2024 Directors' Showcase

The Centre for Drama, Theatre & Performance Studies presents its 2024 DRM402 Directors’ Showcase featuring three short plays presented over two evenings and one matinee performance in a Fringe Festival style theatrical event from November 22 to 24, 2024. The titles of the three productions, play descriptions, production and cast teams can be found below. The Directors’ Showcase is a capstone course which gives student directors the opportunity to flex their muscle onstage at the Playhouse. The shows also feature lighting, sound and projection designs from our fourth-year production students, and set, props, and costume designs from our fourth-year design students.

There will also be an opening night reception on November 22, 2024.

Admission is free! To learn more visit uoft.me/2024DirectorsShowcase

Shows will run at the following dates and times:
Friday, Nov. 22, 7:30 PM
Saturday, Nov. 23, 7:30 PM
Sunday, Nov. 24, 2:00 PM

Each show is approximately 20 to 30 minutes with a total run time of approximately 1 hour 30 minutes.

The shows will run in the following order: The Worker, Suppressed Desires, Pool (No Water).

The Worker is a dark comedy set in a near-present future. After a series of cutbacks at the Company, a worker and their partner try to manage the demands of the job without losing their heads. A satirical look at survival and human connection under the tightening fist of corporate power.

Please note: This production contains a brief scene depicting domestic violence, including emotional and physical abuse. This scene may be distressing for some audience members. Viewer discretion is advised. If you wish to avoid viewing this content, please feel free to step outside and rejoin us for the next play.

Creative Team:
Playwright: Walter Wykes
Director: Mika Deneige
Set Designer: Abigail Kowalski
Costume Designer: Abigail Kowalski
Lighting Designer: Xinyi Zhang
Sound Designer: Casper Yang
Intimacy Coordinator: TBD
Stage Manager: Xinyi Zhang
Assistant Set and Costume Designer: Adele Thomson

Cast:
The Worker: Erika Dowd
The Partner: Grace Keeping
The Messenger: Emily Beaubien

Suppressed Desires satirizes Psychoanalysis, a theory developed by Sigmund Freud which involves analyzing people’s dreams and behaviours to determine their “suppressed desire.” Henrietta insists that both her husband Stephen and her sister Mabel go get psychoanalyzed. But when they finally do get “psyched,” Henrietta is shocked by the results. As psychoanalysis threatens to destroy relationships and family ties, the absurdity of their situation is taken to new heights.

Creative Team:
Playwrights: Susan Glaspell and George Cram Cook
Director: Athena McIsaac
Set Designer: Amitis Mashayekhi
Costume Designer: Valeria MacGregor-Ordonez
Lighting Designer: Niamh Moll
Sound Designer: Winston Zang
Stage Manager: Niamh Moll
Assistant Stage Manager: Winston Zang

Cast:
Henrietta: Isabella Black
Stephen: Soroosh Kahnemuyipour
Mabel: Priscilla Dhaussy

“A pool. She had a pool.” Set in the 2000s, in an age shifting from physical to digital media, a friend group of artists navigate their feelings as one finds fame and success, flying above the others. For one night only the group is backkkk toooogetherrr, drinking and reminiscing, and sk-iii-nn-eeee-dippp-pinninggg. But a tragic accident puts an end to the nostalgia and begins the story of artistic ambition, jealousy, and exploitation…?

Please note: This show contains strong language and the use of a fog machine.

Creative Team:
Playwright: Mark Ravenhill
Director: Rebecca Robitaille
Set Designer: Salma Wennekers
Costume Designer: Salma Wennekers
Lighting Designer: Jingyuan (Jessie) Chen
Projection Designer: Liz So
Sound Designer: Sichun Xia
Stage Manager: Sichun Xia
Assistant stage manager: Jingyuan (Jessie) Chen
Assistant Lighting and Sound Designer: Hero Emmanuel Dela Cruz

Cast:
Artemis Riedmueller
Tessa Kramer
Madeleine Thompson
Farah Fatola

For more information, visit uoft.me/2024DirectorsShowcase. If you have any questions, please contact [email protected].

Host or Publisher Centre for Drama, Theatre and Performance Studies, University of Toronto