Creative Work

Scene 1 Performer's Takes:

Heidi is a single mother and a full-time nurse, doing her best to care for her son, Evan, who struggles with social anxiety. This scene from Dear Evan Hansen captures the complicated dynamic between them: while Heidi cares deeply for Evan, her demanding schedule leaves her with little time for him, creating a sense of distance and resentment. We had talked about how theater can advocate for mental health, and I hope this gives you a glimpse into that. Both actors in this scene tap into deep, subtle emotions to bring their characters’ struggles to life.

-Simon Bailey and Jazzy Dong

Scene 2 Performer's Takes:

Over the course of the semester, the class focused heavily on the portrayal of mental health in theater, exploring how performance can give voice to difficult human experiences. In preparation for these roles, we developed a deeper understanding of empathy in performance and the power of narrative storytelling. We also strengthened our technical acting skills, including blocking, vocal projection, cheating out, and script analysis, all of which helped us accurately position, voice, and emote our characters to serve the scene effectively. Scene 2 reflects the show’s complex dynamics, where each character is portrayed as a victim of their circumstances, and mental health challenges affect everyone differently. Overall, the semester emphasized not only technical growth in performance but also the use of theater as a powerful medium to address and advocate for mental health awareness.

-Rowan Shanley, Emily Webber, Sarah Swain, Yeye Aliu, and Emma Case