Today’s date: Monday June 29, 2026
Show title: The Tragedy Of Antony & Cleopatra
Director: Mili Koncelik
Staff crew: Analise Toone, Topher Zane (RDAs), Julia Hill, John Spellman (interns)
What we did
Rehearsal one of three (9-12): It was our first rehearsal day in the playhouse – so exciting! All campers were very excited about being in a new location. We circled up on the stage and Mili explained the plan for today. We did a quick round of East Enders before getting into movement and viewpoint work. After finishing movement work, we circled up and shared what we learned from the exercises. We then went into viewpoint work. Mili would pick three or two people to be in the center and have them create a story from the viewpoint aspects (without talking and minimal gestures) then asked those observing what story they got from watching. It was really cool to observe other’s observations, as from the beginning to the end, what someone may take from it may change. The actors then went into the minds and bodies of their characters and moved about the stage in the groupings indicated in the play (Cleopatra and her train, Antony and his followers, etc.) and displayed through physicality the relationships between all characters. All took a five. Afterwards, Mili began explaing working on the stage, how to page the curtains from the discovery space into the main stage to make an entrance, where to stand in corners downstage to ensure no blocking of audience view, etc. She had returning campers help display these things. She then had new campers come up and try paging the curtains and make entrances onto the main stage. We then started blocking the top of the show, starting at 1.1 through 1.2. We then took a five before starting at 1.3 afterwards. Mili previewed 1.4 and what it will look like – where we will pick up after lunch.
Quick and Quotable
- From the play: “Fulvia thy wife is dead.” (Third Messenger) (1.2)
- From the director: “You are messaging for your life.”
- From the cast: “I can’t get a word in with her.”; “Mili, when you have your hands up like that, you look like that Elmo meme.”
Production Insights
Being in a new location for rehearsal can open up for new things to be discovered within characters, ensemble, and the play overall. When in a new location, it’s important to familiarize yourself with it to make sure you’re comfortable and know where you can go within it. I have found that as an actor, knowing a space affects my performance (whether it is stiff or flows easily). From observing the actors do viewpoint and movement work, I saw how (with little speaking), a whole story can be conveyed and be different from what an audience member may take from it. It’s super interesting to watch.