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Dec. 16, 2024, 9 a.m.

Happy Holidays + 1 Semester Down ✅⛄

The Elusive Chartreuse The Elusive Chartreuse
This is Charlene Adhiambo’s occasional newsletter. Here’s what’s been happening and is to come in Charlene’s corner of the universe:

Happiest of holidays! Don't know if this is the same for you, but it's been a taxing year. I hope you get lots of rest this winter, especially for the impending presidency, ongoing war, genocides, economic crises, and, and, and...

Despite the chaos, I have had a lot of bursts of lights this year, primarily getting my first short story published, having a poem published, being a semi-finalist for a play residency and being commissioned to write a play for said residency, and getting into graduate school! My first semester is a wrap, and I am very proud of my accomplishments in such a short amount of time.

I'd love to share with you a clip of the first scene I have directed, from THE TAPESTRY by Alexis De Veaux (1976), a play about law student Jet in the days leading up to her bar exam. The scene, from Act 2, takes place in the morning in Jet's apartment. She is frantically preparing for her law class. She’s sleep-deprived. The night before, she had a nightmare that foreshadows a betrayal she will discover later in the play. Click the links below to watch my scene & learn about my process.

Scene from THE TAPESTRY

Explaining my process

I had so much fun! I'd really like more practice with directing, so keep me in mind for low-stakes theatre directing projects and let me know if ever a director is open to being shadowed or looking for an assistant.

This semester, I started working on several writing projects I'm very excited about: ONE NIGHT ONLY, set in Georgia in 1898 at a failing traveling minstrel show threatened by the budding film industry, and HER HANDS WERE SWOLLEN, my first solo show that is about the political role of black women in America and myself as an artist. Next semester, I'm taking the following courses: Playwriting 2 with Rogelio Martinez, American Spectacle with Lynn Nottage, The Dramaturgy of Musical Theater with Anika Chapin, TV Pilot with Noelle Viñas, and Solo Shows with Leslie Ayvazian.

School starts back up January 21. I'll spend 2 weeks in Atlanta, read for fun, and hibernate. See you next year! I am thankful, as always, for your support and the joy you bring to my life. Thank you for reading <3

Until next time—

Charlene

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