Lauren Patton-Villegas Explains Her Approach to a Witchy Theatre Prometheus Premiere
Theatre Prometheus opened Stephen Spotswood’s Where Dead Women Go to Dance on September 25. Director Lauren Patton-Villegas told Amanda Zeitler that the script drew her in with its mix of humor, pain, history, and forgiveness, and that fall felt right for a play about a witch resurrecting her dead best friend. She called the process joyful, noting unusual challenges such as working with a prosthetic and safely moving a body across the stage.
Theatre Prometheus launched Stephen Spotswood’s Where Dead Women Go to Dance on September 25. The local playwright’s script stood out during fall-season reading because it blended humor, pain, history, and forgiveness within fantastical circumstances.
Director Lauren Patton-Villegas described rehearsals as joyful despite practical hurdles, including a prosthetic and the safe stage movement of a body. She noted the kitchen-table nature of the play allowed the cast more room to explore character intimacy rather than extensive blocking.
This production may resonate with theatergoers drawn to supernatural stories and themes of grief and friendship. Local artists and audiences could benefit from a new work by a regional playwright, and its staging solutions—prosthetics, body movement—may offer practical ideas to other small companies. The play’s blend of humor and pain might encourage reflection on loss and forgiveness. Its broader societal impact, however, may remain modest and largely within the arts community.