Working with Amanda on the Spring 2023 production of "Five Women Wearing the Same Dress" with City Gate Productions was a full-circle moment for me. We'd previously worked together as co-actors in musicals and she's choreographed several shows I've been in. Being directed by her was a new and exciting experience. You could tell from the beginning this was a true passion project from her, from the way she explained the play being character-driven and not plot-driven, and how she wanted the fluidity of movement come off natural and unrehearsed, like a spontaneous dance driven by true motivation and character intention.
She wanted the actors to dig deep and really understand their characters, and have openly expressed wishing we had more time to further the exploration had we been given the chance. The depth and relatability of her focus showed with the feedback on the performances from my peers who came and watched the shows, confirming her priority to make these characters real and relatable was the right call to give the audience an authentic and enjoyable experience. All throughout this production journey, I just knew in my gut all she ever wanted was to get the best, most intimate, and raw performance out of her performers, and it felt like a trusted partnership. This experience with her has been educational, respectful, and all-in-all, just fun, and I'd be more than happy to explore future collaborations with her in the future.
