Curtains up
University News
Dean Jenny Cavenaugh returns to her theatrical roots as director of Stop Kiss.
“Love can sometimes come with great costs, but ultimately, it's worth fighting for,” said Jenny Cavenaugh, dean of the School of Arts & Sciences, explaining what drew her to direct Stop Kiss, a student play about two young women whose growing friendship is on the brink of turning into something more. The characters’ first kiss is stopped by an act of violence.
“I think the play speaks to both the power of finding the person who makes you a better you and realizing the path won't always be easy, but it's worth it,” Cavenaugh said.
First-year student Kate Grattan and junior Maddi Lewis perform as the lead characters.
During a rehearsal in which the students acted without their scripts, one actor was crowding another on stage. “Move over here. You’ve got all this space,” said Cavenaugh. To make her point, she gave a little shimmy in the unused part of the stage, drawing appreciative laughter from cast members. As the play’s director, Cavenaugh appears to be having the time of her life.
“Many years before I was a dean, I was a theater professor full time. Directing was a regular part of my creative and scholarly work. I’m very grateful that I have the opportunity to do that here,” she said. “It feels great.”
Cavenaugh grew up in New York City in a theatrical family, putting on plays at home with her sister and three brothers. Her father, an educator, did amateur theater.
When she was in high school, her father retired, and the family moved to the country.
“That was a hard transition for me as a kid,” she said. But her new English teacher, who also taught drama, became her mentor. “Through theater, I found my people and a place to take chances, explore, walk in other people’s shoes — all those good things that can help make you a better person.”
Cavenaugh completed a bachelor’s degree in policy studies at Dartmouth College. But her desire to be in theater drew her back to the stage, and she pursued a Master of Fine Art in dramaturgy from Brooklyn College and received a Ph.D. in theater history and dramatic criticism from the University of Washington.
She fondly remembers being in her twenties in Manhattan, the same age and setting as the characters in Stop Kiss. “I think that's kind of the perfect time to be living in New York,” she said. “You're dirt poor most of the time, but there's so much happening, so many people, so many different experiences. And I was going to the theater as much as possible.”
The cast grows into their roles as the rehearsal continues, and the play shows its humor.
“In this play, you're talking about what it means to be part of the LGBTQ+ community right now, and the risks involved,” said sophomore Dave Hensley, who also appears in the production. He describes the dean’s directing style as collaborative, and not strict.
From the tiered seating, senior Alex Broening, watches the interactions on the stage. He’s planning his work as lighting designer while also working on his data analytics homework. The busy stage manager, junior Grace Allen, alternates between reviewing her notes on the play and filming scenes. She hasn’t had time to eat her take-out dinner.
There’s one more scene to go. Then comes words the hard-working actors long to hear after two hours of rehearsing.
“Take five,” said Cavenaugh.
Stop Kiss will be performed at the Cousins Studio Theatre, at the Modlin Center for the Arts from Oct. 3-6. Performances are sold out, but guests are welcome to wait for tickets in the standby line, beginning 60 minutes before each show. For more information, please visit the Center’s site.
Photos by Kim Lee Photography