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This Saturday, June 26, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., the Hamilton-Gibson Women’s Project is holding a free, in-person three-hour Woodpecker Lips Director’s Workshop indoors at the Warehouse Theatre at 3 Central Avenue in Wellsboro.

“There’s plenty of room so anyone who wants to attend can. Just be at the Warehouse Theatre this Saturday by 9:50 a.m. No registration is required,” said Jessie Thompson who is leading the workshop.

Originally, the workshop was going to be held outdoors in the roofed pavilion at the Nessmuk Recreation Area. “With the weather being unpredictable I decided to change the location from outdoors to indoors. I felt it would be easier to focus if we are indoors,” Thompson said.

Not only is this workshop for women who have never directed before but also for experienced directors.

“Because only one actor is involved, this is the perfect time for a woman interested in directing to give it a try. It’s simpler to direct a monologue rather than a large cast and crew production with a lot of moving parts and a larger investment of time,” said Thompson.

“Directing a monologue with one actor can also be rewarding for an experienced director. “I think directing a monologue is an opportunity to dig a little deeper into what that one actor is doing to help her make her performance more dynamic, engaging and entertaining for the audience,” she added.

Discussed during the workshop will be the practical aspects of organizing the directing process and the tools needed to work with actors to foster trust and allow them to creatively explore characters to bring both the actors’ and the director’s vision to life.

“We are seeking women to direct each of the 13 monologues written by area women about a living or historical Pennsylvania woman,” said Thompson. “The monologues range from five to eleven minutes apiece. Some of them are dramatic with intense moments. Others are bolder and funnier or quiet and reflective. I am bringing a short synopsis of each monologue with me to the directors workshop for our potential directors to take a look at.”

Thompson has directed and led acting workshops for the HG Women’s Project and prior to that worked as an actor in New York, Los Angeles and around the country. She is the producer of “Woodpecker Lips,” the 2021 Hamilton-Gibson Women’s Project. The goal of the project is to provide opportunities for women to write, direct and act to tell local stories meaningful to community theater audiences.

The project will conclude with performances of the 13 monologues at 7:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, Oct. 29 & 30 and Nov. 5 & 6 and at 2:30 p.m. on Sundays, Oct. 31 & Nov. 7.

For more information about the Woodpecker Lips Directors Workshop, email Thompson at woodpeckerlips2021@gmail.com.

Diane Eaton
dianetn@ptd.net
(570) 724-3800