JIMMY MAIZE, director of THE TEMPEST, stops by NextGen

Last week at the NextGen meeting the students had a chance to talk with the director of CSC’s upcoming production of The Tempest, Jimmy Maize. Jimmy was also the director of CSC’s Much Ado About Nothing. First Jimmy prompted the students to go around the room and describe the most memorable moment of theater they have experienced so far, many citing CSC productions from this year and years past, particularly moments in which they felt a personal connection to the action onstage, moments they found extremely funny, and visually stunning stage pictures.

From there Jimmy was able to guide the conversation towards his thoughts on why specific moments in productions stay with us, and talk about how thinking of these powerful moments can impact his choices as a director. The students were filled with different questions to ask Jimmy about the upcoming production, and about being a professional director. The group discussed some of the themes in the play, the ability to cross gender cast various roles, and one of the play’s most interesting characters, Caliban. The group briefly examined one of Caliban’s most famous speeches. The speech is interesting because it captures the beauty of Caliban's words even though he is considered to be physically ugly. Caliban is a challenging role for a director to work on, because he is full of so much contrast. He is both a man and an animal, both a beast capable of trying to rape Miranda, and a creature capable of speaking in beautiful language. It is extremely important for the designers and directors to find a way to convey the imagery that Shakespeare's audience was accustomed to hearing with visuals for today's audeinces (Elizabethan audiences spoke of going to "hear" a play, while a modern audience speaks of going to "see" a play. 

Be not afeard. The isle is full of noises,

Sounds and sweet airs that give delight and hurt not.

Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments

Will hum about mine ears, and sometime voices

That, if I then had waked after long sleep, 

Will make me sleep again; and then, in dreaming,

The clouds methought would open, and show riches

Ready to drop upon me, that when I waked,

I cried to dream again.

Jimmy talked about what it is like to collaborate with not only a cast of talented actors, but a team of different designers as well. The Tempest’s design team will include a costume designer, set designer, lighting and projection designer, sound designer, as well as a choreographer. While classic plays don’t always feature choreography and projections, Jimmy talked about how he will use these design elements to make the play more accessible to a young audience.

As the discussion wrapped up the NextGen students began to get an idea of which member of the production they would like to interview in the coming months, whether it be a specific designer or an actor in the show. At next week’s meeting they will get a chance to officially decide who to interview, as well as began preparation for the first TEEN TAKEOVER performance, featuring $10 tickets and a talkback with the artists, for A MAN’S A MAN on Sunday, January 19^th at 3pm at CSC. To book your tickets for TEEN TAKEOVER check out: http://www.classicstage.org/nextgen/ for more information!