Beginning with Coya Paz

originally posted at the DCA Theater's blog on 9/2/11

Yesterday was the first rehearsal/workshop for The Americans, a piece that I am working on with Halcyon Theatre as part of the DCA Theater Incubator Series. (Whoa. THAT was a mouthful.) The Americans is an ensemble-driven, interview-based piece that explores national identities in the United States. What does *that* mean? Well… we’ll find out! So far, there’s no real script, and 26 days to put it together. What follows is a reenactment of a post-rehearsal conversation with one of my actors:

Him: So, yeah… I don’t think I realized we were not going to be working with a script.

Me: You know that old joke about the three traumas experienced by immigrants when they get to the United States? 1.) The streets aren’t paved with gold; 2.) The streets aren’t paved at all; and 3.) YOU are expected to pave them? That’s kind of what it’s like to work with me. 1.) The script isn’t made out of gold; 2.) There’s no script at all; and 3.) I expect YOU to write it!

Stay posted if you’re curious about how we start from almost nothing besides a HUGE topic! And rehearsals are OPEN to the public if you want to observe: Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7-9pm.