‘I act,” says 20-year-old Alana Young of Northampton.
Young, who studies theater and sociology at Smith College in Northampton, plans to study abroad during the next academic year, at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland, the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts, and in the Arts and Social Change program in the Czech Republic, through the School for International Training.
“I hope to gain some classical training and learn to merge my two fields of interest,” Young said.
Hampshire Life: What is your creative process like?
Alana Young: I try to read a script as objectively as possible at first, just to understand the story. When I re-read it, I like to journal my thoughts and think about the relationships, timeline, language and arc. The rehearsal process really depends upon the director, but the standard is to block it, rehearse it, then add the technical elements like costumes, lighting and sound. Then you add an audience and you continue to discover new things.
H.L.: What do you hope an audience experiences during one of your theatrical performances?
A.Y.: I hope the audience feels engaged and invested, and walks away with a lot to discuss and at least one personal moment of resonance.
H.L.: Does your work start with a “Eureka!” moment?
A.Y.: Absolutely not. But there are moments when someone tries something new, or an audience reacts in an unexpected way that you learn something new.
H.L.: How do you know you’re on the right track?
A.Y.: I get a lot of feedback from a director.
H.L.: What do you do when you get stuck?
A.Y.: Take a break, run away for the summer, go upstate. No, but seriously, if I’m stuck it’s probably because I’m overthinking something.
H.L.: How do you know when the work is done?
A.Y.: The show closes! Thank goodness theater has a deadline, otherwise nothing would ever be finished.
H.L.: What did you do today that relates to your art?
A.Y.: I memorized my lines.
H.L.: What was the first role you ever played?
A.Y.: Old Henry in my second-grade class’s performance of “Old Henry.”
— Kathleen Mellen
Alana Young appears in New Century Theatre’s production of “Time Stands Still” by Donald Margulies, directed by Nicole Ricciardi. The show opened Thursday and continues July 23 at Theatre 14 in the Mendenhall Center for Performing Arts on the Smith College campus. For information and tickets, visit newcenturytheatre.org.