Photos by Anya Magnuson, Aaron Mark & Tom Taintor
At its core this is a story about the awesome power of love, hope and trust. Qualities that are essential for us to connect with as it’s very easy to feel overwhelmed and engulfed by everything that is happening in our world right now. This story reminds us that life and the universe is full of the unexpected, and that more often than not the answers we are looking for are hiding within us waiting for us to recognise them and embrace them.
I set the goal of creating everything you see on stage live with no recordings or projections. I’m excited to share with you an ensemble-based production that revels in the joy of actors and designers working together to create alien planets, time travel, and magical creatures. For me theatre is at its best when we can come together as performers and audiences to share our imaginations and allow ourselves to be carried away by storytelling. This team of actors and designers have created a thrilling and captivating journey to share with you tonight.
It would have been very easy to be intimidated by this story and production. Since I found out I was directing this show everyone I have told has reacted with excitement, delight, and animation, with endless people telling me how much they love this story and how much it has meant to them over the years. Indeed, most of our designers, actors and TRP staff have a strong connection to the book and are thrilled to be working on this show. I didn’t grow up with this book. I didn’t know this story. People’s reactions have been extremely humbling. But I feel that this story came into my life at the exact right time. It has been with me over the past year, both haunting me during moments of doubt and exciting me during moments of enthusiasm and hope. Just like Meg, Charles Wallace and Calvin I have had to surrender to this journey and embrace the challenges, joys and unexpected turns of this adventure.
Story by Madeleine L’Engle, Adapted by John Glore
Produced and performed at Theatre in the Round, Minneapolis 2024
Meg Murry – Harriet Spencer
Charles Wallace Murry – Ryan Pierce
Calvin O’Keefe – Tic Treitler
Mrs. Whatsit – Shelley Nelson
Mrs. Who – Robin Gilmer
Mrs. Which/Ensemble – Ariel Pinkerton
Dr. Kate Murry/Ensemble – Erika Sasseville
Dr. Alex Murry/Ensemble – Kjer Whiting
Ensemble:
Kate Bonnett, Lizzie Esposito
Natosha Guldan, Isabelle Hopewell
Director – Penelope Parsons-Lord
Stage Manager – Andrew Pritchard
Set Designer – Keven Lock
Lighting Designer – Mark Kieffer
Costume Designers – Penelope Parsons-Lord/Krista Weiss
Prop Designer – Vicky Erickson
Sound Designer/Composer – Ryan Lee
Puppet Designer/Asst Prop Designer – Elliott Van Winkle
Asst Stage Manager/Asst Set Designer – Chris Goddard
Light Board Operator – Laura Preese/Dorothy Jolly
Sound Board Operators – Dominic Detwiler/Rose Oliver
