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from Mara Mihlfried, Associate Director of Marketing

“This is always my least favorite day, because everybody looks at me like I know something…but I don’t.”

So began Director Amy Morton at the first rehearsal of Awake and Sing! earlier this afternoon. I always love first rehearsal - the entire cast, production team and staff are invited to “meet-and-greet” each other, followed by informal presentations by the designers to describe some of the production elements (that they’ve already been working on for months) to the rest of us, and then a read-thru by the cast - for most of us, the first time we’ve ever heard the play out loud. Though many of us on the staff spend much of our time sitting in cubicles and working on computers - much like any office - first rehearsal is a time when we all come together and are reminded why we’re all here. And reminded that it takes all of us - on the stage, behind the scenes, and in the office - to make every production happen.

Awake and Sing! is a beautiful play - I’ve been excited about it since our Artistic team made the choice to include it in our season about this time last year. And Amy Morton, (though I confess, I can’t look at her without picturing her screaming at her August: Osage County family “I’m running things now!”) is an amazing artist who I’m thrilled is working here at Northlight. Contrary to her opening statement, clearly she knows a lot. I’m looking forward to seeing her vision take shape.

from BJ Jones

The importance of intiatives like Interplay for theatres like Northlight is vital.  So often a playwright would truly relish a reading, provided by sensitive and supportive artists and theatres where the work is appreciated and the environment is safe. That is the goal for us here at Northlight. The delight for me is in the opportunity to acquaint myself with these artists and to work with them in close quarters.

That paragraph is part of an article I wrote for The New Play Times in Fall 2007.   In the two years since then, I’m proud to say that many of our Interplay readings have gone on to productions around the country - most recently, Lisa Dillman’s Ground has been selected to appear at the prestigious Humana Festival of New American Plays this spring.  And as we get ready for our next reading on Monday, Katori Hall’s Saturday Night/Sunday Morning, I’m reminded again of how important Interplay is.

Read my full article for more of my thoughts on the struggle for and importance of new work.  And I hope you’ll join us for an Interplay reading this season.  I’d love to see you there.

More anon,

Beej