'Heavenly' Play at Home in Shakertown
By Sabrina Smith
Audiences are immersing themselves in Shaker culture this May as the University of Kentucky Department of Theatre and Shaker Village at Pleasant Hill come together to present a play set in the religion's "era of manifestations" in the early 19th century. "As It Is In Heaven," a play written by Arlene Hutton, offers its audiences a unique opportunity to travel back in time and get a glimpse of Shaker heritage and Kentucky history in the actual setting of the play.
Capturing the “era of manifestations” in early 19th century Shaker culture, "As It Is In Heaven" portrays a time of heightened divinity and strange behavior within the Shaker community. During the era, numerous accounts chronicled curious behavior among nine Shaker sisters who experienced unusual trancelike behaviors, communicated with "angels" and described journeys to "heavenly places." The UK production returns for its second year of performances staged in a rustic, open-air barn overlooking the restored Shaker community that inspired its author - Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill.
Rhoda-Gale Pollack returns as director of UK's production. She directed the state's original 2002 production at UK, presented as the play was in the process of being published, and 2008's production at Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill, known to many locals as Shakertown.
"The designers and I did a lot of our original research at Pleasant Hill and the staff members there were very helpful," comments Pollack, who serves as a professor of theatre history, theory and criticism, and directing at UK. "Many members of the Shaker Village staff saw our original production and hoped that one day there would be an opportunity for UK to bring a production of the play to the Village."
Work to an open-air barn in the Mercer County community in 2007 made it possible for UK to mount the first production of the play at its actual setting the following summer.
"I was excited about staging the play at the Village and the barn was perfect," says the director. "So for two weekends in late May and early June of 2008, UK Department of Theatre presented the play to audiences from around Kentucky, as well as audiences from other states who came to see the production after learning about it on the Shaker Village Web site. This year we return with a new cast of performers for two weekends in May."
Shaker Village music coordinator, Donna Phillips, will serve as the music director for the play. The play’s nine characters will again be portrayed by UK students. The cast of "As It Is In Heaven" includes: Maegan Woodlee as Fanny; Alys Dickerson as Polly; Susan Pope as Hannah; Genna-Gabrielle Cobb as Betsy; Katy Ochoa as Phoebe; Aylua Thomas as Jane; Natalie Nicole Burns as Izzy; Rebecca Farley as Peggy; and Erica Solitaire Chappell as Rachel.
Pollack is enjoying directing the nine actresses in the present cast as they are learning all the Shaker music, dancing, history and, of course, their lines while they build their Shaker characters.
"It is exciting to show the cast the actual location of every scene at the Village as I have placed them in several of the buildings. It is a most unusual experience to present a play in the location for which it was created," adds Pollack. "This is reinforced every day we play at the Village as the cast members walk in costume to and from the dressing area, seen by persons visiting the village, who believe they are real Shakers."
The director recognizes how special it is to help create and direct this play in its historic setting, and what a treat it is to share this moment in time in Shaker culture with audiences at Shakertown.
"Each time I work on this wonderful play, I learn more about the Shakers and their way of life. I always want the audience to enjoy hearing the music, seeing the lively dancing of the Shakers and viewing their way of life as a real experience. Bringing these characters to the stage and giving them real personalities so that the audience can appreciate their foibles, desires and needs is what I strive for as the director," Pollack says.
"As It Is In Heaven" first appeared before audiences at the Edinburgh International Festival in Scotland, where it premiered in 2001. The play then made its American debut the following year in New York City, and later opened in Los Angeles, where it enjoyed a four-month run at the Actors’ Co-op.
Arlene Hutton is a pen name for New York playwright and actress Beth Lincks, who has family ties to the Commonwealth. The writer has inked a number of pieces related to the Bluegrass including "The Last Train to Nibroc," set in Corbin, Ky., and "See Rock City" and "Gulf View Drive," which speak of local communities and institutions like Berea College. A member of the Dramatists’ Guild, her work has received significant acclaim beginning with "The Last Train to Nibroc," which received a 2000 New York Drama League Best Play nomination. Hutton has also been named a Heideman Award finalist four times and is a three-time Samuel French Short Play Festival winner. Likewise "The Last Train to Nibroc" and "As It Is In Heaven" are featured in the Smith & Kraus "Best Women Playwrights" anthologies.
The UK Theatre production of "As It Is In Heaven" presented in cooperation with Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill began May 15 and runs through May 24, at the Meadow View Barn, at Shaker Village. Tickets are available through the UK Singletary Center for the Arts ticket office.
For more information on show times and tickets for "As It Is In Heaven," contact the ticket office at (859) 257-4929 or visit online at www.singletarytickets.com.
