Artist Profile by Karen Dabney

This April, I had the joy of directing three generations of women for Bekah Brunstetter's hilariously heart-warming play "Mom, Stoned" as part of Phare Play's Spring Shorts: An Evening of One-Acts. I admit this was my first opportunity directing actors noticeably older and, perhaps, more experienced than me. I was nervous. I can't direct someone like my mom. I'm supposed to respect my elders and seek their guidance, not the other way around.

My first read through was a nerve racking time for me. This play is about a daughter, mother, and grandmother finally opening up and communicating with each other about real issues during the final preparations of the Thanksgiving dinner. There's truthful, yet daring dialogue about losing one's virginity and getting one's 'salad tossed'. And... they smoke pot! My fears were abated immediately when I realized how much the actresses and I had in common. We were all smart, independent, strong-willed women who felt a need to share this story of three generations of women wanting to reach out but not knowing how.

Early on in rehearsals, I had a habit of calling Carol Neiman's character 'Grandma' all the time, instead of the scripted name 'Bev'. I soon stopped when I realized I was generalizing, limiting Carol by not acknowledging 'Bev' as an individual woman who happened to be a grandmother. During the course of rehearsals, I began to really empathize with the position 'Jodie', the mother (played by Peggy Giglio) was in. I suddenly saw my own mother in a whole new light. The grandparent-grandchild relationship is much less messier, freer than that of parent-child. And here was Peggy's character stuck with two direct parent-child relationships to deal with. Sorry Mom!

Katie McConaghy ('Bess') and I both looked up to the other cast members with respect and awe at their talent and their energy. This play was an amazing experience. We learned so much from each other. The play was so successful because we bonded during the process just as the characters in the play begin to bond, understand, and accept one another. A true sign of how awesome the collaboration between actors of all ages can become: our cast party with friends lasted until one o'clock in the morning, on a weeknight! Who says you stop partying hard in your twenties?!?