Stagebridge co-director Gary Osteraas recently interviewed Jeri Lynn Cohen of Word for Word.
Osteraas: How did Word for Word get started?
Cohen: In 1993, Susan Harloe worked with Book It, the first West Coast organization to perform every word the author wrote. The first presentation was a short work of Dorothy Parker.
Osteraas: You also have a very active career as an actor. How are they different?
Cohen: Each format is like exercising a different muscle in the brain. It takes practice to perform the “he saids and she saids.” One of the things I love is that every production creates a sense of ensemble. You become part of a whole.
Word for Word students then did a short demonstration performance. First one actor read the story Traveling Alone by Rob Carney. For contrast, the actors performed it with movement, hand gestures and varying intonations.
The second version was far more dynamic and interesting. The Word for Word format induces the author’s prose to stick in one’s memory.
The demonstration was followed by an audience Q and A:
Q: How do you choose your material?
Cohen: Every month, we have a meeting where all we do is read potential material.
Q: What do you look for in a story?
Cohen: Beautiful language and interesting characters. Not all stories translate well when read out loud.
Jerri Lynn Cohen will be appearing in Body Awareness at the Aurora Theatre from January 27 to March 4, 2012.
Audiences’ next opportunity to experience Word for Word will be at Project Artaud in January. Look for Food Stories in the new year.
Stagebridge’s low-cost classes and unique programs have a positive influence on individual seniors and groups as well. Its mission is to ignite arts participation by all age groups.
Comments