It was the loss of a close friend that got Shana Carroll thinking about journeys and about goodbyes.
That thinking led to Carroll’s creation of “Passengers,” a unique theatrical piece opening Saturday at the Old Globe Theatre.
“I knew that to a certain extent, it was going to be about how short life can be and how to live that little train ride of a life we’re all on,” said Carroll, who wrote, directed and choreographed the production. “I find my shows are dealing with great emotional stakes, and the physical stakes parallel the emotional stakes.”
Shanna Carroll is the writer-director and choreographer of The 7 Fingers theater company that will present “Passengers” at the Old Globe July 1 through 30.
(Courtesy of Francisco Cruz)
Physicality is the chief component of “Passengers,” which combines theatrical storytelling (passengers on a train) with music, dance and acrobatics. The show stars members of Montreal’s 7 Fingers (Les 7 doigts de la main) artistic collective. The action takes place over the course of 24 hours on a train.
“It’s the intersection of athletics and art really,” said Carroll, co-founding artistic director of the 7 Fingers. “The opera has that similar thing where you’re watching a show, then it dilates with moments of physical prowess. It’s about being transported in some otherworldly way.”
There are strong elements of circus in the 7 Fingers’ productions, and this is embedded in Carroll’s personal history.
“I did theater as a child and a teenager,” said the 53-year-old Carroll, who’s a native of Berkeley, Ca. “At 18, I discovered circus and have been doing that ever since. I see psychology and intention and character behind circus.
“The theater background ended up really influencing my approach to circus; it’s all gone full circle. When I discovered trapeze I found dance through it because it’s moving poetically through the air. I realized I had an incredible passion for dance.”
Members of Montreal’s The 7 Fingers theater company perform “Passengers,” which will play at the Old Globe July 1 through 30.
(Courtesy of Kevin Berne)
A former trapeze artist for Cirque du Soleil, Carroll said her circus choreography has been part of multiple Cirque productions and performances, including at the 2012 Academy Awards show.
Carroll says the train setting is highly relatable for audiences at “Passengers,” which was first seen in 2018. “There’s something simple, bottom line, about trains and train travel,” she said. “I drew a lot from my own train traveling. I had many very real experiences on trains and strange encounters. Also, with the cast we spoke about all the different reasons you leave someplace. Each tableau (of the show) is addressing some aspect of that.
“People (in the audience) will have different interpretations about who the travelers are and why.”
The company members performing “Passengers” at the Old Globe are Eduardo De Azevedo Grillo; Meliejade T. Bouchard; Kaisha D-W; Beto Freitas; Andrew Sumner; Marco Ingaramo; Mandi Orozco; Nella Niva; and Santiago Rivera Laugerud.
Carroll is thrilled to be bringing this company and “Passengers” itself to the Globe.
“I’ve known about the Old Globe for years,” she said, “and have friends who’ve done productions there. It’s been a goal and a dream to perform there.”
At the same time, Carroll is occupied with a “hopefully bound for Broadway” version of the novel “Water for Elephants,” for which she’s created the circus design and choreography.
‘Passengers’
When: Opens Saturday and runs through July 30. Showtimes, 7 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays; 8 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays; 2 and 7 p.m. Sundays.
Where: Old Globe Theatre, Balboa Park
Tickets: $29 and up
Phone: (619) 234-5623
Online: theoldglobe.org
Coddon is a freelance writer.
Members of Montreal’s The 7 Fingers theater company perform “Passengers,” which will play at the Old Globe July 1 through 30.
(Courtesy of Kevin Berne)