Interview: Marianne Savell of AS IT IS IN HEAVEN at Taproot Theatre

I sat down with Director Marianne Savell to talk about her most recent work on AS IT IS IN HEAVEN at Taproot Theatre. Here's what she had to say about the show and her process:

Q: The show covers a lot of themes. What do you think is the central message?

A: For me the central message is a challenge to all of us who are a part of a group: What am I going to do when a new person in the group comes along with a new point of view and a new way for the group to operate. It's an age old question and a universal challenge that we will more than likely face again and again in our lives. We continuously get opportunities to get better at it too.

Q: Which character do you find most interesting? Why?

A: I really adore each of the characters for who they are and what they add to the story. So I'll pick one...Sister Jane. Sister Jane is a newcomer who joined the Shakers because her husband gave up on the farm after all five of their children died before the age of six. She is in mourning, full of fear and rage. And because she doesn't have any options, she has to stick around, and yet, because of another newcomer who is experiencing something new and revolutionary, Sister Jane finds redemption, healing and hope.

Q: Which character do you find most challenging? Why?

A: They all have their challenges, but probably the character of Sister Hannah who is the Eldress at the Shaker Village. She was brought over 10 years earlier to get the village in shape and has been very successful. We have to see who Sister Hannah was before, see how she handles the mounting issues with the newcomer who is experiencing Shakerism in a new way, all the way through her plans to get the village back under control and finally, what she does when she knows that this new movement is beyond her containing. It's tricky and a lot of fun to figure out and pull off.

Q: Why is this show important for audiences today?

A: The show is set in 1838 and completely timeless in its relevance. Beyond that, it's an exciting way to learn about the Shakers and American history. I know it's already set many an audience member in a deep dive on the Shakers and I think that's a good thing. We can learn much from them and let's face it, history is fascinating.

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