by Kirby Lindsay Laney, posted 27 November 2015
Traditional Christmas may be falling into myth as we all bring our own cultural variations, and baggage, to the holiday season. At West Of Lenin (WofL,) this December has a variety of holiday inspired shows, created by some of the most talented and creative minds in Seattle.
Playing In Progress, and it’s founder Rachel Delmar, have planned a month of entertainment at Fremont’s alternative black box theater with two shows guaranteed to delight, and challenge, audiences. “I’m calling it a takeover,” explained Delmar, who works year ‘round at WofL as the Communications Manager.
For December, Delmar has booked Playing In Progress’ fifth annual ‘Snowglobed’ on the WofL main stage, Friday and Saturday nights, December 4th – 19th. As a director, Delmar will bring the full-length, immersive play ‘For Christmas’, written by Nick Edwards, to the upstairs WofL Studio, late nights on Fridays and Saturdays, and Sunday evenings, from December 4th – 20th. Finally, Delmar has commissioned local artists for works to be displayed in the WofL Gallery, their art having been inspired and, “based off one of the plays of ‘Snowglobed,’” she explained.
Expanded, And Immersive, Theater
Playing In Progress has produced ‘Snowglobed’, an evening of theater and spectacle, annually at venues around Seattle – showing it once before at WofL. ‘For Christmas,’ started as one of the 10-minute one-acts, written by Edwards and directed by Delmar, first staged for the 2014 ‘Snowglobed.’
Following its premiere last year, Edwards – an emerging playwright – decided to continue to expand ‘For Christmas’. Delmar encouraged him, and she’s worked with him, the original cast (of Ben Burris and Trevor Young Marston) and two actors added for the expanded full-length play; a finished play that Delmar praised for its accuracy with its historic, and iconic, figures. Born on Christmas Day, Nick Edwards’ has an unusual perspective on the holiday and its traditions. He’s also proven to be a careful researcher, who wrote this script complete with biblical footnotes.
‘For Christmas’ takes place in Jesus’ studio apartment, which the audience will enter and seat themselves on furniture scattered about the room. “It’s very environmental,” Delmar explained, “Immersive.” The play will allow the audience to feel a part of the piece, and the action, without the conventional division of a ‘curtain’. According to Delmar, the choice to make the piece immersive came from early rehearsals of the play in Delmar’s apartment, where actors would pick up objects from around the room to advance the story. Immersive theater gives audiences a closer connection to theater works, and has proven very popular – according to Delmar, Seattle Immersive Theatre often sells out – but in this case it will limit the size of the audience to only 15.
On Fridays & Saturdays, ‘For Christmas’ will be staged late-nights at WofL. “This could easily have been main staged,” Delmar said, yet the play works for late-night because of its quick pacing. “There is not a slow moment in this show,” Delmar said, “There is constantly something to pay attention to.”
An Evening’s Performance Experience
‘Snowglobed’ offers audiences another five short plays, along with a variety of other performances by rotating guest artists providing music, dance, burlesque and/or other arts – all inspired by the holidays. ‘Snowglobed’ “is definitely the holiday alternative option,” for those suffering from Nutcracker/Dickens exhaustion, Delmar offered. Yet, it isn’t a night of straight theater. “I try to create an experience,” she said, “It’s not just a play.”
This year, Delmar asked Emily Penick to direct ‘Snowglobed’, and the five plays written by a variety of local playwrights (Nicky Davis, K. Brian Neel, Kelleen Conway Blanchard, Benjamin Benne, and Pilar O’Connell,) and performed by an ensemble of six actors. The plays incorporate puppetry, shadow theater, and dance elements, they span centuries, use different writing styles and they all give alternative views on aspects of the many holiday celebrations this month, in the stories they tell. “The talent involved is really amazing,” Delmar said, of the writers, actors, performers and crew (30+ artists) that work to make ‘Snowglobed’ a memorable
“One of the things that is always so wonderful,” Delmar observed about the randomness of the works submitted, “is that the plays always fit together.” Delmar, and Penick, don’t curate the show – the plays come from friends whose works Delmar enjoys and playwrights Delmar admires – but every year some ‘Christmas magic’ always seems to bind the varied works together. “There is this very lyrical sense to it,” Delmar explained about the show this year. “Whatever it is,” she says of the cohesiveness, “It has happened every year.”
Opportunities For Creating Theater
Playing In Progress has brought both ‘For Christmas’ and ‘Snowglobed’ to WofL, in keeping with its mission to facilitate plays. Delmar began Playing In Progress to give herself, and others, opportunities to create new theatrical experiences. She began it because, “I needed a way to work as a director. As an actor, you can work on monologues and practice your craft; as a director, until you can get a room of people together, you can’t direct.”
Since graduating, Delmar has found opportunities to direct smaller theater works, but mid-level and big theater remain elusive. “I did not want to jump through hoops for people,” Delmar said of working her way up through the system, and serving under big name directors. “I’ve always been one to batter down doors,” she said, and as a result she’s had great experiences, “but unpaid internships don’t even necessarily lead to work.”
Playing In Progress, in partnership with Shunpike, gives opportunities for Delmar and others to work on the plays, as actors, designers and stage managers, that inspire. Delmar can choose to follow up on works that inspire her, as in the case of ‘For Christmas.’ “I wanted to do more with the piece,” she explained, and through Playing In Progress, and with WofL theater, she can.
‘Snowglobed’ gives her a chance to work with, and provide opportunities, , to even more playwrights and performers – and to give audiences opportunities to see works that otherwise might not get a shown.
Purchase tickets now to ‘Snowglobed’ and ‘For Christmas’ to be sure to get seats for everyone, particularly as the holidays grow closer and the demand gets greater. Get a discount when you purchase tickets to both shows. Brown Paper Tickets can sell tickets on-line to Snowglobed (click here) and For Christmas (click here.)
Make this a non-traditional holiday season by attending two evenings of exciting, creative theater!
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