REHEARSAL JOURNAL

Wednesday June 17th:

FIFTY WORDS: Aaron Anderson, CATF Fight Director worked with us in rehearsal. He watched the cast run-thru Scenes 1. 2. and 3. Then he helped us choreograph the violence/sex scenes based on the characters’ intentions and objectives in the scene. We had a very physical rehearsal. Joey Parsons who plays JAN and Tony Crane who plays ADAM were “fearless” in rehearsal. We encouraged each of them to not “self censor.” “Don’t self censor!” We encouraged them to trust their  choices…to trust their intuition…to make bold…strong choices based on the given circumstances in the script. They were  “scary” good. Aaron took their impulses and created a wild, dangerous, erotic, passionate “physical vocabulary.” He set up a very safe environment for some dangerous choreography. He slowly worked through each of the physical moments in the scene with Joey and Tony. It was really hard work and the actors maintained a high level of focus and concentration. This was a very physical and athletic rehearsal. It was also fun…we had a “blast” getting down and dirty with the scene. At one point during the rehearsal Joey just burst out laughing…uncontrollably. It was an amazing release of energy. Aaron told the actors to “Give yourself permission to scare each other.” He told me to “push the actors to scare each other.”

     Jan:     …risk me, risk me, risk my saying no, risk my anger, my resistance. For once in your life take me on and win me.

 We were totally exhausted after this rehearsal…our adrenaline was pumping at a high rate…I was starving.  Aaron is a joy to work with because he understands how to collaborate with the director and the actors. He gets his ideas and inspiration from the actors’ choices. He helps me to tell the story with his choreography. We had a productive and exciting rehearsal.

Ed Herendeen