Directing: The Shape of Things
Rehearsing in our apartment kitchens for Neil LaBute’s “The Shape of Things” was unlike any experience I’ve had before. Our production company, Bruth Media, presented this drama at the Alchemical TheatreLab in NYC in 2011. We were fortunate enough to sell out every night, after weeks of dedicated rehearsing in unorthodox spaces.
In LaBute’s classic hit, a bold love story blossoms between two college students, Adam and Evelyn, who pushes the boundaries of ownership and identity. Their unconventional love story intrigues the audience as Evelyn’s unpredictable behavior takes the audience by surprise. Yet their relationship begins to unravel when Adam discovers his girlfriend’s ulterior motives, which leads him to question their connection.
As director of this production, I was brought into a world of creative storytelling that I had only ever imagined. It was a grueling task to direct a show as complex and layered as this one, but with dedicated cast members, it soon became second nature. Chelsey Clime did a phenomenal job as Evelyn. She excelled in her ability to channel the witty and eccentric nature of her character while communicating LaBute’s honest themes of love and identity. Barry DeBois, Nick Fesette, and Karen Bray also gave top notch performances that made the piece feel new and vibrant.
Producing “The Shape of Things” pushed us out of our comfort zones, allowing us to explore the creative abilities of our entire team. The show’s success gave us the launch we needed to get Bruth Media off the ground, and for that we are forever grateful. We look forward to making more spectacular stories to captivate our audiences with in the future.
