• Production Information

• Reviews

• Director's Notes

• True West Photo Gallery

Production Information

Reviews

Director's Notes

Working on Sam Shepard’s True West – with the idea that the actors playing Austin and Lee would alternate roles – has been a challenge and a learning experience. The approach to rehearsing seemed to hinge on a basic decision – do we stage it once and then switch roles, much like an understudy or a replacement would in an ongoing professional production? Or would each actor combination require a different, specific staging?

We started with the first assumption, and discovered that we required the latter.

It is a testament to the complexity of this remarkable play – that we can basically work and present two versions of the play. It is also a testament to this remarkable cast. It was no small feat!

It’s been a pleasure working with such professionals here at Lost Nation. On all fronts – the actors, the tech and design staff, the administration – everyone here at Lost Nation has been top-notch and clearly devoted to the theater and to the community. I especially respect the work that is being done with area high school students and young adults. I was thrilled to meet and work with Lost Nation’s Conservatory members. As someone who was exposed to theater at a young age myself, and as someone who has risen up through similar ranks, I appreciate and support such programs. I salute the Montpelier community for embracing and supporting Lost Nation.

So thank you for coming to the theater tonight. I think you’ll find this play fascinating. It deals with, after all, something almost all of us can relate to – family and the complex ties that bind. Please come back and see the play with the other actor configuration. You’ll find it equally engaging and interesting. But you will also profit by seeing the same story from quite a different vantage. I’m confident you’ll find it, as Gertrude Stein once said, “Same but Different.”

PHOTO GALLERY

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