LITTLE SISTER
Photo Credit: Carolyne Loreé Teston
Program Notes
A little sister grapples with the death of her brother. A new mother fights for her spotlight in what might be her last performance. A theatre becomes their home where we aren’t sure what’s real or imaginary.
Twenty-five years in the making, Little Sister is a raw retelling of a family’s unimaginable loss. In this immersive experience using film, live performance, and choreography, writer & performer Meredith Glisson welcomes the audience into her childhood home where they become witnesses, comrades, and even participants in the unfolding story.
This is a tale for the inner child. For those who thought they might be at a different place in their life and career. For new mothers who are questioning their new identity. For the comedian in all of us. For those who have lost someone and are not sure where to hold their grief. For those who aren’t sure how to return home.
The play takes place in two acts, with one short intermission.
Act I: Brother Where Are You?
Act II: A Mother Knows
Run time: Approximately 2 hours
Written, Directed, and Performed by Meredith Glisson
Featuring Lilach Orenstein
Creative Producer and Technical Advisor: Lilach Orenstein
Lighting Design: Jacob Zedek
Set Design Consultant: Sara Brown
Set Design Assistant: Li Jin
Dramaturg Consultant: Michelle Mola Fireman
Sound Design: Michael Wall
Sound Manager: Phong Tran
Stage Manager: Kristen Kelso
Stage Hand: Neva Guido
A little sister grapples with the death of her brother. A new mother fights for her spotlight in what might be her last performance. A theatre becomes their home where we aren’t sure what’s real or imaginary.
Twenty-five years in the making, Little Sister is a raw retelling of a family’s unimaginable loss. In this immersive experience using film, live performance, and choreography, writer & performer Meredith Glisson welcomes the audience into her childhood home where they become witnesses, comrades, and even participants in the unfolding story.
This is a tale for the inner child. For those who thought they might be at a different place in their life and career. For new mothers who are questioning their new identity. For the comedian in all of us. For those who have lost someone and are not sure where to hold their grief. For those who aren’t sure how to return home.
The play takes place in two acts, with one short intermission.
Act I: Brother Where Are You?
Act II: A Mother Knows
Run time: Approximately 2 hours
Written, Directed, and Performed by Meredith Glisson
Featuring Lilach Orenstein
Creative Producer and Technical Advisor: Lilach Orenstein
Lighting Design: Jacob Zedek
Set Design Consultant: Sara Brown
Set Design Assistant: Li Jin
Dramaturg Consultant: Michelle Mola Fireman
Sound Design: Michael Wall
Sound Manager: Phong Tran
Stage Manager: Kristen Kelso
Stage Hand: Neva Guido
Little Sister is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature. This project was supported, in part, by a Foundation for Contemporary Arts Emergency Grant .
Poster Credit: Emily Rowan | Prospect&Fifth
Workshop: Examining our Dark Places
This workshop launched during the premiere of Little Sister in December 2023.
Future workshops are in process to be scheduled.
By reflecting on our past, how can we understand ourselves better in the present moment and acknowledge our habits so we feel prepared when the next situation arises? Co-facilitated by theatre director Meredith Glisson and psychotherapist Danielle Fokshner, this workshop focuses on the themes based on Glisson's theatrical work, Little Sister. Through a series of guided cognitive and somatic exercises, participants will take a deeper look into their own childhood experiences - and be able to analyze and embody solutions for the future.
Director's Bio
Meredith Glisson is a director, dramaturg, movement coach and performer for stage and film. Her artistic work and teaching spans across disciplines falling in between contemporary theatre, dance, and wellness practices to unlock strategies for performance. She is co-Director of MOtiVE Brooklyn, a studio located in Dumbo, New York that values, connects, and supports artists through moving forms of engagement and experimentation. She has presented her work in the USA, France, and U.K in theaters, site-specific spaces, and art galleries. She holds an MFA in Interdisciplinary Practices, Falmouth University (UK) partnering with the HZT-Berlin (DE) and Academy of Dramatic Arts (HR) (2016); professional degree in Performance Practices, CCN – Cie Maguy Marin and Université Lumière Lyon 2 (FR) (2010); BA in Dance and French, Hollins University (USA) (2005).
Psychotherapist's Bio
Danielle Fokshner is a clinical psychotherapist at BeWELL Psychotherapy in Hoboken NJ. Danielle is passionate about resilience and helping individuals break the patterns that are holding them back from a path to greater success. She works with many different populations with a special focus on couples, wall street wellness, and reducing the impact of traumatic experiences. She combines creativity with evidence-based practices and likes to employ many modalities in the therapy room, such as hypnotherapy, lifespan integration, meditation, Gottman method, art, and virtual reality. She believes that the relationship between therapist and client is one of the most important parts of the therapeutic experience and strives to maintain an honest, safe, and transformative space for all of her clients.
This workshop launched during the premiere of Little Sister in December 2023.
Future workshops are in process to be scheduled.
By reflecting on our past, how can we understand ourselves better in the present moment and acknowledge our habits so we feel prepared when the next situation arises? Co-facilitated by theatre director Meredith Glisson and psychotherapist Danielle Fokshner, this workshop focuses on the themes based on Glisson's theatrical work, Little Sister. Through a series of guided cognitive and somatic exercises, participants will take a deeper look into their own childhood experiences - and be able to analyze and embody solutions for the future.
Director's Bio
Meredith Glisson is a director, dramaturg, movement coach and performer for stage and film. Her artistic work and teaching spans across disciplines falling in between contemporary theatre, dance, and wellness practices to unlock strategies for performance. She is co-Director of MOtiVE Brooklyn, a studio located in Dumbo, New York that values, connects, and supports artists through moving forms of engagement and experimentation. She has presented her work in the USA, France, and U.K in theaters, site-specific spaces, and art galleries. She holds an MFA in Interdisciplinary Practices, Falmouth University (UK) partnering with the HZT-Berlin (DE) and Academy of Dramatic Arts (HR) (2016); professional degree in Performance Practices, CCN – Cie Maguy Marin and Université Lumière Lyon 2 (FR) (2010); BA in Dance and French, Hollins University (USA) (2005).
Psychotherapist's Bio
Danielle Fokshner is a clinical psychotherapist at BeWELL Psychotherapy in Hoboken NJ. Danielle is passionate about resilience and helping individuals break the patterns that are holding them back from a path to greater success. She works with many different populations with a special focus on couples, wall street wellness, and reducing the impact of traumatic experiences. She combines creativity with evidence-based practices and likes to employ many modalities in the therapy room, such as hypnotherapy, lifespan integration, meditation, Gottman method, art, and virtual reality. She believes that the relationship between therapist and client is one of the most important parts of the therapeutic experience and strives to maintain an honest, safe, and transformative space for all of her clients.