"YOU are the one person in control of what happens to you, and if you believe in yourself, that's all you need to get things done." -Abby Leyh
Tomorrow, March 12th, an original play by RUTD's very own Abby Leyh will open at Rowan University in our Black Box Studio!! Abby Leyh is a senior theatre major with a concentration in design/tech and a minor in creative writing. Her play, Colors in the Dark, provides an artistic insight into a family's process of experiencing a stillbirth and attempts to discover why humans place so much meaning and faith in higher powers.
Abby Leyh is the writer, director, sound designer, and one of the master carpenters for this show! Her team is made up of Alex Dossantos (Set and Lights,) Emily Stansbury (Costumes,) Molly Moore (Props and Makeup,) and Michaela Navarro (Associate Sound Design, Original Compositions.) Creative support comes from Lisa Ribinsky (SM, Master Carpenter,) Gian Verderose and Hannah O'Brien (ASMs,) K Siget (Scenic Charge, Master Carpenter,) and Tyler Davis (Master Electrician.) Abby notes that she would not have gotten the show up without them on top of her design/creative staff.
Last semester Abby finished stage managing Groove, our dance show, and this semester she just closed stage managing Urinetown: The Musical. Keep on reading for an interview with Abby on her history with Colors in the Dark, her characters' stories, Rowan's Lab Theatre, her cast and creative process, her show's relationship with March of Dimes, what she has taken away on a personal level from putting on this production, and what she wants YOU to take away.
What is your history with Colors in the Dark?
"When I was in high school I had an idea for a novel where one of the characters was just a representation of a soul and not truly living. When I got to college I realized playwriting was where I could really expand on my thoughts as a creative individual so I switched gears. Suddenly I was writing a show about pregnancy loss and relationships within a family and I looked at both the show and my own life and found all of these similarities. I interviewed my parents on their story and used it as base research for the emotional experience of parents in this situation. After much more medical research and insight into other families who have experienced pregnancy loss, I was blending this and my very first novel idea into the beautiful piece it is today."
If you feel comfortable sharing, how has the story of Colors in the Dark been taken from your life on a personal level?
"Colors in the Dark has been pulled from my life in such an interesting way. A large portion of the plot is based off of my parents own experience with stillbirth, right after I was born. They had quite a few losses throughout my childhood and their strength and pure love for those children, my sisters, and I; we inspired so much of this show. I thought that telling their story would be an important part in their healing process, because even 20 years later, it isn't easy. I've also pulled a lot from my own childhood and relationships with my sisters. I'm so lucky to have four sisters that I am so close with and consider some of my best friends. Their influence on me is what really changed this story for the better and I am forever grateful for their love and the memories we share."
What is your play about specifically? Why do these characters' stories exist?
"My show is about a family that experiences pregnancy loss and how that loss can affect the dynamics of the family as a whole as well as the individual people. These characters' stories exist in the 24,000 babies that are stillborn every year in America. This story is stemmed from the very simple fact that we do not talk about pregnancy loss enough and I wanted a creative representation of what parents endure after such an event. Already, within my cast and their friends and families, conversation has opened up about pregnancy loss and I hope it does the same for audiences."
Why is the outlet of Rowan's Lab Theatre and senior projects important to you? What was the process of creating your senior project like?
"Lab Theatre is such an important outlet to me because of the big opportunity it gives to young directors and designers to showcase their work. Our mainstages are always directed by professors and outside guests, and more often than not designed by professors. Having an outlet in the lab to bring in fresh and new work from the young creative community while we are still in a space that allows for learning is SO IMPORTANT! The same goes for senior projects; these are our opportunities to produce theatrical work based off of our education that is wholly our own and, in my opinion, sets a great starting point for our careers as theatre artists."
What career path are you pursuing after your studies at Rowan? Why would you recommend studying here?
"I recommend studying at Rowan because it is a BA program that allows for range in your education. You don't have to stick with one thing, and if you put your mind to it, you can grow to be the best in everything you are interested in. Rowan also encourages collaboration with peers which is so important for artists going into the field. Your peers could be the people hiring you or the people you end up hiring, especially within the theatre! Post-grad I'm pursuing a wide range of career opportunities. I'm very interested in two things, travel and making a difference. I want to work for cruise lines and other touring companies to allow myself to explore some of the world while doing stage management work, and then I want to sit back and keep writing- trying to see what other social topics I can bring to light in my theatre work. Truly, I'm grateful for my education at Rowan which will allow me to do everything I want and more post-grad. I will never have to limit myself."
Can you talk about the fund you are working with for Colors in the Dark? Why is this organization important to you?
"Colors in the Dark intends to donate the reimbursed production budget to March of Dimes, an organization that works to ensure the health of mothers and babies before during and after pregnancy, and provides services for mothers and families post-loss. We will also be walking in the Rowan University March for Babies which raises funds to provide resources for mothers, advocate for policy change regarding the health of mothers and babies, and to educate on premature birth and pregnancy loss as well as mother and baby care.
This organization is so important to me because it is a pro-choice organization that works for the health and well being of mothers and babies, not only during the pregnancy but afterwards as well."
Can you tell me about your cast?
"My cast is Marisa Pelikan (Birdie,) Kirk Slingluff (Oliver,) Magdelyn Kelly (Alice,) and Isabella Regruto (Camille.) They have been an absolute dream to work with and have taken so much time to really make these characters that I have written into their own. It's so special to see a group of people love something as much as I do, especially when it's something I made up out of my silly head!"
What do you hope audiences take away from Colors in the Dark? What did YOU take away from it?
"I want my audience to take away a greater appreciation for this beautiful life, even if it's something small like a starry night! I also want them to engage in conversation about the topics I present and allow a safe space for families who experience pregnancy loss to mourn, heal, and grow.
I personally have taken away a better understanding of myself and what I consider important in my everyday life. Even though I wrote it, I feel like I learn something new about the show everyday and in turn learn something new about myself!"
What's your favorite part of Colors in the Dark? What's your biggest takeaway from creating this production?
"My favorite part of Colors in the Dark is being able to completely pull together all of my unseen talents into something that is entirely mine! I'm normally stage managing shows so my work is unnoticed, but this is the first time I've really been able to say, "Hey! This is me! I did this!" and people can look at it and totally see that! I've learned so much about what it means to be a playwright and director while working on this show and how important it is to understand every aspect of the theatre to be able to present a thoroughly cohesive aesthetic in a production. I don't think most people understand how much a director should know until they are in the position. I'm glad I took such a wide range of classes at Rowan and worked so many different positions to allow myself that knowledge."
Why should people come see your play?
"People should come see Colors simply because it's beautiful. From the words, to the lights, and the actors, everything is so magnificently stunning. -and it's nice to look and listen to pretty things for an hour!"
Do you have any finals thought or words of advice for the readers of this article?
"Do what you want. Be who you want. If someone says you can't do something, tell them exactly why you can! There were a lot of obstacles in my way for this show, and looking back, I'm so proud of myself for sticking up for myself and my art, and not taking "No" for an answer. YOU are the one person in control of what happens to you, and if you believe in yourself, that's all you need to get things done."
Come see Abby Leyh's poignant story on the effects of (child) loss and a greater appreciation for life. Colors in the Dark runs tomorrow, March 12th-15th. All performances take place in Rowan's Black Box Studio.
See you next Wednesday!!
Erica Gerold
Rowan University Musical Theatre and Public Relations '23
Abby Leyh, Rowan University theatre arts senior and creator of Colors in the Dark.
Photograph done by Rowan University theatre arts freshman, Magdelyn Kelly.
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