"New works are the threads that create the fabric of our current lives. ": Sara Jean Accuardi's The Storyteller fosters creativity and community.  

Rehearsals for Western Washington University’s (WWU) The Storyteller by Sara Jean Accuardi are in full swing. “The Storyteller follows 17-year-old Randy who has lived her entire life off the grid with her dad on an old rotting houseboat, and she’s sick of it. Inspired by Shakespeare’s The Tempest, this play explores the magic and power of the narratives we create.” (Accuardi, NPX).  Kamarie Chapman, a playwriting professor and director of WWU's third play of the season, has been eager to dive into Accuardi's work “New works are the threads that create the fabric of our current lives. They reflect the current thoughts of the people living in the right now—even if they are set in a different time. It’s vital that we produce them and share these stories with the people that make up our community. It’s the way the classics become classic,” This is her directorial debut for WWU’s main season, but producing and fostering new plays is far from new to her. She has taught playwriting at WWU for 15 years and serves as the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Region VII Vice-Chair of the National Play Program. Kamarie is also the Co-Artistic Director of Bellingham Story Hour. (Chapman, WWU) 

When I entered the dim black box theatre (DUG Theater), it was silent. When I get to shoot in a rehearsal’s and/or live perfomances, if I have the chance, I’ll make an effort to selfishly ask if I can show up 15 minutes early. Whether it’s empty or not, sitting in a theatre has always brought me an immense amount of comfort. Once the cast and crew arrived, the hustle and bustle began, and I was on my feet shooting. The production was in its second week, and the set was bare—just a table, a couple of metal blocks, camper chairs, and props that occupy the space. While the story is set on an "old rotting houseboat," the scenic design team draws inspiration from the play’s "whimsical world of memory." Almost everything used in the production has been repurposed. With the set, they pulled almost everything from the props shop, including a pile of lumber already on hand and various items from the props loft. Most of the costumes are being pulled from existing pieces in costume storage and from the closet of costume designer Ren Andersen. Even the promotional poster reflects this ethos of sustainability and memory. Created by the cast, it features a photo of a box filled of trinkets that were found in Sara Jo Monaghan (Costume design faculty mentor) and Kamarie’s homes. These choices reflect the production's commitment to sustainability and resourcefulness, mirroring the ingenuity often present in communities navigating challenging circumstances, while ensuring the story is told with depth and dignity.  

Eva Nguyen, who plays Randi in The Storyteller, finds comfort in the creative freedom that new works like this one provide. “With a new play like The Storyteller, it’s just Charlise Haagenson (the understudy for Randi) and me. There’s no established blueprint, which I feel allows us to explore more freely, without the pressure to meet the expectations that come with traditional works.” While traditional plays often carry the weight of past interpretations, new works bring a different kind of pressure. In WWU’s case, the creative team is receiving fresh pages from playwright Sara Jean Accuardi throughout the process. These dynamic shifts require everyone to remain adaptable and collaborative, making the experience as invigorating as it is unpredictable. 

One of the standouts about this play is the music. Shannon and The Clams, and their album “The Moon Is In The Wrong Place” will be utilized in telling WWU’s version of The Storyteller. The album mirrors the themes of grief present in the play. “Shannon Shaw, the frontwoman of the band, just a few short weeks before her wedding, lost her fiancé, musician Joe Haener who died in a car accident. The tragedy rippled through the band, distorting their world as they faced the reality of the sudden loss of a loved one…” (Campbell, PAPER) When Kamarie listened to the album, she knew it lived in WWU's world of this play. “Shannon’s voice over the compositions pulls you into the beautiful and fun concepts with each different song. It’s one of the many reasons I’ve admired the band for so many years now” Kamarie remarked.  So, naturally, she reached out to their agent and they gave WWU permission to use the music for the production. 

The team cultivated a plan for the understudy team to curate a website, lobby display, and engage in community outreach, which lies at the heart of Accuardi’s play. “The aggressive gentrification here in Bellingham has left our greater community suffering. And while they are dealing with the immense stresses of rising costs, housing, childcare, and all the other day-to-day existing situations, they are also dealing with survival, death, and loss in so many ways.” Kamarie stresses. Bellingham’s housing crisis is on the rise and critical. As illustrated in the City of Bellingham’s article titled State of Housing and Homelessness  “​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Like many cities across the United States, Bellingham is facing h​ousing challenges that are impacting children and adults. At least 742 people in Whatcom County are homeless on any given night. One in four of our local working families can’t afford their basic needs” The dramaturgical team, curated a website that exposes audience members to resources in the community that support unhoused individuals. Additionally, they expand on the theme of grief and acknowledge our universal relationship with it. “Our community has experienced great loss over the last year, and we know that we are not alone in our grief. We hope that this story reminds others they are not alone either, and that there is no "right" way to grieve… By sharing these stories, we can find comfort in our shared humanity and support one another as we heal together.” (The Storyteller, WWU) This play mirrors the poignant reality of unhoused individuals navigating the precarities of survival and grief. By inviting audiences to confront these realities, The Storyteller becomes not just a performance, but a call to empathy and action. ​

Sara Jean Accuardi’s The Storyteller opens in the DUG at WWU Fri. February 7, 7:30pm PST. To learn more about WWU’s production of The Storyteller by Sara Jean Accuardi, please refer to their website: https://www.yesterdaywasfine.com/the-storyteller 

For all show dates and tickets, please refer to the College of Fine & Performing Arts website: https://cfpa.wwu.edu/event/storyteller