October 2015 – all for One productions

Working “In the Round”

–A guest post by afO guest director
for The Just So Stories, Lorraine Knox

Theatre “in the round” has been, well, around for millenia, dating all the way back to ancient Rome. Although proscenium stages (stages framed at the front by a large curtain, which can be closed) are the “norm” in contemporary theaters, many stages have been built specifically for in-the-round performances, including the nearby Wagon Wheel Playhouse in Warsaw, Indiana. Many other theaters have the ability to be configured in the round at times. The PPG ArtsLab, afO’s new home stage, is one of those theaters.

The term ‘in the round’ is a bit of a misnomer.

Introducing JUST SO STORIES’ director…and family!

Guest director Lorraine Knox, in a recent glamour shot which seems very *apropos* for this play!

Introducing…..a familiar face, in a new role! Lorraine Knox is certainly no stranger to all for One. She first appeared as Abigail Adams in our productions of American Primitive (2004 and 2008). Our audiences have also seen her as Madeline in Women of Lockerbie, the Great-Grandmother in The Princess and the Goblin, and most recently as Mrs. Johnson in last season’s The Music Lesson.

This season I am thrilled to have Lorraine as our guest director for The Just So Stories. I knew Lorraine would bring a fresh creative vision and energy to this piece. What I did not expect was that she would bring her entire family with her! Here is Lorraine’s own explanation of how this show has become “A Family Affair”:

The Just So Stories

We are getting excited about our annual “for the whole family” show. The Just So Stories is the title of a collection by Rudyard Kipling, a British writer from the Victorian era, perhaps best known as the author of The Jungle Book. The Just So Stories are all fanciful “origin” tales, such as “How the Camel Got His Hump”. all for One’s production is an adaptation by Joseph Robinette which begins with Elsie Kipling, the author’s daughter, awaiting her parents’ return from India. She decides to act out some of the stories her father has written, with the help of her new friends. Five of Kipling’s tales will be featured in the course of the play–which also tells us a bit more about Elsie and her family.

The stories (Kipling’s original titles) being acted out are: