Director's Note
Many of us may be far from our loved ones right now. This may be due to school, family, a job, the restrictions of this pandemic, or something more serious. It can be frightening to think about how one's relationships with others will change. In fact, it can feel like the world is ending. It can feel like you are losing that person. But, change is inevitable and this physical separation does not have to produce a relational one. As we move out of our parents' house and into the many different stages of adulthood, we constantly are expected to adjust our inner circle. Maintaining love and friendship beyond the day-to-day is part of growing up.
Impact focuses on Rhett and the figments of his imagination after he is knocked unconscious. The two figments know everything about Rhett, including his secret: He has accepted his dream-job across the country and must leave his family, friends, and small town in a few days. Rhett hasn't told any of his loved ones out of fear of disappointing and hurting them. The figments use their abilities to guide Rhett to face his fears, pursue his dreams, and understand that love and its impact are more powerful than distance and hardship.
While we may not get our own figments to guide us through metaphysical therapy, each of us has to learn to say goodbye to our loved ones, at least for a while. Many of the people on this team are seniors in college, myself included. It can feel especially unfair to have to deal with so many goodbyes after a difficult year that was not what anyone expected. But in the end, we have to face an unknown future and trust that our commitments to each other will be enough. Saying goodbye gives that relationship meaning. And this is because, even when a person is no longer around, their impact on others remains strong.
-Morgan McCall, Director
Impact focuses on Rhett and the figments of his imagination after he is knocked unconscious. The two figments know everything about Rhett, including his secret: He has accepted his dream-job across the country and must leave his family, friends, and small town in a few days. Rhett hasn't told any of his loved ones out of fear of disappointing and hurting them. The figments use their abilities to guide Rhett to face his fears, pursue his dreams, and understand that love and its impact are more powerful than distance and hardship.
While we may not get our own figments to guide us through metaphysical therapy, each of us has to learn to say goodbye to our loved ones, at least for a while. Many of the people on this team are seniors in college, myself included. It can feel especially unfair to have to deal with so many goodbyes after a difficult year that was not what anyone expected. But in the end, we have to face an unknown future and trust that our commitments to each other will be enough. Saying goodbye gives that relationship meaning. And this is because, even when a person is no longer around, their impact on others remains strong.
-Morgan McCall, Director
About our show
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Impact was created in 2021 for a 24-Hour Playwriting Festival at Grand Canyon University's Theatre department. Two writers, one director, one stage manager, one designer, and three actors were tasked with creating, rehearsing, and performing a ten-minute show in 24 hours. The show had one line it had to include ("Tomatoes...?") and the theme had to be "impact." At the end of this chaotic project, our group swelled with pride and wiped away tears, filled with emotion and relief. We had created a show from nothing and its message resonated with each of us in a different way. As the director, I was able to work closely with each member of the group; Their work ethics, kindness, and passion astounded me. Once the adrenaline of the experience had worn off and a few days had passed, I had this uncanny feeling that we weren't done with our little musical.
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The next two months were spent in rewrites, rehearsals, recording sessions, and editing. While that original team was maintained, we invited more cast members and collaborators to help us expand the piece and transfer it to an audio experience. We chose to share Impact: A New Musical through audio broadcast to professionally capture the talent of our team in a way that best respected social distancing guidelines in the Covid-19 pandemic. The cast and creative team is made up entirely of students, learning to adapt and create art in these times that live theatre is restricted. We hope audiences are inspired, moved, and receptive to Rhett's story and the lessons he learns.
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