Blogging is hard. You have to keep posts short to hold people’s attention, but then a project comes along like Ballard House Duet and all I want to do is tell everyone every little thing about it. I want to describe why it’s been so important to me creatively: how it’s been so fun, but also stretched me; why I think every playwright should try custom writing for individual actors; why I think the play tells a locally grown story Seattleites can uniquely identify with; and on and on.
I am, however, going to show some restraint, by limiting myself in this post to delivering the simple facts. Ballard House Duet grew out of local actor Rebecca Olson’s idea to commission plays crafted especially for individual actors in Seattle. Says Olson:
The process begins with a blank page; the actors themselves are the basis for the play, and the actors stay attached to the script from conception through performance. The project includes development, workshops and full production of the finished scripts. This model allows the playwrights to draw on the individual and collective experiences of the artists they are working with. The resulting plays are more satisfying to produce and more resonant with local audiences.
Olson offered me the honor of being the premiere guinea pig playwright. Hana Lass is Rebecca’s castmate, and Erin Kraft leads the project as director and unofficial dramaturg (though Hana and Rebecca certainly had a hand in that as well. More on that later.)
We kick this premiere off on December 7 (‘cuz nothing bad has ever happened on that date, right?) and run for two short weeks in a small house, so you’re gonna wanna get your tix quick, by clicking here.
Here’s a synopsis . . .
Heidi doesn’t say the word “adopted”. Holly’s her full sister, even if she is half-Asian and Heidi’s all American. Somehow Holly inherited Aunt Nana’s religion gene, while Heidi got Mom’s need to be the center of attention. Now in their 30’s the two sisters have agreed to clear out their hopelessly hoarding great aunt’s house, but when Heidi shows up a week late, hoping to film the process for a reality show, the past and future explode, scattering the shrapnel of strong, deeply hidden betrayals and even stronger, more deeply hidden loyalties. As they wade through a lifetime of accumulated possessions - and personal grudges – Holly and Heidi must decide: What has value and what are they better off just throwing away?
And here are the production details . . .
WHAT: Ballard House Duet. A Custom Made Play Project & World Premiere
WHO: Written by Paul Mullin for actresses Hana Lass and Rebecca Olson; directed by Erin Kraft.
WHEN: December 7-17th, 2012, Thursdays through Mondays at 7:30pm; Sneak Peak Thursday Preview, December 6th @ 7:30pm
WHERE: 608 19th Avenue East, at The Little Theatre in Capitol Hill
TICKET INFORMATION: Tickets are $15-$25 and are available at the door or in advance at www.washingtonensemble.org.
Comments