Love/Sick: Exploring relationships through theater
Kiersten Fuhr - Photo and Graphics Manager
Get ready to see the many different aspects of relationships in Monmouth College Theatre’s next production Love/Sick by John Cariani; the second show produced in the Hewes Library Studio Theater. Love/Sick showcases 10 different episodic scenes that don’t appear connected at first, but when viewed together, chronicles the life cycle of a relationship, the ups and the downs.
The production was directed by students in THEA-377 Directing: Edrass Chavez-Alvarado, Jadyn Craig, Colin Kreipe, Calista Lythgoe, Dareann Pettis, Eric Pio, Emma Romano, Molly White, and Sam Zigmant, plus guest director Zesty Lythgoe. Each student had their own approach to directing and their individual scenes.
“Obsessive Compulsive is a comedic piece meant to show the complexities of how desire and fear can often lead us in the wrong direction,” said Zigmant. "The heart may want one thing, but the brain ultimately knows it can’t happen, whether because of practicality or disorder in the case of Man and Woman. Most of my directorial process has been making sure both actors are comfortable with each other, knowing how to go over boundaries correctly, and having stage intimacy be safe. I have had such a fun time with my actors and ASM, and the directing experience has been so rewarding.” – Sam Zigmant
“As a first-time director, I didn't know what to expect, but it has been a really enjoyable adventure. I have been able to rely on my previous theatre experience and all the things I have learned in the directing class to guide all of my directing decisions. I also have a wonderful team of actors and assistant stage managers that have made the process easier.” – Molly White
“As the first deaf, young woman in theater at Monmouth College who dreams of becoming a director, it gives me joy and honor to be a student-director for the scene, “The Answer,” from Love/Sick. I was inspired by the wonderful directing team in the previous years in college. The structure of the staging that I wanted them to portray embraces the silent cinema aesthetic with comedic, quirky moments while the core of the scene shared bittersweet love and light-heartiness. As a student-director, I am thrilled enough to expand my horizons from being a sign shadower which I love to a director and share with the audience on our opening weekend by exploring the unique love story between Keith and Celia.” – Dareann Pettis
“Learning to collaborate with eight peers (whose creative processes vary so greatly from my own,) fostered a classroom vibrant with the exchange of ideas. A challenge (or opportunity) arose when navigating how to guide actors (who in most cases were our classmates and friends) to embody the scenes' nuances. The work was taxing but so rewarding. Getting to witness the live transformation from static script to striking performance was profoundly gratifying, and it reinforced my passion for storytelling while also helping me develop a tremendous appreciation for the teamwork required of collaborative processes (which an art like theatre is so completely).” – Edrass Chavez-Alvarado
Love/Sick opens Friday, November 22 at 7:30, with additional performances on Saturday, November 23 at 7:30 and Sunday, November 24 at 2. The show has sold all its tickets, but an additional matinee has been added on Saturday at 2.