A/B Machines Adapted from the work of Andy Warhol,
Created and Directed by Philip Gates
Ryan served as the dramaturg on A/B Machines, a new play adapted from the work of Andy Warhol, created and directed by WesGates at the Carnegie Mellon School of Drama. Ryan performed new play dramaturgy, working with Philip to develop the script, and was also the production dramaturg, providing support in the rehearsal room to sharpen the text and staging. Ryan created an online dramaturgical casebook, wrote a program note, and led a talkback. He also facilitated a discussion with one of Andy Warhol's nephews, who loaned the production team pieces of Warhol's for use in the production, and the production team's visit to The Andy Warhol Museum for a screening of Chelsea Girls.
Production Team Director: Wesleigh Gates Dramaturg: Ryan Dumas Assistant Dramaturg: Amalia Baker Scenic Designer: Katy Fetrow Costume Designer: Lindsay Tejan Lighting Designer: Ying Huo Media Designer: Giada Sun Sound Designer: William Lowe Stage Manager: Megan Jones Assistant Stage Manager: Juan Carlos Contreras Production Manager: Sarah Battaglia Assistant Production Manager: Evan Schild Cast MARILYN: Henri Fitzmaurice JACKIE: Patrick V. Davis LIZ: Hagan Oliveras |
Script Development
Ryan worked with Wesleigh to help develop the script of A/B Machines over the course of the months leading up to, and throughout, rehearsal. He performed several structural analyses of various early drafts to help establish and define the overall structure of the piece, and gave draft notes leading up to the rehearsal process to refine a complex script for performance. In rehearsal, Ryan continued to help refine the script, offering his own ideas about potential cuts and shifts, and offering dramaturgical feedback on script changes proposed by Philip.
Dramaturgical Assistance in the Design Process
Ryan was a presence throughout the design process, offering feedback and ideas for Wesleigh and the designers to ultimately create the visual landscape of A/B Machines. He worked to ensure that design choices were serving the text of the piece, while also giving the audience an interesting theatrical experience that served to give them the experience we intended.
Dramaturgical Casebook
Ryan created an online dramaturgical casebook for A/B Machines which was designed to be utilized by the full company (director, designers, managers, and performers). The casebook can be found here.
Program Note
Ryan wrote a program note for A/B Machines that described the major sources of the show's text, explained the concept of A & B, and allowed readers to determine what kind of Warhol's art they most align with. It can be found below.
AB MACHINES_pn_final.pdf |
Talkback
Ryan led a talkback after the November 29 performance of A/B Machines between the director, production team, cast and audience. Images from the talkback will be available below.
Photos by Amalia Baker.
Production Photos
All photos by Louis Stein.