Director: Lila Marooney

Produced by Daijah Guillermo, Spring 2024

Arcadia interweaves two time periods occupying one aristocratic home in Derbyshire, England. In 1809, a prodigal preteen yearns to write a formula that could predict the future, while yearning to connect with her charismatic tutor. In 1992, a group of academics bicker and dance over the events on the periphery of the prior timeline, breaking each other’s hearts in pursuit of being right. Breakneck, expansive, and hilarious, Arcadia reckons how we decide what matters.

For this project, Lila designed a yearlong curriculum of multidisciplinary performance research, collaborative lectures, and ensemble building. Performances took place both out and indoors over the course of a sun set, with original piano underscoring and fire, as well as snacks and annotated scripts for the audience to follow along.