Mary Shelley Sees the Future

COMPANY OR GROUP: Runaways Lab Theatre SHOW: Mary Shelley Sees the Future

DIRECTOR: Olivia Lilley

Run Dates: October 2016 Run Location: OuterSpace Studios, Wicker Park, Chicago, IL Role: Jane/Isabella Baxter

This show was an original script by Olivia Lilley, chronicling a body swap between a 2016 Logan Square, queer woman and Mary Shelley during her youth. It was a feminist critique and exploration, with each person in the ensemble playing two characters in both eras. The ensemble was very strong, and Olivia’s rehearsals were historically informed, improvisational, movement based and collaborative. I greatly enjoyed tackling both characters I played, and Isabella Baxter’s love for Mary Shelley was a grand challenge I bit into nightly. The minimalist set worked well with the very angular ensemble choregraphy by Cheryl Nowlin. It was difficult because I both acted in and co-produced this show. Many lessons were learned!