The Shape She Makes: In Workshop

Hey this is Bobby Cius here, one of the Marketing interns at the A.R.T. I’ve been involved in theater at my High School, Cambridge Rindge and Latin, for about 2 years now and this is my fifth week working at the A.R.T. After dropping in on the exploratory workshop of The Shape She Makes, I have realized that all the behind-the-scenes fun doesn’t only occur in high school theater.   The group of people involved in this production seem be really cool and friendly towards each other. Their sense of community and familiarity with each other is very strong and makes me want to delve further into acting.

In rehearsal, I noticed that individual groups of the cast were reviewing different parts of the choreography and helping each other with specific parts or moves. Although a lot of work was done, the rehearsal seemed to be very relaxed and laid back. Everyone was able to keep a good balance between fun and focus and was able to cooperate without causing issues. I was also allowed to see them work on the very beginning of the play. The choreographed movement was amazing, as was the acting.

Later, the choreographer, Susan Misner, was reviewing a certain piece of the show and fiddled with some of the choreography and music until the movement, music and story all seemed to intertwine beautifully. She explained how the movement reflects the feelings of the characters in the story and how a specific moment could be brought to life through the way you move your body. As a dancer myself, one of the most important things I took away from rehearsal was how you can express more than one emotion simultaneously with different parts of the body.

If all of this came from a single rehearsal, I can’t imagine how phenomenal the production is going to be. From the energy of the movement, to the life of the music, to the emotion in the acting, I was completely in awe of what was before me! I am really looking forward to seeing more and I am glad to say that this has been a great learning experience so far!

The Shape She Makes, created by choreographer Susan Misner and writer/director Jonathan Bernstein, tells the story of a precocious 11-year old seeking to understand what she’s inherited from her absent father and neglectful mother. This profoundly moving and heart wrenching production uses a fusion of dance and theater to explore hot the echoes of childhood relentlessly shape our lives. The Shape She Makes will have its world premiere at OBERON, the second stage of the American Repertory Theater – performances begin April 5, 2014.