prologue

i’ve been a bit lax this week … i’m new to blogging, and have various other personal matters that kept me from writing — got married a week ago, just moved to new haven, trying to put my life in order, make a home …. so. again. my entries are long overdue for this week….

let me begin by introducing myself:
name: johanna gruenhut
from: nyc — born and bred.
schooling: boston university. double major: film & comparative religion.
1st job post college: intern for Long Wharf Theatre
have since been: freelancing as a director, mostly in nyc, and assisting various directors, in nyc, new haven, oregon …

as far as this blog — i’m a bit nervous. was slightly caught off guard by the whole project — only found out i’d have to do this on my first day. i hope they get better as they go.

allow me to backtrack –
day one of Durango rehearsals: august 22, 2006.
i had worked with julia cho before on BFE, her first show produced here at long wharf. i served as assistant director to gordon edelstein. so, i was very happy to be back working on another one of her plays.

Durango is a delicate piece — each word feels like it was put there with a paintbrush — a tweezer — the words are so precise, the feelings and emotions they provide are so specific you can actually feel each tiny sinew in your heart working.

James Saito, one of the actors in this play was also in BFE, so, it is a nice reunion. even in these short few days i know how lucky i am to watch him work. how gentle he is in his performance.

i’ve also had the pleasure of working with buzz cohen, the stage manager, before. it’s fun to see so many familiar faces.

this is the first time i’ve ever met Chay Yew or worked with him. but already i know i’m in for a treat. the detail he looks for and finds in the text is astonishing. and the time he is willing to dedicate to unearthing the text is not only unusual, but allows even an observer to become an active role in the process of finding and understanding
the play.

next up: themes discussed …
but, later….