A PLAY OF LIGHT - A Solo Performance of My Own Design

Abstract

This thesis documents the creation of A PLAY OF LIGHT, a capstone assignment for the Professional Actor Training Program. I track the creation and performance of my solo show, from inception to performance. For this project, I pulled upon two major life events that fundamentally changed my outlook on life: my partial vision loss at twenty-five and being raised by a legally blind father. This events not only inspired the projects themes, but also the structure and goals. I was attempting to speak to physical mortality and mental health through parallel stories, one of vision healing and one of vision loss—light and darkness. I employed several acting skills and techniques I learned throughout my previous two and a half years of training in my process. This thesis explores my chosen methods of research and my artistic choices along with the explanations behind such choices. I also have included the script for the solo show and eight figures to give a visual aid to the thesis.