Gener8-tion-txt
By Adrian Velazquez
Issue date: 2/25/11 Section: Lifestyle
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These are the questions that "GEner8-tion Txt," a play created and written by Lehigh students and directed by Kashi Johnson, associate professor of theatre, will attempt to showcase and answer when it opens on April 8.
"'GEner8-tion Txt' is truly a one-of-a-kind show," said cast member David Quinones, '12. "I don't think anything like this has ever been done before. It's basically all original material. Everything you see is written and produced by local artists and cast members. It's something completely brand new."
"This is a story about today's generation spoken by today's generation," Johnson said. "I think it's a self-empowerment piece."
The play also emphasizes the role of technology as a way of self-expression in today's generation.
"There's a concept that goes throughout the whole show of technology," Quinones said. "The show is called 'GEner8-tion Txt.' We are the generation of texting."
The production took stage after Johnson taught a hip-hop acting class.
"Given the fact that I had done the 'Act Like You Know' class for four years (not consecutively), it made sense that this might be the next progression," Johnson said. "All those classes culminated in a final live show showcasing the work of the class. So, this [show] is a more full experience.
Casting for 'G-Txt' took place during mid-fall last year, well in advance of opening night. Most plays at Lehigh are cast about two months beforehand, but since the cast wrote the script, they had to devote an entire half semester to that.
The audition process was also different and unique compared to most.
With no script at hand to read from or prepare for, Johnson required aspiring cast members to each prepare and present an original piece of material.
Johnson said she was looking for fearlessness and trust in her performers.
"I really wanted people who were willing to express themselves and [who were] open to the journey that they were going to go on with me," she said. "They could trust the fact that even though I didn't have the answers, we were going to end some place really great."
"It had to be about ourselves," said cast member Allison Linn, '11. "I created a piece that was both movement, because I'm a dancer, and text, which I performed simultaneously."
After casting the show, work on the script began right away.
First, the cast focused on "ensemble building," writing some pieces and getting to know each other, Quinones said.
"Soon after that, we started banging out more and more original material. Kashi would give us topics to write about," he said.
"It took some time," Johnson said. "My writing assignments were very task-oriented.
"We sat down, and we just started brainstorming things that made sense to us," Linn said. "Kashi told us an idea that she had for where she thought maybe we could go with the show. We had 15 people writing different things."
The cast used an online cloud computing site called AirSet.com to share files with fellow cast members and submit them to the director.
When the cast returned from winter break, it finally had a rough script. It has continued to be changed until recently.
"Since I came on board, we've had three or four copies of the script," said stage manager Vanessa Arvidson, '14.
Now that rehearsals are underway, the cast and crew's stamina is beginning to be tested.
On the whole, students are able to earn up to six credits for this production. Two of them were from last semester and were optional, and this semester, the performance credit of any theatre production is also two credits.
There is also an additional studio class where some members of the production work on the finishing touches of the script.
"We meet twice in the week for two hours," Johnson said. "And we have rehearsals every night. The purpose of the studio is to iron out the kinks."
"It's rehearsal outside rehearsal," Linn said.
"Right now, my job isn't as difficult as it will be," said Arvidson, who takes charge of the entire production once technical rehearsals begin. "It's going to be a very hands-on show. It's going to be intense. It's going to be great."
Johnson is also involved with "The Last Days of Judas Iscariot," the production right before "GEner8-tion Txt."
It has been challenging for her stamina, but Judas has a flexible director, Gus Ripa, who coordinated well with her in advance, she said.
The ethnically diverse group of cast members is excited to show the Lehigh community the result of months of hard work and sacrifice.
"This play shows what we, as a generation, want to say," Linn said. "It's very personal. There is going to be a lot to take-in and focus."
Quinones said the show is very real, and he expects all the emotions of the audience members to be tapped.
"I will not hesitate to call this show anything less than generation-defining and revolutionary," he said. "GEner8-tion Txt" will be performed in the Diamond Theater in Zoellner Arts Center on April 8, 9, 13, 14, 15 and 16 at 8 p.m. A matinee performance will be held on April 10 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $12 for adults, $5 for students and$11 for faculty, staff and seniors.
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