Cafecito
Written & Directed by Grace Herman
In their local coffee shop, creatives of all ages gather to work on, discuss, and perform art. Cafecito is a story about how the capitalist world constantly demands productivity and perfection from us, killing our creative joy. All in a desperate desire for profit in a not inherently profitable industry. Leading to extreme competition, self-doubt, and pressure. This original one-act play challenges the characters and the audience to reclaim their creative joy and reexamine how they operate as artists and humans within this capitalist society.
To present this piece we built a coffee shop in our black-box space. We created a semi-immersive world. Both our audience and characters were in a coffee shop enjoying coffee and reflecting on creativity under capitalism.
Post Process Reflection
Working at Cafecito allowed me to experience firsthand the wide range of responsibilities that a director has from the design process to rehearsal and planning to tech. I was able to put into practice the specific and different skills needed for each of those moments, and learn where my strengths lie and vice versa. During the design process, I still need to figure out the balance between centralizing the vision and fostering collective ownership. During rehearsal and planning, I learned the more specifically prepped I was before I entered the room the more present I was able to be, even if we didn’t exactly follow the plan. Yet, I want to continue learning about how to give notes to actors and how to lead table work. In tech, I want to continue to practice the “vision” part of being able to see the whole and pinpoint more specific “technical” things to watch out for. Coming into this process, I felt a lot of unknowns about what a director is and does. Now I have a clearer picture and have taken the first step into refining how I do it, I just want to continue that process. Similarly, this project cemented my belief that I want to work as a director. I continue to love how it challenges my brain, plays off my strengths, and allows me to work with a wide range of artists. Now, I will continue seeking directing opportunities in my final three semesters at Loyola.
Art is nonessential.
Yet we gather to
talk about it
stress over it
share it
create it
dream of it.
So yes, maybe it is not essential in this capitalist version of society
a culture that demands productivity and perfection and profit.
Characteristics art does not claim.
But isn’t that freeing
to not fit into the mold
but to be so desperately desired
in a world that tries to deny it
but repeatedly fails.
Artists have found their way into everything
from halftime shows to galleries
from packaging to broadway
and even here
on the walls of your local coffee shop.
Find comfort in art’s worthlessness and value,
the paradox will set you free.
(Julia flips the open sign closed and exits.)
END OF PLAY.
Cafecito was a new play development process. Having it designed a hearing it aloud helped me clarify the story, characters, and specificity. This piece still has so much room to grow and our two-week workshop gave me so much inspiration to work off of.
The best part of this project was the amazing sense of community that was formed in the design room and rehearsal room. Everyone brought joy, creativity, and generosity to this process. We had so much fun making art together which made this piece so beautiful and special.
playwrighting.
artistic community.
