Addicted to Stage Management

I’m sure too many people start blogging by talking about how strange the whole blogging experience is for them, so I’ll skip that part and dive straight into what I’m actually here to talk about: a fantastic little show called “Addicted: A Comedy of Substance.”

Honestly, when I thought about what stage managing this show would mean for me, my time, and my personal life, I was pretty convinced that taking it on was probably not the best idea…that is, until I read the script. It didn’t take long for me to realize how important it was to tell this story because it was surprisingly close to my heart. I was amazed at how much a 21-year-old scholarship-earning university student, raised by extremely loving, supportive parents, in an upper middle class setting, could identify with Mark Lundholm. I wasn’t seeing him as a case study in a psychology class; I was seeing him as someone very dear to me who simply made different choices.

The moment that cemented my absolute necessity to be part of this project was when Aaron, our director, was talking about perceived reflections, and what an addict might see when standing in front of a mirror. Well, I’m not sure exactly what happened in that moment, but I suddenly felt my eyes starting to well up with tears, and I KNEW this wasn’t just another play.

Having worked with both Aaron and Richard last November, the past few rehearsals have felt like being home again. Sure, the tone of this show is completely different, and a three-person rehearsal taking place in a living room is also unlike what we’ve done in the past. At the same time though, this kind of intimate situation demands that the work be personal for all of us, so the fact that we know each other has made it easy to just delve into the script without hesitation, which in itself is extremely valuable.

Anyway, I’m extremely excited to see our one-man show come to fruition and I’m enjoying every step of the way. Keep checking back for tales about the production of this tragically hilarious (or hilariously tragic?) show. Until next time!