The Love Song of J. Robert Oppenheimer by Carson Kreitzer tells the story of the father of the atom bomb and his work for the Manhattan Project at Los Alamos, New Mexico. Oppenheimer's rise and fall erupt in this kaleidoscopic play exploring questions of faith, conscience, and the consequences of the never-ending pursuit of knowledge.
This free, streamed production presented by Rowan University Lab Theatre premieres on April 15 at 7 pm on is available to view any time through April 17 at 11:59 pm. Advanced registration is required through this link: https://ru-labtheatre.ticketleap.com/thelovesongofjrobertoppenheimer/
Keep on reading to learn how director Julia Rivenburg prepared to run her rehearsal process and adapted to a virtual format.
Rivenburg had no intention of proposing to direct for Lab Theatre until judging at a New Jersey Drama and Forensics League competition with Northern Burlington HS representative and RUTD student Jason Wylie. A student came in with Kitty's Act II monologue from The Love Song of J. Robert Oppenheimer and Rivenburg went on to purchase and read the play. From then, the wheels started turning to propose for the Lab.
"It's everything I ever wanted in a show", said Rivenburg. She later found out the show had already been produced by Lab in spring 2014. The Rowan University Department of Theatre & Dance (RUTD) has already done revivals such as Hair and Groove, and she thought it was time for a student-directed revival to happen.
Before the pandemic hit, Rivenburg was ready to have a normal rehearsal process with an in-person production set in Oppenheimer's living room. As she was simultaneously assistant directing RUTD's Heathers, directed by Dr. Christopher Marlowe Roche, rehearsals were to be every couple of days beginning in the end of January 2021.
COVID-19 persisted and changes needed to be made. Rivenburg's play went online with only the recording element in person in separated practice rooms. Rehearsals began as soon as the play was cast in Decemeber 2020. After discovering virutal backgrounds of chalkboards with scientific equations, the set changed to inside Oppenheimer's mind. Her designers created backgrounds unique to each character.
What was the biggest challenge directing a Zoom production?
Rivenburg: "I think not being in the space with you all was the hardest, because when you're in the space it's easier to maintain the energy and be able to say, 'Can you actually move here instead of there?' We play hide-and-seek a lot with Zoom, saying, 'Where do you think Joe is? Where do you think Elliot is?' For us to be in the same space I know it would be a lot easier and a lot more time effective."
Rivenburg is in Rowan's MST program for Theatre Education as she intends on directing in an educational setting. When deciding to become a teacher, she set out to take everything she learned in college and apply it to the education she will give to her students. One of the things she discovered in higher education was moment before and character work. Making sure her cast understood their characters and how everything around them affects them was key for Rivenburg; she assigned each actor to write out what the moments before their scenes were as well as create a PowerPoint of individual character research.
What was your favorite part about directing The Love Song of J. Robert Oppenheimer?
Rivenburg: "The week we were all together was probably my favorite part of it because I could actually spend time with you all and see you be your quirky selves. I know most of you, but I got to know some of you a little bit better which I thought was nice. I also think PowerPoint night was one of my favorite nights, and our questions of the day for warmup! They're not necessarily directorial moments. I think us getting to know each other is important and those are things I would like to do as a director and educator- to get to know my students and actors a little bit more. I don't think you should just have this impersonal relationship with them."
The ending of the show is a standout moment for Rivenburg. She has gotten emotional from the first moment she heard her actors, now cast as Oppenheimer and Lilith, do this scene in callbacks all the way to recording the final product four months later. "Yeah, this is it. I'm so happy this happened", said Rivenburg.
Enter Oppie's mind in a revival like you've never seen before. The Love Song of J. Robert Oppenheimer premieres this Thursday, April 15 at 7 pm and is available to stream until "closing night" April 17 at 11:59 pm.
TRIGGER WARNING:
This production contains material that may not be suitable for all audiences. This includes suicidal thoughts and actions, anti-Semitism, burn marks, and loud sounds.
RUN TIME:
Two hours with a five minute intermission
Director: Julia Rivenburg
SM: Bella DeNapoli
ASM: Kaya Snow
Sound Design: Tyler Davis
Set Design: Becky Fritz
Scenic Charges: K Siget and Lisa Ribinsky
Costume Design: Emma Nevitt
Makeup Design: Mckenzie McClure
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See you next week!
Erica Gerold
Theatre Arts & Public Relations '23
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