PROGRAM:

NOV. 1-3, 2018
@WESTCO CAFÉ

CAST

Statue: Emily Bloomfield
Artist: William Miner

BUSKER CHORUS

Violin: Sophia Andreadis
Guitar: Gabriel Ballard
Ukulele: Hannah Berman
Ukulele: Sophie Charles
Guitar: Matt Grimaldi
Flute: Kate Louderback
Guitar: Sara McCrea
Guitar, Violin: Yudai Miyamoto
Ukulele: Maren Westguard

DIRECTOR/MUSIC TEAM

Co-Directors: Nathan Pugh, Jonesy Moore
Dramaturg: Eliza Wilkins
Stage Manager: Talia Feldscher
Assistant Stage Manager: Sophie Linnett
Production Manager: Rowan Hair
Music Directors: Olivia Lopez, Andrew Northrop, Ayan Zamil, Tessa Zitter
Orchestrator: Sophia Charles
Conductor/Pianist: Ayan Zamil
Percussionist: Clay Rodgers

DESIGN TEAM

Set: Sophie Charles
Lights: Joaquina Guevara
Costumes: Lizzie Edwards
Hair/Makeup: Shirley Sullivan
Props: Mitzi Adler-Wachter
Sound: Jack Warren
Poster Design: Lena Gwendolyn
Master Electrician: Michayla Robertson-Pine
Master Carpenter: Max Sanborn
Carpenter: Sofia Serber
Light Board Operator: Quinn Devita
Sound Technician/Operator: Molly Watstein

PROJECTIONS/PHOTOGRAPHY

Director of Photography: Jake Brodsky
Video Editor: Olivia Lopez
Videographer: Jonesy Moore
Photographer: Shantel Sosa

TRACK LIST

“three things” - Buskers

“portland” - Statue

“wondering” - Statue/Artist

“sweetness of sound” - Buskers

“butterflies” - Statue

“magic” - Buskers

“why” - Statue/Artist

“move on” - All

“secret” - Statue/Buskers

“bloom (reprise)” – Statue

NOTE FROM KATIE LOPEZ (PLAYWRIGHT)

“the origin of a story is always an absence” -jonathan safran foer

I wrote bloom in Introduction to Playwriting, taught by Professor Sanchez, last spring. I was inspired by singer- songwriter, performer, and activist Amanda Palmer, and her daily job as“the bride”, or “Eight Foot”, dressing up as a statue and standing completely still in Harvard Square, handing people flowers. Olivia and I both took her course “The Art of Doing” last fall and from it learned so much about not only art but also life.

Street performing is very special to me, and it is sometimes the only way that many artists and musicians can make a living. As a busker myself, I have experienced just how raw and personal it can be to perform in front of random people in a public setting. I also want to honor these struggling yet passionate artists who are often overlooked on the streets or in city squares.

Friendship, love, and loss are all themes in bloom. There is nothing like an encouraging, inspiring, and loving best friend; someone who helps you find your voice. Losing a best friend is one of the hardest things to experience, and I hope I can reach those who have experienced this loss. As Olivia writes in the song secret, “I’ll play my favorite song and you’ll be / Over my shoulder you’re right next to me.”

This show would not be possible without the hard work and dedication of directors Nathan and Jonesy, lead actors (and musicians!) Emily and William, stage managers Talia and Sophie, music directors Ayan, Tessa, Andrew, and Olivia, dramaturg Eliza, and our wonderful buskers and production team. And, of course, the amazing songs written by my twin sister, Olivia. Thank you for all for bringing bloom to life!

NOTE FROM NATHAN PUGH (CO-DIRECTOR)

“Tending to our wounds is central to loving. Love is richer when it comes with an understanding of pain endured, of mortality faced, of chasms crossed.” -Quiara Alegría Hudes

For me, creating art is always about grappling with identity. There’s something singular about a theatrical space. The way in which it allows fantasy and reality collide in exciting, entrancing, and even musical ways allows me to explore my own life in ways that I am forever grateful for. I used to think theater was a way escaping my reality; now I understand that it’s a way to work through it.

That’s the journey that the main character of this show, the “Statue,” undertakes. When she dresses up as a statue and performs in the street, she is allowed to do two things: escape into another person, and also perform her own identities (as an emerging artist and woman) in a heightened theatricality. As the show progresses she begins to understand the way in which the very “mask” she hides behind doesn’t have to limit her. In fact, the act of admitting that she’s struggling with this “mask” connects her to a larger community of people. Yes, bloom is a love story. But more than anything, it’s about a woman falling in love with herself.

As a queer man of color, I approached this play from a different perspective than Katie and Olivia. But because of the generosity of their story, it’s been thrilling to see how the struggles they write about apply across identities, and to work with a women-centric creative team and cast. One of my goals with this show was also to open up the musical theater genre to a wider group of people—and I hope that we have achieved that. As female singer songwriters like Brittain Ashford (The Great Comet) and Anais Mitchell (Hadestown) enter into Broadway, it’s exciting to see Emily Bloomfield, Olivia Lopez, and Katie Lopez all take the traditional musical and push the form into new directions.

Working on this show has been a creative dream and I am so grateful for the opportunity to open up the collaborative space we’ve created to an even larger audience. Thank you so much for coming!