Today’s date: Saturday July 4, 2026
Show title: Antony and Cleopatra
Director: Mili Koncelik
Staff Crew: Analise Toone, Topher Zane (RDAs), Julia Hill, John Spellman (interns)
What we did
10-12: Campers were told about the use of armor and weapons (be careful, not careless). We began tandem work. Some campers stayed upstairs for fight time with Topher for campers to get familiar and comfortable with using the swords. Those in 2.5 went downstairs with Mili and created a mini tableau of Cleopatra and her train before blocking the rest of 2.5. After a break, the tandem work resumed. Near the end of rehearsal, everyone rejoined together and we began blocking 4.10 and 11. For the last few minutes of our morning rehearsal, Mili talked through blocking for the last scenes.
3-5: In the main rehearsal room, Mili worked with those involved characters to block 4.12 and 4.13. Meanwhile, Topher had conversations with certain campers about intimacy moments for characters, including Caesar (3.6), Antony, and Iras and Charmian (5.2). He explained what the intimacy moments will look like, how intimacy rehearsals will happen, asked if the campers have any questions, or are uncomfortable with any of the moments being done. Meanwhile, Mili blocked 4.14 and 5.1. After a five, both blocking and said conversations continued. In the last bit of the afternoon block, those in 5.2 read through the scene, stopping at certain parts to explain what they said in modern language.
Quick and Quotable
- From the play: “A rarer spirit never did steer humanity: but you gods will give us some faults to make us men.” Agrippa, 5.1
- From the director: “Try and move my arm…you can’t.” “This is Lia flexing.” “Bend those knees, Queen.” “God forbid a woman wants to do a crossword.” “It can’t be a trapezoid anymore!” Mili
- From the cast: “I feel like a meerkat right now.” Evie; “I’m dead by then. Let’s go!” Zeph; “Back when we still said yonder.” Audrey; “Gossip girl was its own fandom blog.” Sanchez; “Mili, were you a Dr. Who girl?” Ariel; “I’m not as spring chicken as you are.” Kaleb
Production Insights
When struggling with a scene or physicality for a scene, working in depth with the director to get across exactly what is intended until it becomes crystal clear. The in-between moments of rehearsal is when you can figure things out more for your character and what choices can help better yourself as an actor and bonding between campers.