I was so grateful to be asked to work with The NOW Collective to help them reignite a script for the stunning Alexis Shaetzle. This story was an introspective piece on grief, loss, and a sister's bond.

One scene in particular was perplexing one of my astounding actors Terilyn Elise Eisenhower who played the role of Wanda. She pulled me aside mere minutes before the performance to admit that she was struggling with her monologue. This monologue came at the climax of the play (as most monologues do/we love a spotlight moment) after her and her sister had been antagonizing one another. Wanda felt the need to defend herself to her sister, explaining her past with a boy who is mentioned, but not met in the play. Terilyn confessed that although the story Wanda was telling was heart breaking and emotional for her – she couldn’t figure out what it had to do with the scene.

I immediately sat down with her to help her see the bigger picture. With the privilege of having the writer in the room, I could have easily sought out Alexis for her guidance, or even (as I’ve seen so many directors do) ask her to cut it because it “didn’t work.” Even typing those options out makes me sick to my stomach. I believe that if I had done either of those things it would have made me a failure of a director.

Instead, Terilyn and I explored the bigger picture of the scene, and the moment in the play that this monologue comes up to find the answer to her “why”. We established that Daisy, Wanda’s sister, would be leaving town shortly and was trying to antagonize her sister.

I said, “Maybe Daisy is bothering her as an attempt to get Wanda to admit that she wants her to stay.” 

Terilyn responded, “But she doesn’t ever say that.” 

And I said, “But maybe that’s what Wanda thinks she’s doing. And that’s why she explains herself to Daisy so that she will realize that Wanda is on her team and there’s no need for Daisy to berate her or push her away.”

“Does she want Daisy to stay?”, Terilyn asked. 

“I don’t know, does she?”, I said. 

“But Daisy leaves anyway,” she proposed. 

“Sometimes we don’t always get what we want.”

And with this, Terilyn realized Wanda was using these words as a tactic to get Daisy to understand that her sister is human. And wants her to love her anyway. This choice was beautiful and apparent in that night's performance. 

Directing is so much more than telling people where to stand on stage. I’m so happy that I was able to create a safe and explorative environment for my collaborators to feel confident enough to share their thoughts and opinions to help tell a beautiful story in unity.