The Department of Theatre's latest new work project, "Liminal," is truly interdisciplinary.
Directors Alexandra Harbold and Rob Scott Smith explain: "The project’s roots began with our desire to create work with filmmakers Sonia and Miriam Albert-Sobrino. We had long admired their work from afar and recognized the new works project as the perfect opportunity to reach out and invite them to play. In an early brainstorming session, Sonia and Miriam proposed the idea of “liminal” as the spine of our shared storytelling—the idea of being not quite here/not quite there—which felt immediate and resonant with the oscillating knowns and unknowns of our post (?) pandemic reality."
And so "Liminal" was born: a stage component, as well as a developing film that will function as companion pieces as his project continues to grow and develop.
The stage play was written by Troy Deutsch, based on an original ideas by the Also Sisters—internationally-recognized filmmakers, multimedia storytellers, and Assistant Professors in the Film and Media Arts—and developed with the assistance of local playwright Brandan Ngo and Plan B Theatre’s Theatre Artists of Color Writing Workshop.
As Chair Sydney Cheek-O'Donnell shares in her program note, "With 'Liminal,' the department is experimenting with a different brand of new play development: work that is collaboratively authored by an ensemble of actors, playwrights, directors, designers, and technicians...When paired, the film and the play will become a 'transmedia' piece, straddling the apparent divide between theatre and film."
The Department of Theatre hopes that this project leads to additional new work and collaboration opportunities for students in the department, while also providing means and inspiration for us to engage meaningfully and productively with the wider arts community.