In 2013, I was chosen as one of twelve individuals from across the United States to participate in the Orchard Project (OP)—a five-week residency for theater artists and companies to develop and incubate their latest projects—as part of the Core Company, a unique apprenticeship program that has young theater artists working closely with innovative and groundbreaking theater professionals in the industry. Some of the people and companies I’ve worked and interacted with include Alex Torra and Team Sunshine Performance Corporation, Lance Horne, New Paradise Laboratories, and PigPen Theatre Company (whom I have continued working with post-OP).
Core Company members also had the opportunity to incubate and develop their own work during their stay. Under the guidance of artistic director Ari Edelson, executive director Dean Strober, program coordinator Claire Kiechel, and master teacher Catherine Mueller, I was able to focus wholeheartedly on new ideas and concepts, including workshopping a solo performance titled Kitchen, which explored the evolution in form and significance of the kitchen as a human space.
2013 Core Company members: Wesley Doucette, Stephanie Grilo, Nicholas Hemerling, Mia Hutchinson-Shaw, Swedian Lie, Joe (Christopher) Markesbery, Kamron McClure, J. Isabel Salazar, Ian Edward Smith, Benjamin Vawter, Rebecca Wear, Chelsea Sellers Webb.
Video editing by Ian Edward Smith and Catherine Mueller
manifesto project (photos from Orchard Project/Core Company Facebook page)
photo project by Catherine Mueller
(Photos by Mia Hutchinson-Shaw and Sellers Webb)
