If you haven't caught on yet, we're obsessed with the From A to Double D team. So far this week, we've talked to our director, playwright, stage manager, and cast. Now meet one of our Moxie veterans, our ASM and directing intern Sarah Connolly!
The essentials: Sarah Connolly is an aspiring theater director who graduated from Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT in May of 2019 with a degree in Comparative Politics and a Certificate in Civic Engagement. Sarah is particularly interested in the intersection between politics and storytelling and the ways in which performance can function as a tool for education. In her free time, she loves exploring the city, trying out new recipes, running, and listening to podcasts.
Read on for our Q&A with Sarah!
Q: What sparked your interest in working on this show and/or with Moxie Arts?
A: I worked with Moxie on their production of God's Necklace in the fall, and it was a great experience. I was particularly excited about the organization's dual commitments to producing work predominantly by and about women+ and partnering with local organizations to give back through the arts. I love that they really prioritize creating a space for women+ to create and grow together while also consistently thinking about the broader impact that their work can have on audiences and communities.
Q: What has been your favorite part of the process so far?
A: Being in the rehearsal room with this incredible cast and team! As someone who is very new to NYC and the theater community here, I feel like I am learning so much about storytelling and the nuts and bolts of putting up a show from all of the amazing people involved in this production, and it's been an incredibly enjoyable and educational experience so far.
Q: Who is a woman+ artist you admire and why?
A: I really admire Sammi Cannold, a young, female director who really emphasizes a director's responsibility to consider the time and place in which stories are being told, regardless of whether it's a production of a new show or a beloved classic. She's incredibly committed to researching the people and places on which her projects focus and using this research to educate audiences and find new ways to tell a story. As someone who is really interested in global history and politics, as well as the broader educational impact that theater can have, this is a practice that I hope to emulate throughout my career.
Q: What’s your favorite thing about living in NYC?
A: My favorite part about living in NYC is the amazing theater scene! As someone who grew up in Indiana and fell in love with theater through cast albums, it's really great to finally be able to see so many incredible productions. I also love how walkable the city is. My favorite thing to do with my friends is just pick a neighborhood to walk around and see what cool places and things we find.
Q: Why should people come see From A to Double D?
A: People should come see From A to Double D because it's a really fun and provocative show with an amazing cast and team. Every day when I leave rehearsal, I find myself thinking about the layers in the script and how affected I am by the ways in which Maggie, Mandy, and the cast so beautifully capture the highs and lows of female adolescence. I think a lot of people, especially young women, will see themselves in the characters and realize how their imperfections actually make them beautiful and human. You'll laugh, you'll cry, and everything in between!
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See Sarah make the backstage magic happen at the IRT Theater on January 23-February 2 when you come see From A to Double D! Got your tickets?