Based on the ninth book of Paradise Lost by John Milton, Blood of My Blood was a devised and immersive piece that retold the classic story of Adam and Eve through a grittier, more sexual, party animal lens
Audience members were guests at their wedding and were seated at one of several tables, with each table having a member of the cast seated alongside them. Audience members would be spoken to, danced with, or if you were lucky enough, taken into the bathroom by the illustrious Violet Memorial
It was loud, it was chaotic, but most of all it was, to quote the director, "a good ass time"
Though I would consider myself a very physical creator, I had never choreographed a show before, so to get the privilege to discover that area of my artistic self was extraordinary
Taking what I learned from Motus, I once again focused heavily on how the utilization of large masses of bodies onstage can either convey a story or a specific kind of feeling in the audience whether that be attraction, curiosity, or unease
Though movement pieces can be specific, I found the true joy in watching how each cast member added their own life into each movement section. The way everyone performed the same sequence was drastically different, and the more agency I allowed them to have, the more personal and invested they each became
I can't imagine I don't choreograph something in this manner again. It was the highlight of each of my days to be in the room of young people jumping and twirling through space
Design Team
Scenic Design by Sean Frank, Joe Burt
Costume Design by Jane Reagan, Maya Singer
Production Photos by Jackson Lasseter
Lighting Design by Sam Swagert
Prop Design by Jane Reagan
This was a show that from conception to final performance was infused with pleasure
It taught me that a show which entertains is not devoid of humanity, but that to truly play and be free requires us to be the most present, whether we are a performer or participant
Both the cast and crew made this experience one that I will hold close for a very long time (big shoutout to Maya though)
For brief moments it found that thing that I run for in theater
It found the human stuff
