Recommended by Heather Helinsky

  • Heather Helinsky: GUAPA by Caridad Svich
    “

    It was pure joy to dramaturg the NNPN rolling world premiere of GUAPA and live with these characters: sitting with them at the kitchen table as well as their interior, poetic dreamscape. The audiences are down for the ride, as women's soccer is such an accessible, universal experience and we can all recognize the tragedy of an aspiring character who is aging out of her sport. Caridad's plays are always soaring poetic and political theatre and I had recommended this to university programs looking for more relevant plays to serve their students.

    It was pure joy to dramaturg the NNPN rolling world premiere of GUAPA and live with these characters: sitting with them at the kitchen table as well as their interior, poetic dreamscape. The audiences are down for the ride, as women's soccer is such an accessible, universal experience and we can all recognize the tragedy of an aspiring character who is aging out of her sport. Caridad's plays are always soaring poetic and political theatre and I had recommended this to university programs looking for more relevant plays to serve their students.

    ”
  • Heather Helinsky: The Cause by Matthew Ivan Bennett
    “

    Matt & I worked together on THE CAUSE at GPTC with director Mary Beth Easley, where we were all focused on the rhythms of the play. Matt is precise with language and has created an intense journey for these historical characters. Dr. Rock facing off with John Brown is certainly a compelling reason for doing the play, but it is Harriet Tubman's emotional journey. It's how Matt explores the terrain of her prophetic dreams which makes for a unique point of view on Tubman that we have yet to see before on stage.

    Matt & I worked together on THE CAUSE at GPTC with director Mary Beth Easley, where we were all focused on the rhythms of the play. Matt is precise with language and has created an intense journey for these historical characters. Dr. Rock facing off with John Brown is certainly a compelling reason for doing the play, but it is Harriet Tubman's emotional journey. It's how Matt explores the terrain of her prophetic dreams which makes for a unique point of view on Tubman that we have yet to see before on stage.

    ”