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This session marked the ensemble’s final dress rehearsal before opening night. With the production nearly ready, the ensemble focused on running the show from beginning to end and practicing how to keep the performance moving when things do not go exactly as planned.

After check-ins and the ring, the ensemble prepared for their final full run. The show ran much more smoothly than previous rehearsals, with fewer stops. Many of the moving pieces came together during this performance.

This session was the first dress rehearsal. The goal of the session was to complete a full run-through without stops. 

Before the rehearsal began, the ensemble continued preparing the production, discussing sets, costumes, and props. The group discusses alternatives to missing set pieces and discuss how to finalize things with minimal rehearsal time.

This session was the last night of blocking before dress rehearsals begin. The ensemble continued to focus on staging while also readjusting casting, taking note of costumes and making the finale feel grand. 

Before the blocking began, the group spent time discussing theatre, including favorite plays, playwrights, and copyright casting. They also discussed why the ensemble focuses on Shakespeare during the fall production.  One ensemble member shared her love of Shakespeare, saying,

This session was the second full day of blocking. As the ensemble works on staging their pieces, they worked together to work through challenges before the dress rehearsal. 

After chatting, check-ins and the ring, the ensemble worked through entrances and movement for several shorter pieces. Two ensemble members playfully argued about the use of microphones. One participant encouraged a performer to use a microphone during her piece, but she insisted that she could project without it. But the participant emphasized how the microphone affects the energy of the piece:

As rehearsals for our summer performance continued, this session focused on shaping the overall flow of the production. Rather than working on individual pieces in isolation, the ensemble began making collaborative decisions about staging, transitions, and how the audience will experience the evening as a whole. It was another reminder that while each work began as a personal reflection, the performance itself belongs to the ensemble.

This session, the script was unveiled and the ensemble had their first full read-through of the summer. As the ensemble read through the show, they made final adjustments while celebrating one another’s creativity and hard work.

After checking in and doing the ring exercise, the ensemble gathered to read through the complete production. The read-through was timed to give the group an idea of the length and pacing of the show.

This session focused on building connections and acting practice through play. With the ensemble’s writing edited and the show cast, the group took the time to strengthen relationships through stories, laughter and theater games. 

The evening began with conversations about the origins of the ring exercise and theatre scholars. Conversations flowed between current events, evolving technology and everyday life.

This session focused on unifying individual pieces into one cohesive production. Together, the ensemble collaborated on casting and discussed the order of pieces. 

The evening began with check-ins and the ring before the ensemble turned its attention to the production. After weeks of writing, revising and hearing each other’s work, participants worked together to cast each piece. Some actors were nominated by the writers, while others selected the pieces they were most excited to perform. The ensemble also discussed how to incorporate artist statements into the show.

As the summer writing project continued, our focus shifted from creating new material to refining the stories that will soon be shared with an audience. Editing is often thought of as correcting words on a page, but this session reminded us that it is equally about helping one another communicate truth with greater clarity.

Our pieces have been submitted for approval to be brought outside, turned into a script, and given to the alumni for the public performance.

As our summer writing project continues to take shape, this week’s session centered on one of the most rewarding parts of the creative process: hearing one another’s words come to life. While we have spent weeks writing, revising, and reflecting, this evening gave writers the opportunity to hear their work interpreted by other voices, allowing the ensemble to experience each piece in a new way.

Following check-ins and the ring, we shared a few pieces from outside writers before returning to our own growing collection of original work. As the evening unfolded, the room became filled with thoughtful feedback, encouragement, and genuine admiration for one another’s creativity.