Joe Turner's Come
and Gone
ASSISTANT DRAMATURG
For my first Theatre School production, I worked under the guidance of head dramaturg J.D. Garrastegui and director Phyllis Griffin. Because so much of this Wilson classic is centered on re-remembering history in order to heal, J.D. and I collaborated on a timeline that centered on the experiences of African Americans from the 16th century to present day. I also tackled topics such as Wilson's influences, Yoruba spirituality, and the blues. Through this process, I learned the importance of not only what we research, but how we research and how that information is presented. Because many of the subjects brought up in the text are outside of my limited frame of reference, I had to be particularly mindful of what my biases were. I frequently consulted Phyllis, the cast, and my advisors in order to ensure that my findings were balanced and relevant.
