What does it take to bring many individual perspectives together into one shared theatrical world? For director Stephanie Shroyer, it begins by creating a space where actors can experiment, follow their instincts and help determine how the story will be told.
In this behind-the-scenes video, Shroyer and members of the company explore the collaborative process behind the USC School of Dramatic Arts production of John Gay’s The Beggar’s Opera. From the dramatic tension created by an actor’s position onstage to the rhythm and movement of a transition, every choice helps build the production’s vivid world of thieves, con artists and corrupt officials.
Shroyer describes the audience as the production’s “final character,” an essential participant in the story created collectively by everyone in the room. The result is a wickedly funny, highly physical production shaped by the imaginations of the full company.
Watch the video for a glimpse inside the rehearsal room of The Beggar’s Opera, then see the collaborative work come to life onstage. The Beggar’s Opera continues at the Sanctuary Theatre through November 1.