Dana Green's Inspiration for Marianne in "Constellations"
If science is not your strong suit, don't worry. There is no need to do any background research to enjoy this cosmic love story. But for those of you wanting to know more, indulge yourselves.
In Constellations, Dana Green stars as a theoretical physicist named Marianne. How does one tap into enough knowledge about theoretical physics to come off as an expert in the field during show time?
Dana Green let us in on how she did it.
After some initial research, she found two women that really inspired her: Lisa Randall, a professor of physics, and Janna Levin, a professor of physics and astronomy.
An interview with Lisa Randall on John Stewart's show was the perfect fit to get Dana in the mood for physics!
After a few laughs, she watched Janna Levin's TED Talk, "The Sound the Universe Makes."
She also enjoyed Janna's epic love story between her and her husband, which brought together the facets of love and science. Much like Marianne and Roland in the play, Janna and her husband are an unlikely pairing.
And finally, Dana, along with her co-star Silas Weir Mitchell, director Chris Coleman and stage manager Kristen Mun, met with Dr. Joel Franklin. Dr. Franklin is a professor at Reed College and an expert in field theory and computation. The five of them sat down for an hour Q&A to cover references in the script and all things space.
Now, if you really want to understand the inspiration behind Constellations, you can watch the four-part documentary that inspired playwright Nick Payne to write this love story. The cast and crew also watched part of this documentary during rehearsal, in particular "The Illusion of Time" and "Universe or Multiverse."
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. ...
Constellations Team Visits an Apiary
The cast and members of the Constellations creative team took advantage of some summer weather to take a research field trip to a local apiary and learned about beekeeping from Tim Wessels of Bridgetown Bees.
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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