This week, JustArts spoke with Gabby Lamm '17, the producer of Brandeis Players' production of 1984, written by Michael Gene Sullivan and adapted from the novel by George Orwell.

JustArts: Is this your first show at Brandeis?

Gabby Lamm: It's one of the first shows that I've had such a leadership role in. I assistant stage-managed a show last semester and assistant produced a show last semester but this semester was the first time I had a real role as a producer.

JA: What goes into producing a show?

GL: It's funny that you ask that. Because a lot of people [say to me], "Oh, you're a producer. What do you do?" Producers do most of the behind-the-scenes things. We reserve rehearsal spaces, we make sure tickets are working out; we're in charge of the budgets. We organize the coffeehouse (which is a big role), we put together the programs and make sure we have programs and posters and things like that. So we do a lot of the advertising things and a lot of the technical [aspects]. [We deal with] what's necessary for the actors to rehearse.

JA: Did you run into any problems with the producing aspects?

GL: There are always little things where you have to mediate conflicts. For me it was a little bit hard because I am a first-year. A lot of our [production] staff was first- years so it wasn't too bad. But I had to make sure to balance respecting people who have more experience in theater than I do and who know more than I do [with] making sure that they recognize that there are certain situations where I need to be in charge and I need make sure they're doing their jobs. We also struggled a little bit finding people to fill positions in the [production] staff.

JA: What was your favorite part of being a producer?

GL: I really liked being able to be involved in everything. I got to sit in rehearsals; I got to be involved in tech week. It really depends on who's producing. For me, I'm really hands-on because I really love theater and I really want to be involved in the production. So I did try to go to rehearsals once a week and I organized meetings with the [production] staff once a week. So my favorite part was being able to do everything. But [I also liked] having the flexibility-not having to be at rehearsal from 7 to 11 [p.m.] every day of the week. I could fit it into my schedule so it would be easier for me to do other things as well.

JA: Have you read the book? How do you think it compares?

GL: I have read the book. It's actually one of my favorite books so I was really excited when Sarah Waldron ['17], the director, asked me to produce it. The story is the same but the construct is entirely different. So the book walks you through the story, it goes chronologically.... where as [in] the play, all of it takes place in the interrogation room that you only see at the end of the novel. And the party members re-enact all of Winston's experiences and his dreams and so it's much more immediate (I think) and as one of the [assistant stage managers] put it, "psychologically thrilling." So while the story is the same it's entirely two different things.

JA: Where do you plan on going after this in terms of doing other shows and trying out other aspects of theater?

GL: I'm already on a couple proposals for next semester that people are proposing to different groups. I am definitely going to stay involved in theater. I am already over committed for next semester. But I just love it so much and I love the people and I love being able to see a production from start to finish and literally go from before auditions. [Going] from talking about ideas for the show to today [this Sunday], taking down the set after a week of performances. It's just so cool to see that process and it makes me feel very productive. But just seeing how good people are at what they do, especially at the college level, it's just such a cool thing to be able to witness. I might branch out into other things. I did direct this semester. I might stage manage at some point but right now for next semester the only things people have asked me to do are produce so that's mostly what I'll be doing.

-Emily Wishingrad