COMING "FULL-CYCLE"
by David Southerland (Exec. Dir. of AWOL Theatre Project) with special thanks to Matthew Trombetta
Coming "full-cycle" clearly illuminated the next steps on the path to making this now "song-cycle-plus," as Beth refers to it, a real piece of theatre, not just a collection of beautiful songs. "NYMF is an invaluable experience for the development and growth of the piece," says Calarco. Stephanie Bast (Nine) adds, "I love change and I really trust Joe's vision." Lisa Brescia (Aida) agrees: "I thoroughly enjoy the collaborative process." Lynne Wintersteller (Closer than Ever) notes how rare a piece like The Mistress Cycle is: "It's fascinating to work on a piece with five strong female roles. Not only have they written for the female voice, but also for the female spirit. This is an incredible piece of art."
The NYMF rehearsal process has been especially potent. Assistant Director Matthew Trombetta says "they've managed to make some cuts, rewrite songs and experiment with the order of the show" to bring the focus back to the contemporary character of Tess. All five actresses, including Broadway's Mary Bond Davis (Hairspray) and Sally Wilfert (Assassins) are "feeling good," and as the piece takes shape and the buzz around the show and the festival mounts, "the energy in the rehearsal room is electric," adds Trombetta. Though we're ultimately working toward some "end" of this musical's story, it's extremely exciting to be part of the middle of its story.Videos