Word: kellerman
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Dates: during 2000-2000
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From the gritty verbosity of Mamet's American Buffalo to the grief and anxiety of Sam Shepard's Simpatico, theater director Jesse Kellerman '01 is not known for his lighter side. "I wanted to leave audiences shaken and stirred," Kellerman says of the two productions, presented last spring and fall, "not unlike an excessively mixed martini." But with his next production, a collection of short satires and farces on contemporary themes showing this weekend at the Adams House Pool Theater, Kellerman is making a major departure from his dramatic past. For in the thick of reading period stress, the director...
...Kellerman's own script, Three Men One Woman, is named for the identical cast breakdown of the five short plays that compose the work. Though his previous productions have been admired for their haunting realism and nuanced portrayals of human weakness and emotion, 3M1W features a group of characters that includes everything from mad scientists and senior citizens to government officials and secretaries to beer-guzzling down-home boys. Kellerman bypassed common casting in order to hand-pick his actors. John Keefe '01, used to performing in musicals, acted alongside Kellerman in Children of Eden earlier this year; Jonathan Steinberger...
...Playing five wholly different parts is a challenging exercise in spontaneity and stamina, but Kellerman thinks his actors can live up to the endeavor. "Most of all," the director says, "these actors are smart. They have taken hold of their roles, truly creating characters." As the writer of his own script, Kellerman appreciated the opportunity to engage the actors in a dynamic process of verbal revision and growth. "If a line falls flat," Kellerman notes, "I can say, 'Let's cut it or try something else.'" On the other hand, if one of the performers delivers an impromptu funny punch...
...Jesse Kellerman '01 feels that the project has allowed him less work and stress as a director in addition to adding a "fun and experimental atmosphere." However, he also concedes that the scenes in his play are not as intense as those in a full scale production. "It's hard to act truly and intensely when you're forced to refer to a script in your hand," he reveals. Nevertheless, Kellerman feels the advantages outweigh the shortcomings of the project: "It's much easier to identify and fix problems in language and timing when you hear the words being read...
...Overall, those involved greatly appreciate McClelland's vision. "I think they should make it an annual event," Kellerman declares. Including McClelland, ten playwrights are involved in the project. In addition to those mentioned, Edward Colby '02, Joe Gfaller '01, Harry Kimball '03, David Parker '03, David Kornhaber '02 and Ben Yeoh are participating in the project. Performances will held Feb. 24, 25 and 26 at 7:30 p.m. in the Loeb Experimental Theater. McClelland emphasized the importance that the Student Playwrights Project holds for student writers and the community: "This is the perfect time because it acts as an introduction...