Passing Strange & Stew

Kami Rushell Smith, Eve Kagan, and Stew.

What I love about rehearsal is the process of exploration, the journey, the discovery that comes from play. And let me tell you, no one plays harder than us! After a very productive day of rehearsal on Saturday, blocking the first act of the show, we drove up to Portsmouth to see Stew and Heidi play live.   (Stew and Heid Rodewald wrote the book, lyrics, and music for Passing Strange.)   It was incredible! Stew is larger than life on stage - dynamic, funny, spontaneous, bold, and completely genuine.  Not to mention the fact that he is just the sweetest man. He thanked us for putting up the show and both he and Heidi said they can't wait to see it!

The thing I appreciated the most about Stew is that he is not afraid to speak and sing about controversial issues and some of what he speaks about relates directly to the work I've been doing with the students at Brighton High for the Tell Your Story project. In working with teenagers and asking them to speak about their lives all of the issues relating to identity come pouring out including race, ethnicity, gender, and sexuality. My job has been creating a space for them to engage with these issues in a safe and creative way. My hope is that the project will give our audience a little taste of the day-to-day lives of these students, from struggle and challenge to inspiration and delight. Youth's journey in Passing Strange is a journey we can all relate to - the process of becoming who you are is both painful and beautiful. I'm beyond excited to be involved with both of these projects and look forward to sharing them with the New Rep audience.