HeadSpace

“We have something in us, about us; it can be called many things, but for now let’s call it our original nature. We are born with our original nature, but on top of that, as we grow up, we accommodate to the patterns and habits of our culture, family, physical environment, and the daily business of the life we have taken on. What we are taught solidifies as “reality.” Our persona, the mask we show the world, develops out of our experience and training, step by step from infancy to adulthood. We construct our world through the actions of persecution, learning, and expectation. We construct our “self” through the same actions of perception, learning, and expectation. World and self interlock and match each other, step by step and shape by shape. If the two constructions, self and world, mesh, we grow from child to adult, becoming “normally adjusted individuals.” If they do not mesh so well, we may experience feelings of inner division, loneliness, and alienation."
-Stephen Nachmanovitch, Free Play: IMPROVisATIOn in Life and Art

This 41 minute production explored the mind and identity. Cylene & Jessica were inspired by psychoanalytic theory about the id, ego, and superego. They designed this show so that audience members would walk through a maze of different rooms, experiencing solos and small group works along the way that reflected different facets of one's identity. 

This production was originally scheduled to premier in Spring 2020, but was delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The original production had a circus theme with inspiration drawn from Alice in Wonderland. Since Cylene & Jessica had an additional year to play and experiment with the production, the overall tone shifted; however, these early inspirations can still be seen in the tent-like set structure, the tea party moments in The Ego solo, and the whimsical costuming.
Artistic Direction By: Jessica Murphy & Cylene Walker-Willis 

Stage Manager: Haley Hitch


The Dog and Pony Show
Choreographed By: Cylene Walker-Willis
Duet: Carrie Miles & Megan Hardy
Ensemble: Ashton Caulfield, Martha Hernandez, Jessica Murphy, Megan Pierson, & Cylene Walker-Willis
Music: 

The Ego
Choreographed By: Cylene Walker-Willis
Solo: Emily Green
Music: 

Intrusive Thoughts
Choreographed By Jessica Murphy in collaboration with the performer
Solo: Martha Hernandez
Music: "Fragments of Self" by Max Cooper & Tom Hodge

​The Id
Choreographed By: Cylene Walker-Willis
Duet: Ashton Caulfield & Megan Pierson
Music: 

Trauma
Choreographed & Performed By: Jessica Murphy
Music: "Teotihuacan, Pt.2" by Max Cooper & Tom Hodge

The Super Ego
Choreographed By: Jessica Murphy
Oklahoma Rehearsal Director: Cylene Walker-Willis
Trio: Megan Hardy, Carrie Miles, & Megan Pierson
Music: "Electricity, Arcing" by Sound Effects Library, "Animal Sounds" by Sounds of Nature, "At the Zoo" by Simon & Garfunkel, "The Syncopated Clock" by Leroy Anderson, "Will You Won't You Join the Dance" by Richard Hartley

Finale
Improvisation Structured By: Jessica Murphy
Performed By: Entire Cast
Music: "Serotonin" by girl in red


Premiere: August 27, 2021