Support Student Theatre: Karagula Honors Capstone Thesis

My name is Abigail Thompson, and I am the director of a proposed production of KARAGULA by British playwright Philip Ridley, produced via arrangement with the Knight Hall Agency and the Texas State Honors College. In directing this play, I want to explore pieces of theatre that directly intend to leave the audience with questions, whether about the world around them or the text itself. I intend to conduct research on the success of my goal through a quantitative content analysis of remarks made by audience members during post-show talkbacks. Through this analysis, I will be able to draw conclusions about my directing style to help inform my future choices as an early career theatre practitioner. It will also help me engage in a dialogue with other artists surrounding theatrical philosophy and the struggle of keeping an audience engaged in what is a rapidly transforming theatrical community. In order to be able to effectively take part in that discussion, I need to have my own ideas to share, and in order to do that, I need to determine the validity of those ideas in practice. Hence, this project.

KARAGULA is a piece of theatre that explores the political landscape of a post-nuclear America based on the culturally mutated remnants of society as we know it today. Taking place over the course of a century and through the experiences of over forty characters, KARAGULA shows multiple cycles of the rise and fall of civilization in various forms. In an election year, the discussion of the American future in an absurdist context makes accessible the potential ramifications of the smallest decisions Americans make, particularly in regard to news media.

Funds donated will be put towards the realization of this production, from purchasing and renting technical equipment for sound, lighting, and projections to purchasing lumber and paint to create our set, to thrifting and fabricating props and costumes to better realize the world of the play. Funds will also be used to cover the cost of scripts required to be purchased as per the licensing agreement.

Though I do not anticipate a surplus, any surplus funds will be donated to the Texas State Honors College with the specific purpose of funding future Honors Capstone Theses based in Theatre and the Dramatic Arts. Whether used in this production or a future production, 100% of the funds raised will go towards furthering the academic pursuits of young artists.

I thank you for your consideration.