Rorschach has always had a love affair with what we call “impossible stage directions.” We are drawn to moments in which playwrights invite us to create theatre magic and to embody something abstract in a tangible way. In the coming weeks, we’re going to explore the phenomenon of Impossible Stage Directions through a new project called Indelible.
Each week we’ll announce a new challenge: an actual stage direction from a play we’ve produced. Rorschach artists will have a week to interpret that stage direction by photo, video, or audio. SCROLL DOWN to see what artists have already created!
Friends and fans of Rorschach are encouraged to play along too. Just send your art to info@rorschachtheatre.com by Wednesday of the following week or tag us on Facebook (/rorschachtheatre) or Instagram (@rorschachdc). And remember, in the Rorschach test there are no wrong answers. We are what you see.
Rorschach is offering small honorariums to our artists for creating these works. If you like what you see and you’d like to support Rorschach and help underwrite these little indelible masterpieces you can make a donation anytime by CLICKING HERE.
Week #1 Challenge:
“SHE SMASHES THE DISCO BALL
WITH HER UMBRELLA.
IT EXPLODES INTO GLITTER.”
DEAD CITY
by Shelia Callaghan, (Rorschach 2009)
Week #2 Challenge
“HIS HEAD BECOMES THE SUN.
A HUGE, BLINDING, WHISTLING LIGHT CONSUME HIM.
SHE UNZIPS HIS SKIN AND INSIDE HIM IS THE SKY.”
THIS STORM IS WHAT WE CALL PROGRESS
by Jason Grote (Rorschach 2008)
Week #3 Challenge
“HE STARTS TO HUM THE SONG
OF GREAT SORROW + BEAUTY AS THEY WAIT.
LITTLE PIECES OF THE SONG ECHO IN THE WORLD AROUND HIM.”
A BID TO SAVE THE WORLD
by Erin Bregman (Rorschach 2016)
Week #4 Challenge
“HE WAVES HIS HAND AT THE SKY.
THE SPACE IS SUDDENLY BATHED BY UNDULATING GREEN, BLUE & YELLOW LIGHT. IT’S THE AURORA BOREALIS SHINING DOWN. DANCING.”
REYKJAVIK
by Steve Yockey (Rorschach 2019)
Week #5 Challenge
“THE MOON, STANDING ON AN OLD REFRIGERATOR, PLAYS THE VIOLIN: SOMETHING LUSH AND SENTIMENTAL”
REFERENCES TO SALVADOR DALI MAKE ME HOT
by José Rivera (Rorschach 2007)
Week #6 Challenge
A SPRY SORT OF FEMININE PERSON ENTERS, CARRYING SUITCASES. SHE WEARS AN UNUSUAL HAT, SHAPED BASICALLY LIKE A LAMPSHADE. SHE IS BASICALLY A LAMP. WITH A DECISIVE CLICK, SHE PULLS A CORD THAT DANGLES FROM HER EAR. HER HAT LIGHTS UP, ILLUMINATING THE ROOM.
GLASSHEART
by Reina Hardy (Rorschach 2014)
