The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds

Flint Repertory Theatre

She Blinded Me with Science

Gamma Rays is a show that initially seemed like just an interesting opportunity but developed into a far richer experience thanks to my collaborators. Director Katy Walsh felt that Paul Zindel had crafted this narrative around a theme of female generational trauma, and that ultimately led me to think about cycles. The waltz you hear plays again and again throughout the show, mutating as it were from transition to transition. As Tillie discovers with her marigold project, some mutations are beautiful and unexpected, and some are ugly. In one of the happiest accidents of my career, once we hit tech I realized that Nanny was also creating a waltz with her walker. Walker, shuffle, shuffle; walker, shuffle, shuffle. This served to tie the waltz to a pattern that Beatrice resented day-to-day.

CREDITS

The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds
by Paul Zindel
Flint Repertory Theatre
Flint, MI
September 13 - 22, 2019

Director: Kathryn Walsh
Scenic Designer: Lauren Nigri
Lighting Designer: Jen Fok
Costume Designer: Katherine Nelson
Sound Designer: Matthew Tibbs

Beatrice: Janet Haley
Tillie: Ava Pietras
Ruth: Claire Jolliffe
Janice: Meredith Deighton
Nanny: Jeb Burris