Lady Scientists
A devised meditation on trope
by Nicole Orabona and Nathan Leigh
Directed by Nicole Orabona
Devised by the ensemble
Currently in development
Born from a pandemic spent watching sci-fi films where female leads in STEM were relegated to the sidelines of their male counterparts. This devised piece explores the trope of the “Lady Scientist:” The woman who is there to fix things but not take credit, perhaps be a love interest, but certainly not deserving of her own character arc or development.
First developmental session with Permafrost Theatre Collective Nov. 2021
LET'S START A ZINE
a punk musical by Nathan Leigh
Produced by To-By-For Productions
Directed by Nicole Orabona
world premiere delayed by COVID-19
Let’s Start A Zine is a story exploring the unique struggle of being an aging participant in a youth culture. It’s 1993, and Jackie and Tessa, now in their early 30s, have existed in a sort of stasis since their late teens. As the publishers of an influential DIY zine, their status within Boston’s punk scene has risen from outsider to major player. When touring musician Gina gets stranded by her bandmates and in need of a place to crash and Jackie is hit with a sudden illness, they’re forced to confront their place in a movement they help nurture, but no-longer see themselves in.
Staged Reading, January 2020, Theatrelab
RECENT WORKS
Theatre:
El Mauerkrankheit by J. Stephen Brantley - Director - New Ohio - 2019
Isle Full of Noises: An Adaptation of Shakespeare’s “The Tempest” - Director - Emit Theatre - 2022
The Kelleher Case: 1926 - Writer/Director - Live in Theater - 2018
Faces of America Monologue Festival - various writers - Co-Director - The PlayGround Experiment - 2021
Beneath the Gavel - Assistant Director - Feinstein’s/54 Below, Mara Lieberman dir. - 2019
Readings/Developmental Workshops:
No Mercy by SMJ - Director - Moxie Arts - 2022
For Your Consideration by Jasmine Sharma - Director - Moxie Arts - 2022
Let’s Start a Zine by Nathan Leigh - Director - Theatrelab - 2020
Lady Scientists co-written w/Nathan Leigh - Director - Permafrost Theatre Collective - 2021
Film:
I Have Quite a Bit of Data - Co-Director w/ Nathan Leigh - CirqueSaw - 2021
Washashores - Co-Director w/ Nathan Leigh - CirqueSaw - 2020
Contract and Release - Director - CirqueSaw - 2020