Digital storytelling intern Emma Colling goes behind the scenes for the Blackfriars student production of "A Play Where Nothing Happens," which runs Feb. 24 to 27 in Tyler Hall's lab theatre.
“My job as lighting designer is to basically create the looks of each scene,” said student crew member Philip Jones, making sure that what student director Kayla Elfers envisions “is what’s up on the stage.”
Jones said discussions about concepts kept coming back to nostalgia as a theme.
“A lot of times we have this longing for what we had before,” Jones said. “To try to replicate that as best I could is a great challenge but also a lot of fun to do at the same time.”
“My job is to make sure our stage manager has somebody to lean against,” said Emersynn Mousaw, the production’s assistant stage manager. “Now with show week starting, I am backstage to make sure all the props are on their respective shelves, all the set pieces are where they need to be for the beginning of the show.”
At this point, the focus of that position, Mousaw said, is “generally making sure everything goes as smoothly as it can.”
Mousaw also appreciated a thread in the play, written by Maizy Broderick Scarpa, that is notably inclusive.
“I myself am actually non-binary and It’s really nice to see a plot point of more questioning our gender identities. I feel like it’s not something you see a ton, especially in theatre.”
“‘A Play Where Nothing Happens’ is, I would say, an introspective piece,” said Alex Griffin, a deck crew member for the production. “You really get to analyze who these characters are in such indirect and subtle ways.”
“I really do believe a lot of people can imagine themselves summers ago doing nothing with their friends and just reminiscing and just thinking those days will go on forever,” Jones said. “I think it’s a good kind of connecting piece to the past.”
The show premieres at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 24, with additional 7:30 p.m. curtains on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 25 and 26, as well as 2 p.m. weekend matinees on Feb. 26 and 27. Tickets are available from tickets.oswego.edu, and are free for SUNY Oswego students; $10 for faculty, staff and the general public.
To continue to ensure the health and safety of the campus community, all spectators (ages 5 and up) must show proof of having completed a full COVID-19 vaccination series or recent proof of a negative COVID-19 test. Visit the college's Indoor Spectator Policy for more information.