The Women’s Project Theater's “The Architecture of Becoming” is the dynamic work of five authors and three directors who have created a production that is intriguing, mysterious and insightful.  Written by Kara Lee Corthron, Sarah Gaucher, Virginia Grise, Dipika Guha and Lauren Yee and directed by Elena Araoz, Lydia Fort and Lauren Keating, the production brilliantly combines secret societies, silent films, different genres of music, the history of the New York City Center, and the fictional lives of five unique individuals who are the personifications of “…the city. And the dreams that gather here.”

The production spans the early 1900s to the present seamlessly with the assistance of the wonderfully detailed costume design of Kate Fry, the scenery and light design of Justin Townsend and the sound work of Elisheba Ittoop.  In addition, there are many underlying themes woven into the fabric of this production: the sacrifices that people make in the process of “becoming”; the toll that the pace of living in New York City takes on those who come to the big city in pursuit of their dreams (“So many come, so many go!”); and the reality that artists and those who dream big often “can’t see the distinction between dreaming and living.”

“The Architecture of Becoming” is a unique body of work in that it is the result of the collaboration of so many artists. There may possibly be too much going on within the production, which packs a lot into its 85 minutes, but the three directors do a wonderful job tying all the sub-stories together, and make great use of the beautiful space.  The entire ensemble is dynamic, colorful and show great range in their portrayal of a diverse set of characters. Playing multiple roles that span differing time periods, the multi-ethnic cast (Claudia Acosta, Vanessa Kai, Christopher Livingston, John Norman Schneider and Danielle Skrasstad) deliver at every turn and the commitment to their craft is more than evident.

To learn more about the Women's Project Theater, check out our interview with Producing Artistic Director Julie Crosby here.