makes directing this play fun?

I have acted in and directed other Christopher Durang plays and each time it has been transformative.  Durang's dark humor speaks my language.  At the heart of his zaney plays there is a truth that resonates.  Searching for that truth with this group of actors is incredibly fun.

What's your favorite line in the play?

Of course its from my section of the play:

"How can life be in order? Life by its very nature is disordered, terrifying. That's why people come together, to face the terrors hand in hand."


Comments are closed.

    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