Marcela Lorca Reflects on Final Project with Ten Thousand Things Theater
Sunday, October 6, 2024 at 8:58AMArticle by Becky Fillinger, photos provided
Marcela Lorca
A Discussion with Marcela Lorca, Artistic Director
Ten Thousand Things Theater's current production of Helen will be the final show for Artistic Director, Marcela Lorca. The play began its tour October 3 and runs through November 10. We talked to Marcela about the themes of Euripides’ play and its relevance today, and her reflections on her time at Ten Thousand Things Theater.
Q: You’ve been the Artistic Director at Ten Thousand Things (TTT) for 6 years. Helen will be your last production there - what are your thoughts as you reflect on your time at the theater?
A: I feel immense gratitude for this great community of artists, colleagues, and diverse audience members. They’ve given me the opportunity to bring unique stories to life in ways that have taught me so much. I’ve learned, I’ve dreamed, and I’ve collaborated in atmospheres of joy, creativity, and love. What else can one ask for? TTT will always have a special place in my heart.
Q: Helen by Euripides was first produced in 412 BCE. What themes from the play do you think are relevant today?
A: The play asks some important and universal questions in a unique language that blends music, comedy, and high drama: How can we discern between what’s true or what may be false? Does it sound familiar? Is war inevitable? Why can’t we solve our problems through dialogue? Do Gods exist? And if so, how do they treat mortals?
Q: Great job casting this production! How did you go about recruiting such a stellar cast?
A: It is a slow and thoughtful process. This was a challenging one as we needed a cast of great singers who could embody specific roles and have the generosity and skill that deep choral/ensemble work requires.
Q: What’s next on the horizon for you and how may we follow your news?
A: I’m excited to focus solely on directing for the foreseeable future. I am based in Minnesota but will travel where the work takes me. In the coming months, I will direct a new play called “December: A love years in the making” by Marisela Treviño Orta at the Alley Theater in Houston, and then I will direct Nilo Cruz’s “Anna in the Tropics” at the Asolo Theater in Sarasota. I look forward to my next artistic chapter and to continue my work in different venues and formats. I will be posting about my work on social media and on my website: marcelalorca.com.
Please note - Approximately half of TTT’s award-winning shows are performed for paying public audiences, and the other half are performed for free in locations where people may not have ample opportunities to see live, professional theater, including correctional facilities, shelters, English Language Learner centers, centers for individuals with disabilities, and low-income senior and youth centers. There is one performance at Open Book (October 27) and many at nearby Hennepin Methodist Church and the Capri Theater. Check the schedule and please come out to support this worthy theater company.
