Like the First Time, Every Time
Posted by Kimberly Senior on 8/24/2010
(Kimberly is the Director of The North Plan, a part of the 6th Annual First Look Repertory of New Work)
This is my third outing with First Look Repertory. My first was as the dramaturg on Keith Huff’s play, Pursued by Happiness, part of the 4th Annual Rep. Last year, I served as Program Director, and had the opportunity to work on all three astonishing plays and engage in the lively rehearsal room of each. This year, I’m directing one of the plays: The North Plan by Jason Wells, also participating in his third First Look.
But that’s the great thing about new play development: every time is the first time. It’s a lot like falling in love. There’s definitely the “crush” stage: oh-my-god-I-can’t-believe-this-play-is-sitting-this-close-to-me-that-I-can-hear-it-breathing! There’s tons and tons of flirting where playwright, director, and dramaturg coyly toss ideas around and see what might advance and expand the already great core of the play. And then there’s that first point of contact, the first touch that’s more than a casual brush across a forearm, usually first rehearsal, when hearing the latest draft aloud sends shivers down your spine.
And every time is the first time because, even though that really great song by (insert name of favorite love ballad band here) fits a lot of different relationships, it means something new each time. Even though we ask really similar questions in each new play development process - What’s this character’s point-of-view? How do we put that on stage? And why does this speak to us today? - every time feels distinct, as if no one had ever kissed these lips before. There’s an ephemeral quality that love and new plays share.
Ignoring our mothers’ best advice, we just jump right in and go all the way. With First Look, we get to experience all the impetuous romance new play development has to offer. And, sometimes, when the stars align, you find your perfect match.