SMOKEFALL
Hold it.
Be Grateful.
It won't last forever.
It's not supposed to.
-Colonel in Smokefall
Smokefall is an amazing read and I highly recommend anybody pick up (or if you're a producer, produce it!). The show really hit home for me, too, which obviously influenced how I contributed as a director. My co-director Jessica Hudson was a wonderful partner in making this semi-surrealist, magical realism experience come to life.
Cast
Fio Willis as Footnote, Fetus Two, and Samuel
Stevie Longacre as Violet
Mia Dennett and understudy Aubrey Johnson as Beauty
Ian Moore as Colonel and Johnny
Matthew Gwinner and understudy Sean Gorman as Daniel and Fetus One
Production
The show was produced by Empty Space Theatre and performed in a black box theatre, which was fortunate for Jessica and I because we wanted to do the show in the round, which the producers were in full support of. We had a 4 week rehearsal process with two understudies who had their own performance.
The designers and technicians were of great help. In the photo above is Alec Moore and co-TD Denise Ussery figuring out how to dress the set for the third act. Will Smith, co-TD, is in the back there doing the same.
I really can't stress enough how much work went into this show from technicians. They not only delivered, but they helped each other and everyone involved with the show deliver something wonderful.
Samuel (Fio Willis) sends his father, Johnny (Ian Moore), off to bury his grandfather before helping Beauty (Mia Dennett).
Beauty (Mia Dennett) shows off the remains of their father to Johnny (Ian Moore).
Fetus Two (Fio Willis) about to eviscerate Fetus One (Matthew Gwinner) in a tickle fight.
The family having breakfast while Footnote narrates. Actors from left to right: Stevie Longacre, Matthew Gwinner, Ian Moore, Mia Dennett, Fio Willis
Fetus One (Matthew Gwinner) chokes himself with his umbilical cord in the shocking climax in Act Two of Three.
Lullaby
Smokefall features an original lullaby sung by multiple characters, so I took it upon myself to write out that lullaby and here were some recordings I gave the actors to work with.
Production Team/Designers
| Directors: | Jessica Hudson & Trevor Andreasen |
| Stage Manager: | Wes Henderson |
| Assistant Stage Manager: | Delaney Davis |
| Costumes: | Lynnaya McClure |
| Assistant Costumes: | Jyavon Hill |
| Hair & Makeup: | Maëliss Larcher |
| Scenic: | Makayla Wenzel-Lake |
| Lighting: | Damien Page |
| Sound: | Lena Castro |
| Props: | Molly Bazar |
| Poster Design: | Ella Kempker |
Empty Space Theatre
| Artistic Director: | Adia Tolbert |
| Production Manager: | Renae Richmond |
| Co-Technical Director: | Denise Ussery |
| Co-Technical Director: | Will Smith |
| Marketing & Publicity: | Jade Almsberger |
| Literary Director: | Wes Henderson |
| Outreach: | Ian Moore |
Credit to Jade Almsberger for the production photos
