Rebecca Burnham

I’m doing a deeper dive into Hadestown here. Hadestown suggests that our societal ills are caused by the neglect and eventual loss of human connection, and that this results in the compulsive pursuit of cold comforts that can never fill the emptiness we’ve been trying to flee.

In terms of what it produces, Setting the Blocking (Step 5 in organic rehearsals) may look more like traditional forms of directing than the previous steps (Reading Rehearsal, Communion Rehearsal, Walk & Talk Rehearsal, and Scene Combing). What’s different is that it comes quite a bit later in the rehearsal process and so it needs a different approach; one that is more collaborative and promises a deeper connection for both actors and audience.

I’m celebrating this week with a heart that is full of hope, especially after the Braver Angels Convention in Philadelphia that I attended last week. It was an experience like I’ve never had before. I gathered with approximately 800 others who believe that our differences are not as important as our belonging to each other and that our very future depends on our learning to embrace each other and problem-solve together.