Constellations Team Visits an Apiary
“Honeybees have an unfailing clarity of purpose ... I’m jealous.
If only we could understand why it is that we’re here and what it is that we’re meant to spend our lives doing.”
- Roland, Constellations
Silas Weir Mitchell plays Roland, a bee keeper struggling to find his place in life, love and the cosmos. To research the ancient art of beekeeping, the cast and members of the Constellations creative team took advantage of some lovely spring-summer weather to visit a local apiary and learned about beekeeping from Tim Wessels of Bridgetown Bees. Cast member Silas Weir Mitchell plays Roland, a bee keeper struggling to find his place in life, love and the cosmos.
About Bridgetown Bees
Bridgetown Bees was founded in 2012 by Glen Andresen and Tim Wessels, two beekeepers who live — and keep honey bees — in Northeast Portland, Oregon. The primary mission of Bridgetown Bees is to selectively breed and raise queen bees in the city of Portland that are suitable for year-round survival here and in other cities in the Pacific Northwest. To that end, the starting point is to use larvae from “mother colonies” of honey bees that have successfully overwintered in the city and have never been treated for mites, other pests, or diseases. In addition, we saturate as much as possible our breeding area of Northeast Portland with “father colonies” that have also over-wintered without treatment. Once (if?) over-wintering characteristics have been established, other factors, including honey production, gentleness, and low-swarming tendencies, will also be a part of the breeding program. If we are successful in our mission, these queens will be sold to city beekeepers. bridgetownbees.com
All photos by Kate Szrom.
More about Constellations:
Reviews of "Constellations"
"In the hands of such capable actors, the play dances through its complex premise with energy and purpose. For a play based on theoretical physics, Constellations twinkles with romance. ...
Dana Green's Inspiration for Marianne in "Constellations"
Becoming a theoretical physicist can be a daunting task. Here's a look at some of the resources Dana Green is using to prepare for her role in Constellations.
Post Show Talkback with Beekeeper + Physicist
Hear from two experts that advised the Constellations cast and creative team. Sunday June 4th following the matinee.
Resource Guide: The World of the Play
Explore the glossary and references in Nick Payne's Constellations.
Resource Guide: Language of the Play
Explore the accents and languages used onstage in Constellations.
"Constellations" Cast and Creative Team
Learn about Silas Weir Mitchell (Monroe in Grimm) and Dana Green (last seen at The Armory in Great Expectations) along with the out-of-this-world crew behind Constellations.
Cosmic Love
For millennia, storytellers the world over have riffed on the idea that true love might be “written in the stars.” Literary Manager, Benjamin Fainstein on love in the cosmic world.
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