Our Fresh Takes Series continues in August with Seven Homeless Mammoths Wander New England by Madeline George. Directed by Megan Sandberg- Zakian, a Sommerville, MA-based theater-maker, in her first project with WAM. Her sensibilities make her a natural fit with WAM, as collaboration is an important part of the process for her. She believes that theater can shape and inspire community life, and is interested in creating work that encourages us to be romantic about the future. Sandberg-Zakian is thrilled to be directing a play written by George (a playwright whose work she quite familiar with) and the start of a beautiful friendship with WAM.
What do you do and why you do it?
I make theater. I do it because I like to be live, in a place with many other live people with a story in front of us; seeing, hearing, or imagining the same thing, breathing the same air. I get excited about lean-forward experiences that mobilize us around vital questions facing our communities, and propose a vision of a shared future. I like it when theater is hospitable, sustainable, sincere, responsive, generous, pleasurable, and inclusive.
What do you enjoy about working with WAM?
This is my first time working with WAM. And I am really inspired by the unique and vital mission, and by my conversations with Kristen about what kind of stories we need to be hearing and telling.
What are you looking forward to about Seven Homeless Mammoths Wander New England?
Madeleine is one of my favorite playwrights and people. I’ve always loved her way of writing about women in the midst of major life events with humor, intelligence, some discomfort and great affection. Her writing has an edge without snark, which is hard to do and always makes me fall in love with the characters and stories.
What woman inspires you and why?
I’m inspired by many women and girls, but in honor of “Mammoths,” I’m going to mention a couple of kick-ass women: my mentors and friends Stacy Wolf and Jill Dolan. Their work has pushed my own thinking in exciting ways. Stacy’s book Changed for Good: A Feminist History of the Broadway Musical and Jill’s Utopia in Performance: Finding Hope at the Theater have formatively shaped my understanding of what kind of performance I care about. Their mentorship has buoyed and affirmed my sense of what is possible in my professional life, while their strong relationship as partners and colleagues has inspired me in my personal life. I know they would love this play!
Purchase your tickets to the August 17 reading by calling 1-800-838-3006 or going to http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/588967