Blasting Off with the Actors of Rocket Woman

Buckle up for a very special #TechTuesday, Encore fans. On the blog today, we’ve got the cast of Encore’s newest Theatre for the Very Young presentation, Rocket Woman, sharing a bit about the creation of the show, fun moments, and the importance of the arts.

Encore: What’s the theme of the show?

A.K.: Rocket Woman is about a kid named Robin who uses her imagination and a surplus of boxes to create a rocket ship that takes off on an adventure of its own. While it takes a few tries, Robin and her friends never give up on their mission.

Emily: Finding joy in the process of creating, rather than focusing just on the result.

Anderson: The show focuses on imagination and resilience. When at first you don’t succeed, in the words of Jean Pierre, “Try again!”

Encore: What do you hope young audience members will take away from this experience?

Emily: There are lots of different ways to accomplish your goals and there is magic in teamwork.

A.K.: I hope that audiences will be taken into the world of creation and make believe with Rocket Woman. I want kids to see that anything is possible with a strong imagination, some good friends, and determination.

Anderson: If you use your imagination, you can do anything!

Encore: What’s your favorite moment in the performance?

Anderson: Every time Jean Pierre is unhelpful, which encourages Robin to try a new idea.

A.K.: One of my favorite moments in the show is after the first rocket doesn’t blast off, when Robin keeps trying. She takes a new approach and looks for a way to solve the problem. Her friends encourage her to never give up, which inspires Robin to think creatively.

Emily: Whenever we finish constructing a new rocket shape, I feel the sense of achievement right there with Robin!

Encore: Could you describe the devising process for us?

Emily: The process was play! We played various games that helped us discover these characters, the environment, and how they interacted. By experimenting with voice, movement, improv, and just having fun, all of the pieces came together.

Anderson: We worked with Rachel to create the characters and the environment. It involved a lot of improvisations and games.

Encore: How does performing for the Very Young differ from other types of performance you do?

Anderson: It doesn’t. At its root, you are creating a character with given circumstances and objectives. You commit to the truth of the character and their situation. Every audience and every show is different regardless of the age of the audience and each should be given a generous amount of energy and care.

Emily: TVYA requires a level of specificity in performance that I find exciting. In any performance, I want my work to be truthful, but to keep the story moving with energy and precision, TVYA requires strong, clear character choices that reflect in the vocals, movement, and timing.

Encore: In your opinion, why are the arts important in the lives of children?

A.K.: I think the Theatre For the Very Young performances are so important because they expose young children to theatre in a way that was made just for them. Created with young audiences in mind, these performances bring the stories to life with audience participation, interactive props, and the chance to meet the performers and explore the set after the show.

Encore: Describe Rocket Woman in five words or small phrases.

Anderson: Send it to space! Yeah!

A.K.:
1. Imagination
2. Determination
3. Boxes on boxes
4. Try something new
5. Never give up!

Be sure to catch this imaginative and enterprising crew before they blast off for good. Tickets are on sale now, including discounted rates for groups of 10 or more. We look forward to seeing you at the theatre!

Photos by Aileen Pangan Christian. Costume design by Caolan Eder. Graphic design by Aileen Pangan Christian. Blog contribution by Shannon McCarthy.