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The co-founder of Soul of Broadway and United Colors of Arizona Theatre, Chanel Bragg, has 15 years of manufacturing below her belt.
She was a featured director on the Phoenix Theatre Firm’s Pageant of New American Theatre, the place she helmed “Enferma” and “Click on Bait” and produced and directed “The Alexander Challenge,” a touring “Hamilton” revue that visited Phoenix and Tucson.
Bragg just lately directed an all-Black manufacturing of August Wilson’s “The Piano Lesson” for Pima Group Faculty as her first present in Tucson. This month, she’s tackling Tennessee Williams’ iconic reminiscence play, “The Glass Menagerie.”
The Arizona Theatre Firm will stage the play in Tucson from Saturday, Jan. 21, to Saturday, Feb. 11, and in Phoenix from Thursday, Feb. 16, to Sunday, March 5.
The present tells the story of the Wingfield household, who love one another however try to flee from their harsh circumstances in their very own methods.
Within the play, Amanda Wingfield, an eccentric, light Southern belle who was left by her husband, is preoccupied with looking for a match for her daughter, Laura. Her daughter suffers from emotional and bodily fragility attributable to pleurosis as a teen.
The 2 reside in a rundown condo with Tom, Amanda’s son and Laura’s older brother. He works at a shoe warehouse to help his household and writes by evening. Tom acts because the narrator, exhibiting the previous via his eyes.
The present is about in 1937, when the nation was simply beginning to emerge from the Nice Melancholy. Within the play, Tom displays on occasions occurring on the earth.
Bragg mentioned via Tom’s recollections, she wished to indicate the thoughts’s unreliability. Bragg mentioned that whereas the present is about this household, it’s also a social commentary.
All through her profession, Bragg has tried to be concerned in tasks with a bigger message about society.
“It’s a type of my activism,” Bragg mentioned. “I love to do reveals that speak about issues which might be vital and issues that matter on the earth. This story is so generally felt by everybody, however that is actually a narrative a couple of household that’s struggling to make it.”
Bragg mentioned the play is difficult as a result of it’s comparable to a private look into Williams’ relationship together with his sister, Rose.
“It’s a real love letter to her, however it’s additionally a second for him to actually deal and work via how he felt he ought to have been there extra for her,” Bragg mentioned.
“When you’re paralleling it to the playwright’s precise life, alongside what’s within the textual content, it’s an attractive tribute, however it’s additionally very heartbreaking. I wish to play the reality of the state of affairs. These households exist. This sort of heartbreak exists.”
Bragg mentioned, for her, the present is finally about love, which she wished to indicate via smaller, intimate moments between the characters.
In a single scene, Laura takes care of Tom, taking off his sneakers and getting him tucked in when he is available in inebriated.
Amanda and Tom have a sophisticated relationship as a result of he has taken on a parental position within the household. Whereas they quarrel, there are additionally tender mother-son moments. In a single scene, the 2 stand collectively and take a look at the moon.
Bragg can relate to Tom as a result of she grew up with a single-parent mother and needed to tackle a number of the parental tasks in her family.
“After I was in highschool, it was laborious for me to shake that I wasn’t her equal as a result of I helped to boost my brothers,” Bragg mentioned.
In “The Glass Menagerie,” lighting and music differentiate between the characters and the time intervals.
“The music is an embodiment of who they’re,” Bragg mentioned.
“Tom’s tends to be slightly bit extra moody and unhappy, whereas Amanda’s music when she’s occupied with the times again within the South, the music is extra boisterous. … Now we have a theme for Laura as properly. And, in fact, the gentleman caller, who’s the only embodiment of hope.”
“I might say (Laura’s) is actually extra lyrical in that it has its highs and lows. She is such a mild and fragile character. I would like all people to listen to the music change when she is affected by various things. We’re utilizing music like an extra character within the present.”
In a dinner scene the place Laura meets with potential suitor Jim, one among Tom’s work colleagues, each Laura’s and Amanda’s costumes match with their personalities.
Amanda dons a cotillion-style Southern gown, and Laura wears a gown that’s reflective of her fragility.
All through a lot of the present, the costumes spotlight how the household is poor and dwelling in poverty. Considered one of Amanda’s costumes is a once-beautiful nightgown coat that has grow to be light.
A “Paradise” signal looming over the set additionally has nice that means throughout the present.
“The signal will flicker, brighten up and minimize out abruptly. It’s used as a tool any time we’re reflecting again to the theme that the characters are reaching for and wanting however by no means fairly in a position to acquire,” Bragg mentioned.
The manufacturing contains a various solid of actors. Bragg selected the actors based mostly on how properly they match the elements and their chemistry with one another.
“So simple as it’s, I simply employed one of the best. I wished to guarantee that our actors had an equal taking part in subject, so I regarded nationally and I regarded domestically. … I actually targeted in the course of the audition course of on who actually understands these characters and who actually embodies them,” Bragg mentioned.
Bragg, who’s a second-generation Arizonan, hopes to supply probabilities for native and out-of-state actors.
“Expertise additionally lies right here in abundance. The chance for our native actors to work on our stage is actually particular. We get to pair one of the best of our neighborhood with one of the best of nationwide expertise and placed on lovely work,” Bragg mentioned.
Bragg is the primary African American girl to tackle the position of affiliate creative director for the Arizona Theatre Firm.
For years, she has tried to convey extra inclusivity and variety into the theater world. She plans to proceed this work with ATC.
“There’s not loads of alternatives that come for individuals who appear to be me,” Bragg mentioned.
“Me being there’s historic event. I get to indicate younger BIPOC actors and actresses that there’s room for you on the desk, and you may get an opportunity to place your imaginative and prescient on the market and see it actualized. The tales that you’re making an attempt to inform matter. That may be a private mission of mine. I’m so grateful for Arizona Theatre Firm that they allowed me to totally be myself and share the issues which might be vital to me with the neighborhood. Illustration and inclusion are on the forefront for me.”
Arizona Theatre Firm’s Manufacturing of “The Glass Menagerie”
WHEN: Varied instances Saturday,
Jan. 21, to Saturday, Feb. 11
WHERE: Temple of Music and Artwork,
330 S. Scott Avenue, Tucson
PRICE: Tickets begin at $25.
WHEN: Varied instances Thursday,
Feb. 16, to Sunday, March 5
WHERE: Herberger Theater Heart, 222 E. Monroe Avenue, Phoenix
PRICE: Tickets begin at $25
INFO: 1-833-282-7328, atc.org
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