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PERFORMING
AXIS SALLY
HONORS THESIS PROJECT
,SARA RENE' MARTIN
APRIL 30, I992
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DON LACASSE
FACULTY ADVISOR
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HONORS THESIS
As a perlormer, I thought that doing an honors thesis was a
great opportunity to try an unexplored avenue 01 perlormlng. For
me, that avenue was In the style 01 solo perlormance. I have been
perlormlng lor over ten years and have never had the opportunity to
do an extended solo act. I viewed my honors thesis as an outlet lor
that experience.
I toyed with the Idea 01 writing my own script, compiling a
script Irom all dlllerent lorms 01 literature, and even creating a
dance that told a story. I Iinally settled with a published script,
entitled, The Girlhood 01 Shakespeare's Heroines. This script was
comprised 01 live short plays, each one telling It's own story. I chose
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to perform the script entitled, Axis Sally. The Ilrst time I read the
script, I knew that I bad to perlorm It. It covered many aspects 01
my lile. The script dealt with many Issues which I have conlronted
through the last live years 01 my cottege career. I could relate very
easily to the character.
The dllllcult part about performing this piece was due to the
length 01 the piece. It Is a nine page monologue. I was terrilled 01
lorgettlng my lines. I learned that In solo perlormance, one cannot
rely on another actor to cover il one makes a mistake. It is very
dlilicult to cover a mistake In solo performance. The concentration
level must be exceedingly high.
Working on this piece challenged me as a perlormer. Not only
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because I was the only one on the stage and lorced to rely solely on
mysell, but I was challenged In the basics 01 acting. By this I mean, I
was challenged with a great deal 01 memorization. The piece lasted
lor thirty minutes. I discovered that I am capable 01 perlorming lor
that length 01 time alone. Although, I must admit, I have never
belore, In ten years, been as nervous as I was belore walking out onto
the stage. My heart was beating, visibly, through my shirt. But I
survived, and overall, It was a very worthwhile and wonderlul
experience.
It was good to work with a partner on this project. We worked
separately, but In essence, did the same project. The only dilierence
Is that Heather, my partner, only perlormed. I took care 01 all the
paperwork and technical aspects 01 the perlormance. I learned the
value 01 the roles 01 director and stage manager. Their jobs are very
time consuming.
Perlorming Axis Sally has proved to be one 01 the more
valuable experiences lor me, as a perlormer. Ileel that In dOing the
piece, I stretched mysell and my talents. I look lorward to the
opportunity 01 performing solo In the luture.
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TWO SHORT PLAYS FROM
THE GIRLHOOD OF
SHAKESPEARE'S
HEROINES
BY DON NIGRO
3:00 P.M. THURSDAY APRIL 30
STROTHER THEATRE
AXIS SALLY
PERFORMED BY SARA RENE' MARTIN
AND
HOW MANY CHILDREN HAD LADY
MACBETH?
PERFORMED BY HEATHER BAKER
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AXIS SALLY
PERFORMED BY SARA RENE' MARTIN
HOW MANY CHILDREN HAD LADY MACBETH?
PERFORMED BY HEATHER BAKER
THIS PROJECT FULFILLS HONORS THESIS CREDIT FOR SARA, AND
ADVANCED PERFORMANCE CREDIT FOR HEATHER.
SPECIAL THANKS TO JEFF BORYSKO FOR RUNNING THE LIGHTS AND
DON LACASSE, OUR FACULTY ADVISOR, FOR ALLOWING US TO WORK
ON THIS PROJECT.
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THE GIRLHOOD OF
SHAKESPEARE'S
HEROINES
BY DON NIGRO
3:00 P.M. THURSDAY
APRIL 30
STROTHER THEATRE
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