Twelfth Night
Directed by Cory Edwards and Kari Jensen, Taipei American School 2017
Choreography by Kari Jensen
Sets, Lights, Props by Kevin B. Held
Costumes by Jessica Huang
Re-imagined as a love that Casino owner Orsino has for Club owner Olivia, set in Miami, this fun production featured music and dancing from 1980s. With cross-dressing Viola and a group of lifeguards that look like Baywatch, this story unfolded until everyone was happily married. After all, "wove, twue wove is what brings us together today," according to the priest inspired by The Princess Bride.
"Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them."
-Malvolio, Act 2
The Addams Family
Directed by Cory Edwards, Taipei American School 2016
Choreography by Deb Flemming and Kari Jensen
Sets, Lights, Props and Costumes by Kevin B. Held
Enter the wacky world of the Addams Family, America's darkest family. Wednesday Addams, the ultimate princess of darkness, has grown up and fallen in love with a sweet, smart young man from a respectable family – a man her parents have never met. And if that weren’t upsetting enough, Wednesday confides in her father and begs him not to tell her mother. Now, Gomez Addams must do something he’s never done before – keep a secret from his beloved wife, Morticia.
"It's family first and family last and family by and by; when your an addams, you do what addams do or die! "
-Gomez Addams, Act 1
A DOLL's HOUSE
Combined IASAS Dance/Drama adapted by Albert Pia from Henrik Ibsen's play
Directed by Cory Edwards, Taipei American School
Choreography by Cheryl Lagerquist
Sets, Lights, Props and Costumes by Kevin B. Held
This one hour version of A DOLL'S HOUSE was part of the 2016 IASAS Cultural Convention. It brought together the actors and dancers to unite in telling Nora's powerful story of her decision to walk away from her husband and children slamming the door as she went into the world in search of herself. Ibsen's play exploring the disparity between the genders still resonates with audiences over 130 years since its premiere.
"I have another duty equally sacred ... My duty to myself."
-Nora, Act 3, A Doll's House
YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU
Directed by Cory Edwards, Taipei American School
Sets, Lights, Props and Costumes by Kevin B. Held
Enter the wacky world of the Sycamore family and embrace their message of following your heart and your dreams! I enjoyed creating this realistic interior setting for this comedy about being a family, with all its quirks and perks. This play has been produced in thousands of high schools and continues to be popular because we can all relate to family tension.
"Well, Sir, here we are again. We've been getting along pretty good for quite a while now - we're certainly much obliged. Remember all we ask is just to go along the way we are, keep our health; as far as anything else is concerned, we leave that up to you. Thank you."
-Grandpa Martin Vanderhoff, Act III
LES MISERABLES
Based on the novel by Victor Hugo, Music by Claude-Michel Schonberg, Lyrics by Alain Boublil
Directed by Cory Edwards, Taipei American School
Sets, Lights, Props and Costumes by Kevin B. Held
Inspired by the new revival in New York, here at Taipei American School we made heavy use of projections to set the scene. This sweeping tale of love, loss, and personal struggle continues to inspire audiences worldwide.
"This book is a drama whose first character is the Infinite. The second is man.... whenever we meet the Infinite in man, whether well or poorly understood, we react with respect. There is in the synagogue, in the mosque, in the pagoda, and in the wigwam, a hideous side we detest and a sublime aspect we adore. What a subject of meditation, and what a limitless source of reverie is this reflection of God upon the human wall!”
-Victor Hugo, Les Miserables, The Convent as Abstract Idea.
The Laramie Project
By Moisés Kaufman and members of the Tectonic Theater Project
Directed by Cory Edwards, Taipei American School
Sets, Lights, Props, and Costumes by Kevin B. Held
Here at Taipei American School, the principal decided that the whole school would read this play over the summer and this production would be the first show in the new black box theater. It was an amazing design opportunity to utilize a new space and test its limits. It was also an amazing opportunity to be involved in a show that has such important messages for society.
Judy Shepard, the mother of Matthew Shepard, came to address the entire student body. She and Dennis Shepard spent the afternoon with the cast and crew of The Laramie Project. It was amazing to see how the students internalized the story and brought it to a new level of excellence for theater. The actors fully realized that they were portraying real people, not fictionalized characters.
My set design included signs all around the space and three screens to allow the audience to experience the show in a slightly different way depending on their seat. It was a very successful way to bring Laramie, WY, to Taipei, Taiwan.
Fiddler on the Roof
Directed by Betsy Durning, St. George's School
Costumes by Janna Pederson
Sets, Lights, and Props by Kevin B. Held
I enjoyed Boris Aronson's original designs for Fiddler on the Roof and the inspiration they drew from Chagall's paintings, but I think more recent revivals have captured the spirit of this production better for today's audiences. I decided to use a simple setting and let the powerful story speak for itself.
"Traditions, traditions. Without our traditions, our lives would be as shaky as... as... as a fiddler on the roof!"
-Tevye, the milkman, Act I
