top of page

** Most Recent: Runner Up -- Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival Region 2: Stage Directors and Choreographers Fellowship **

Light The Way Back - Rachel Luann Strayer 

University: A New Generation - Jon Jory

This play was performed as Bucknell Univeristy's First-Year show for the Fall of 2023. 

 

My primary goal was to help first-year students grow as actors while fostering a lasting sense of community within the theater department—one that would support them through the tricky transition to college life and remain with them for years to come.

Featuring 44 speaking roles of varying sizes, the play allowed actors to explore versatility by taking on multiple characters, offering both featured and ensemble moments to shine. Spanning multiple college campuses and stages of the college journey, the themes were deeply relatable to first-year students, from the excitement of stepping onto campus for the first time to the bittersweet farewell at graduation. The play’s flexible casting and its thoughtful approach to addressing deep, sometimes controversial topics (abortion, climate change, self harm, etc.) provided a unique challenge, fostering emotional expression, character development, and authentic communication among the cast. Despite its vignette structure, the play facilitated community-building through varied rehearsal groups and collaborative opportunities. Ultimately, I chose University: A New Generation because its mix of whimsy, sincerity, and heart created a meaningful platform for experimentation and connection.

Assistant Director Experience

The Sweet Science of Bruising - Joy Wilkinson

Director: Anjalee Deshpande Hutchinson

Responsibilities included serving as Fight Captain, where I ensured the safety and precision of stage combat; Dialect Captain, helping actors to perfect their accents for authenticity; and Intimacy Captain, fostering a safe and respectful environment for staging sensitive scenes. I also led warmups to help the cast connect, energize, and prepare for each rehearsal or performance. My work on this production allowed me to merge creativity with technical oversight, creating a dynamic and supportive rehearsal space.

© 2023 by Sasha Blake. Proudly created with Wix.com

bottom of page