What is Vertigo?
Vertigo gives undergraduate playwrights the opportunity to have their original scripts realized into full-fledged productions. By producing student-written theatre, Vertigo hopes to be a creative and dynamic presence on campus, encouraging students to take artistic risk. Vertigo is the only student theatre organization on campus that produces entirely student-written work.
Tell me about This Is Not A True Story!
This Is Not a True Story takes the heroines from “Madame Butterfly”, “Miss Saigon”, and the Case of Takako Konishi out of their Orientalist, romanticized origins, and gives them their own lives and, for some, their own last names. We follow the lives of these three young Asian women as they contend with the white men so keen on wooing them: a geisha in late 1800s Japan, a bar girl in mid 1970s Vietnam, and a treasure hunter in 21st century Japan. As times collide, fates change and tragic fiction is re-written. For some, though, the hard facts of their realities remain.
Why should I support This Is Not A True Story?
This Is Not A True Story is about the myths and unvarnished realities in the lives of East Asian women. A cast entirely made up of Asian-American women pursues love, friendship, family, career goals and their own places in the world at a breakneck pace. Shows that talk so honestly about fetishization, anti-Asian racism, sexual assault, motherhood and agency are rare in the theatre world. Preston’s script dares to be honest and clear. We couldn’t be more excited to premier his newest play!
Where does the money go?
All donations go to major design elements that, put together, will bring the world of the show to life. Each piece of the puzzle is absolutely vital in making the show what it is.
Set and Space: We’re creating two worlds: the stereotypical “Orient” of shows like Madame Butterflyand Miss Saigon, and the unfamiliar, lonely United States. The space becomes a tea garden, a geisha’s home, a war-torn Vietnam, Fargo, ND, and the space for awkward, meaningful phone calls. We’ll be creating a space that invites the audience into these fictional and true worlds and makes them uncomfortable at the same time.
Lights: In each act, we’re using light to create mood – it’s just as responsible for bringing the space to life as the set. With a largely white-based set, lights will really set the tone.
Sound: With so many settings and so many in-person and face-to-face interactions, our sound team is critical, creating impactful, bold moments.
Props: We couldn’t show a character’s discovery of War and Peace, predicting new love on flower petals, or an apartment marked by depression without our amazing props team.
Costumes: In order to recreate styles from late 19th-century Japan, 1970s Vietnam and early 2000s Japan, our costume designer is buying, renting and creating pieces. Our actresses double roles, and realistic, detailed costumes help distinguish new worlds and eras from each other.
Hair and Makeup: From geishas and bar girls to office ladies and worried mothers, our hair and makeup team will help display and break down stereotypes of East Asian women.
The Cast
Mari Uchida – Takako Konishi (The Myth) and Takako Konishi (The Reality)
Sharon Wei – CioCio Tanaka and Others
Shea Lee – Kim Nguyen and Others
Production and Team
Preston Choi – Playwright
Rachel Holtzman – Producer
Marley Smith – Space and Set Designer
Janet Lee – Lighting Designer
Camille Michelotti – Sound Designer
Hannah Rosenstein – Costume Designer
Katie Chang – Dramaturg
Jason Yuan - Graphic Designer
Emma Brick – Business Co-Director
Allyson Snyder – Business Co-Director
Rehearsal Team
Jess Levin – Director
Faye Oyang – Stage Manager
Showtimes:
Thursday, April 13th – 8 p.m.
Friday, April 14th – 7 p.m. | 10 p.m.
Saturday, April 15th – 2 p.m. | 8 p.m.
Location:
This Is Not A True Story will be performed in Shanley Pavilion located at 2031 Sheridan Road, Evanston, IL.
Tickets:
Tickets are available at the door: $5 for Northwestern Students and $10 for the General Public.
I want to support this, but I’m having trouble donating through Indiegogo?!
Send cash and checks made out to Northwestern University!
You can send checks to:
Rachel Holtzman
1870 Orrington Ave
Evanston, IL 60201
If you are unable to contribute monetarily, you can also help us out by sharing the link to this page! We appreciate your support!