Because I Am Your Queen (A Feminist Fantasia)
by Mina Samuels
Directed and Lead Advising by Barbara Pitts McAdams

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​Illinois Theatre
Krannert Center for the Performing Arts - Studio Theatre
March 28th, 2019 - April 7th, 2019
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Scenic Design: Eleni Lukasczcyk
Costume Design: Larissa Almanza
Lighting Design: Brant Thomas Murray
Sound Design & Original Music: Brandon Reed
Media Design: Anja Hose
Movement Director: Philip Johnston
 ​Photos taken courtesy of Dellaperrone Photography & Anja Hose

About The Play

Because I Am Your Queen: A Feminist Fantasia is a world premiere devised play made in collaboration with Illinois Theatre and Tectonic Theatre Project's company member Barbara Pitts McAdams. Combining movement, theatrical story telling, and a technique of creating theatre called Moment Work, myself, several designers, and the acting company sat with Barbara and created this story from scratch with only Mina's words to guide us.
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Where do Queens go when the curtain falls? Six queens from plays written by men are convened at a spa in the dark matter universe by three physicists and Gloria Steinem and given the opportunity to rewrite their stories. Mary Stuart and Lucretia Borgia confront the persistent rumors that they are husband-murdering sluts. Queen Elizabeth and Cocteau's La Reine whisper about sovereignty and virginity. Medea is shunned. Hermione presides. The physics experiment is in progress.

The Sound Design

Sacred Waters

We open with Medea being extracted from her play into the dark matter universe by our chorus (the physicists and Gloria) into the world our story takes place. We have a somber, mystical, and driving beat guides us into the start of the play as lights dim. As the melody and bass kick in, Medea appears and begins her movement trying to escape her story. Eventually the chorus intrudes and begin summoning her to their world. Text from Euripides's Medea is heard as the movement sequences fades out. As her words finish, she is whooshed into the dark matter universe.


​​PTSD Medea

Our Queens discover that in order to move on from the dark matter universe they need to change the outcome of their male imposed narrative. After an argument with Queen Elizabeth, Medea begins to suffer PTSD as she relives the misery of being shunned by those around her. She eventually can't handle pressure and tries to drown herself. However, she reemerges as the voices vanish. Just before she is able to collect herself a Deus Ex Machnia falls from the sky shifting the atmosphere. She rejects the offer, changing her narrative. The universe flickers and flourishes in acceptance as she emerges a changed woman.

​Mary's Beheading

Always rivals, never allies, Mary Stuart and Queen Elizabeth argue and contemplate their relationship to one another. The argument escalates into a reenactment of Mary's beheading at the hands of Elizabeth. A driving cello accelerates the audience into the action as they circle one another. The main beat and melody fade in under the cello as the chorus tries to subdue Mary. Elizabeth tries to impose over Mary with accentuating sharp sounds. Eventually she is subdued (wig removed and all) as she is lowered upon the guillotine as an angelic choir mourns. Elizabeth changes her mind just before the axe falls. The universe flickers in acceptance as their relationship begins anew.


​​​Playing Chess

Slowly the woman have begun changing their narratives and in doing so have begun shifting the stability of the dark matter atmosphere. They continue to contemplate and discuss how men have used women as literal chess pieces. They have a movement sequence accompanied by joyous celebration and encouragement with one another.


​​​Lucretia Nightmare

Known as a femme fatale, Lucretia most confront the tabloids and gossip she faced in her play. After falling asleep in a infra-red room, she awakens to a nightmare as we hear a clip from the film The Third Man speaking of the rumors of the Borgia family. The clip repeats and begins to morph and fill the space as an eerie drone is heard. She tries to take a photo of her defamed towel, but is instead confronted with pictures flashing around the space. After standing up to the paparazzi she hears public whisper rumors around her. Finally conquering the rumors and standing up to her fears, she awakens from her nightmare free as the universe flickers in acceptance.

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​La Reine's Story

La Reine recalls and shares her story with the cast as she is mostly an unknown Queen. She describes hearing the carriage and crowd cheering and how much of a joyous occasion it was for her as she and her lover travel through town. As an assassin murders her beloved the crowd and carriage fade. She continues to describe her story with such passion and vigor as a cello plays to sweeten and impact the moment.

​​Transition Music

After the Queens overcome their narrative and the dark matter universe accepts their new narrative we have a change in scenery. To help move us to a new location and time, I composed several transitions that fit within the vibe and musicality of the sound design already established.