June has been the month of new play development, and I couldn’t have been more thrilled!
Collaborating with Rising Circle Theater Collective was a pure joy. The workshop production of Have Sari. Will Travel! by Deepa Purohit was an amazing experience. From full rewrites daily to the incredibly talented team to working towards honoring the story of Sri Lankan jazz singer Yolande Bavan (who was in it playing herself!) made the process one to remember.
Adding into the fact that our team was predominately artists of color and women of color, was nothing but remarkable. It is something that shouldn’t be as rare as it is in the theater industry.
I’ve also dabbled in the world of producing with 2g (Second Generation) as I helped line produce their reading of Leah Nanako Winkler’s God Said This. A beautiful play that features characters from her earlier play Kentucky. Even with a 2:30pm reading on a Monday, we got a really strong turn out and responsive audience. This is definitely a play to keep your eye on.
Next up for July is the new musical Generation Me written by Julie Soto, Will Finan, and Ryan Warren! It’ll be presented in the New York Musical Festival. With a full musical, festival set up, and a cast of teenagers–I’ll be busy on deck as Assistant Stage Manager.
Stand by for more.
Jonathan Castanien 