Words from Professors

I am thrilled to present our production of "Peerless" by Jiehae Park. Bringing this provocative and intense play to life has been a challenging and rewarding journey for our entire team. I want to express my deepest gratitude to the talented cast, dedicated crew, and all the creative minds involved in making this production a reality.

"Peerless" is a play that challenges societal norms, questions the pursuit of perfection, and delves into the complexities of ambition and sibling relationships. As a director, I was drawn to the raw honesty of the characters and the sharp wit in Park's writing. The play explores themes of identity, manipulation, and the lengths people go to achieve their goals. It's a story that, at its core, forces us to confront uncomfortable truths about human nature.

In our production, we aimed to capture the essence of Park's script while infusing it with our unique vision. We delved deep into the characters, exploring their motivations and vulnerabilities, and we pushed the boundaries to create a visually striking and emotionally charged experience for our audience. The staging, lighting, and sound design were carefully crafted to enhance the tension and intensity of the narrative.

While "Peerless" is a powerful and thought-provoking piece, it also presents challenges. The characters' actions are at times morally ambiguous, forcing us to confront the darker sides of human behavior. It is my hope that the discomfort these moments may evoke will spark conversations and self-reflection among our audience members. Theatre has the power to challenge our perspectives and make us question the world around us, and "Peerless" certainly embraces that transformative potential.

As a faculty advisor, I believe it's crucial to present work that stimulates contemplation and evokes emotions, even though "Peerless" may not be the ideal piece to celebrate the department's 60th anniversary. While "Peerless" might elicit discomfort or frustration, I encourage you to immerse yourself in the characters and their choices. Reflect on the broader questions the play poses about societal expectations, privilege, and the pursuit of power. Theatre serves as a mirror, reflecting the intricacies of the human experience, and "Peerless" unabashedly holds that mirror with unflinching honesty.

Thank you for joining us on this journey. I trust that this production of "Peerless" will leave you with lingering thoughts, challenging your perceptions and igniting conversations long after the curtain falls.

Faculty Advisor  

Prof. Cecilia Liu