No More Waiting is a show devised by the ensemble as part of The Cathedral of All Souls' Third Annual Lenten Arts Series showing on Sunday, April 3 at 4:00pm.
Every worker in this country will experience struggles within our capitalistic system. But what does it take to change that? Inspired by the Great Resignation Movement and recent worker strikes, experience stories of people who share one thing in common: a desire to see a kind and empathic workplace environment.
We reached out to Christine Hellman, a part of the ensemble to find out more about her and her experience working on this production.
1. What do you think audiences will be thinking about on the way home from this performance?
I hope the audience leaves thinking about different perspectives. We all have such different experiences in the work force and it is always helpful in this world to gain insight into an experience that is different from our own.
2. Do you feel that this performance is important given today’s social climate? Why?
We have been living in the unknown for a couple of years now. It can feel scary and isolating. Theatre provides a space in which we might hear our experience or feelings reflected back to us in a way that brings identification and some comfort in uncertain times. Knowing that we are not alone is a powerful gift.
3. Do you have any books you’re reading for inspiration as you prepare for this show? If so, what are they?
A book that has given me inspiration and a feeling of identification is "Nightbitch" by Rachel Yoder.
4. How is working with The Magnetic different from working with other theatres?
I am a recent transplant to Asheville and as soon as became familiar with the mission of The Magnetic, I knew I wanted to be a part of this community. A community that is built around producing new work and that allows artists to grow and collaborate is very important to me. I love The Magnetic for that!
5. Do you have any upcoming projects that we should check out?
My passion project is a play entitled Misery Is Optional. Miseryisoptionalplay.com. Misery is Optional travels the path from addiction to recovery based on anonymous interviews with people who have found freedom from addiction. Their inspiring, sometimes harrowing stories shine a light on a disease that affects 23 million Americans – and on the hope and travails of ongoing recovery. Join us as four actors depict 45 people in a hope-filled performance starring Dewey Scott-Wiley, Christine Hellman, Jason Stokes, and Arischa Conner Frierson. I will also be stirring up trouble with the cast of Midsummer For Haters as Helena this June!
Biography
Christine is a performer, playwright, and teaching artist based in NYC and Asheville. Through the scope of consent-based practices and physical storytelling, Christine guides actors to find physical and emotional depths of intimacy on stage in a sustainable and non-harming way. Developing tools for the actor to safely step in and out of deep work is at the core of her work. Christine is currently a teacher in training with The Lucid Body House in New York City and is a registered yoga teacher (RYT 200).
Her intimacy and consent forward work began at Trustus in 2018 and she continues to grow this work in everything she does today. Trustus Intimacy direction credits include Intimate Apparel, The Cost of Living, The Great Gatsby, as well as the development of consent practices for Trustus.
She is the co-creator of Misery is Optional. This verbatim theatre piece travels the path from addiction to recovery based on anonymous interviews with people who have found freedom from addiction. Their stories shine a light on a disease that affects 23 million Americans – and on the hope and travails of ongoing recovery. These stories are taken directly from verbatim interviews to give those living in recovery a voice. Miseryisoptionalplay.com.
Recent acting credits include- Sweat (Jessie), Barbecue (Barbara), The Flick (Rose), Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime (Mrs. Shears, voice 1), MIsery is Optional (Voice 2) Trustus Theatre. Some Girls (Bobbi), Don't Dress for Dinner (Suzette), String of Pearls (Amy, others) Workshop Theatre. Romeo and Juliet (Juliet) CTC.
No More Waiting is showing at The Cathedral of All Souls' on Sunday, April 3 at 4:00pm. Streaming options are also available. Click here to learn more: https://bit.ly/3KwcOsr