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This session focused on developing community values and discussing how the ensemble hopes to work together this summer. Reflecting on past SIP experiences and welcoming new ideas helped identify what was most important for the ensemble. 

Throughout the evening, the ensemble discussed how to navigate the relationship between writers and actors. One ensemble member shared her experience revising her piece to make an actor more comfortable.

The first session of our summer writing project marked the beginning of a new season of collaboration. With five new members joining the ensemble, the evening focused on welcoming new voices, introducing the structure of the program, and beginning conversations about what we want this summer to become.

As the new members arrived, we walked everyone through our check-in process and introduced the ring, giving our newest ensemble members their first glimpse into the traditions that shape every SIP season. We also began reviewing the orientation packet, making note of updates we want to make before future sessions, including creating a version specifically for the summer writing program.

Our first session after the performances of The Comedy of Errors felt different. There was joy in celebrating what the ensemble had accomplished, but there was also grief, reflection, gratitude, and the realization that one chapter had come to an end.

As we gathered, it became clear that check-in needed to be more than a routine. It became a space to hold one another through loss, celebrate one another’s work, and acknowledge the transitions happening within the ensemble. Members reflected on someone they had recently lost, shared personal losses in their own lives, and honored Morris and Santillan as they prepared for their final session with the group.

The ensemble gathered for its final performance of The Comedy of Errors with an unmistakable sense of excitement. From the moment everyone arrived, the room buzzed with energy. Costumes were adjusted, props were set, and conversations flowed as the cast prepared to share the show one last time.

We came together for our traditional check-in and ring. Participants shared their joy and gratitude for the process and the ensemble. One member thanked the entire group for their work. The audience settled in, the ensemble warmed up, and the performance began.

Performance day had finally arrived.

After months of rehearsals, line work, blocking, script discussions, and countless hours spent building The Comedy of Errors together, the ensemble gathered to share the show with an audience. There was excitement in the room from the moment people arrived. Cast members prepared costumes and props, greeted audience members as they entered, and worked through those familiar pre-show nerves that come with any opening night.

The excitement surrounding our upcoming performances was impossible to miss this week. As the ensemble gathered for our final dress rehearsal, conversations buzzed with anticipation about opening night, the sign up sheets being up, and the opportunity to finally share months of work with others.

We began the evening with check-ins and the ring. Several ensemble members offered powerful reflections about resilience, growth, and the importance of continuing forward despite challenges. One participant shared that she has recently begun speaking openly about parts of her past as part of what she described as her healing journey. Another reflected on the significance of the program itself, expressing gratitude for the creative space the ensemble has built together over the course of the season.

With the instruments cleared away, set-up was surprisingly smooth, allowing us to focus almost immediately on what mattered most: the show. After gathering together, checking in, and raising the ring, the ensemble prepared for another full run of The Comedy of Errors.

The evening began with exciting news as the group celebrated the approval of funding that will support future creative opportunities. The conversation quickly turned toward the upcoming performances and the growing momentum behind the production. There is a palpable sense that the ensemble knows opening night is near.

We started the session by clearing the room and setting up all of the set pieces and props for the show. Before long, the room shifted fully into performance mode as the ensemble gathered, checked in, and raised the ring together.

Tonight marked the first of our three official dress rehearsals for The Comedy of Errors. With props in place and the full environment beginning to come together, the show suddenly felt very real. Fisher-Grant stepped in as the Duke while I filled in as the Courtesan so we could keep the run moving smoothly.

We arrived with props in hand and jumped almost immediately into rehearsal mode. Before we began, an ensemble member and I organized art supplies and unlocked the back room so prop and costume work could continue alongside the performance process. Even with several people absent, the room quickly filled with energy, laughter, and focus as we checked in and raised the ring together.

The evening began with preparations for props and art supplies as the ensemble continued building the visual world of The Comedy of Errors. Santillan and I worked on gathering materials while the ensemble checked in and prepared for another rehearsal focused on transitions, movement, and pacing.

As the group worked through scene changes, members collaborated on entrances, exits, and backstage responsibilities. Conversations drifted between props, paper mâché techniques, and life beyond the rehearsal room. One participant reflected, “Sometimes I’m like… I can’t believe I’m in prison, only up from here. This is as low as I want to go.” Another participant shared that she is becoming certified as a recovery coach and hopes to teach recovery work in the future, highlighting the ways growth and transformation continue alongside the artistic process.