Meet the Director of Dream Hou$e
Meet Mary Ann Rodgers, Director of "Dream Hou$e"
What drew you to "Dream Hou$e” as a director, and what is it about the show that you believe will resonate with the audience?
Dream Hou$e was written by Eliana Pipes when she was about 25 years old. Her voice is fresh, energetic, fun, and very theatrical. I hope that what attracts me to the play will be experienced by the audience.
Could you describe your vision for this production?
I try to honor the playwright's intent, which I believe is to examine the cost of the American Dream. Dream Hou$e is a dark comedy with a hint of the absurd and a touch of magical realism. Amidst the madness, the relationship between the two sisters is absolutely real and very, very loving. They are the heart of the play.
What is your experience with directing, and are there any past productions that you believe particularly showcase your expertise in this genre?
I've been directing for about twenty years in a variety of genres and acting for almost fifty. At this point, I think it's my cumulative experience -- in the theater, in the classroom, and in life -- that comes to the table. I may know a few things about setting up a joke, or helping actors to connect in a real way, or how to help guide the audience's eye, but I've learned them through a variety of moments within many plays, rather than through any individual experience.
As a director, what do you hope the audience takes away from this production?
First, I hope they feel the love between Julia and Pati, and that they're reminded of the loving ties in their own families. Then, I hope that they reflect on their origin stories and the choices they or their families have made to pursue the American Dream. Finally, I hope they have a great time at the theater -- an experience in the way that only theater can provide -- and then come back for more!
Catch Dream Hou$e February 9-25th!
Mary Ann Rodgers is a local director and actor delighted to be working for the first time at Cinnabar Theater. Most recently, Mary Ann directed Native Gardens for Ross Valley Players which was recognized by the Marin IJ as one of the ten best plays of 2023. Selected additional credits include A Small Fire at Shotgun Players, These Shining Lives, Anna in the Tropics, Rabbit Hole, Jennifer Le Blanc’s adaptation of Jane Austen’s Persuasion, and The Cocktail Hour (BATCC Award for Direction) all at Ross Valley Players. She directed Persuasion for a second time at SPARC Theater (also known as Livermore Shakespeare Festival), where she also directed The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) (Revised). In 2019, she was invited by Symmetry Theater to San Miguel de Allende, MX to direct Native Gardens. She received her foundational training at U.C.S.B and continues her education as a theater artist to this day. She would like to thank her actor/designer husband Malcolm Rodgers and their actor/writer daughter Thea Rodgers for their whole-hearted support and for always continuing the conversation about the role art plays in society.
"The word theatre comes from the Greeks. it means the seeing place. It is the place people come to see the truth about life and the social situation. The theatre is a spiritual and social X-ray of its time. The Theatre was created to tell people the truth about life and the social situation." – Stella Adler, American actress and teacher