By Juliana Stumpp
Co-A&E Editor
The play “Undisclosed” is a story many college students can relate to. It covers topics of love, heartbreak, troubles and acceptance of oneself.
CSUSM student Sara Gibbons, visual and performing arts major, wrote, directed and choreographed the play. This will be her seventh play to debut on the CSUSM campus. Gibbons is a member of the Golden Key International Honor Society, theater department, works for CSUSM back Video in the Community, and is a member of the CSUSM Improv team.
“Undisclosed” will make its debut premiere 7 – 9 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 9 in Arts 101, also known as the Black Box Theater. For CSUSM students, tickets are $3 and the general public is charged $5. The play will also be performed that Saturday and Sunday, also 7 – 9 p.m.
We had the pleasure of interviewing Gibbon’s about “Undisclosed,” her inspirations and past experiences.
Question: Describe the plot and characters in “Undisclosed.”
Answer: “Undisclosed” is a memory play with a twist, that centers on a handful of college students and a professor. Jase, the main character, recalls the past few months of his life as it relates to a music class and a woman, Cadence, who would forever change his world. Jase is cocky and arrogant turned romantic and hopeful. Upon meeting Cadence, he is immediately struck by her profound energy and poise and their journey ensues. Cadence is a woman of confidence who is a bit quirky and a ball of energy, but underneath her outer enigma, she is complex and troubled. Ultimately a love story, “Undisclosed” encapsulates a love triangle in the reality that is the human drama with a dose of characters that range from an eccentric music professor to a man’s-man of a roommate that you’ll have to see to enjoy!
Q: Where did you inspiration for this story come from?
A: … I began writing this play as an assignment over a year ago, spring of 2011…Writing has always been a form of release therapy, funny as that may sound. I tend to fictionalize the bits and pieces of my life and utilize the stories, the poetry, and the plays as a catalyst to work through my emotions. This play is based on a series of events in my life from a different person’s perspective, but of course with some overly fictionalized moments for entertainments’ sake. The story may be autobiographical fiction, but it is 100 percent from the heart.
Q: What are your past experiences with writing, directing and choreography?
A: I have been writing ever since I started school. In fact, I still have the very first “book” I ever wrote from the fifth grade. It was called “My Precious Little Socks.” It’s about my cat that my mom accidentally ran over. So, I guess I have been using writing as a form of therapy for a long time. I have never taken any writing specific classes except for the two playwriting classes that I have taken here at CSUSM. I have choreographed many dances in my life. Of course, these were all mostly for fun. I recall choreographing an entire show from the entire “The Lion King” cassette! Does that date me? Anyway, my most recent choreography was with David Chavez (who is also choreographing and dancing with me for this show) for last spring’s “Off Centre” CSUSM Dance Concert… I have been Assistant Director two other times in my life, one being for the CSUSM New Play Festival last Fall.
Q: What are the biggest struggles you have overcame with the play?
A: Oh gosh, this is a toughie. Can I say everything? This is the first full-on production that I have ever done so I guess, to me, a lot of struggles have been overcome. I am officially every role that a theater production can offer. I am the producer, writer, co-director, dancer, choreographer, sound designer, lighting designer and prop master. Literally everything!… But I feel that each struggle that I come across is just a huge lesson. And that is the point, I think. This is after all my capstone…so here it is!