“What catches me in this piece is that it reminds us to be awake to our own lives,” says director Sarah Rasmussen.
The plot’s a little nuts — six girls on a school trip to an amusement park die when a roller coaster goes off the rails. A magical figure says one girl can return to life — with the right story.Sarah RasmussenMcCarter Theatre Center
since she became McCarter’s artistic director in August 2020. “It has a lot of levity and a lot of young energy. It’s a moment in theater when we could all use some fun, beauty, and energy.” The message, Rasmussen says, is that we need to live our lives now, strongly, confidently, and without regrets. That’s the lesson the girls learn and sing when their lives go off track.
“What catches me in this piece is that it reminds us to be awake to our own lives,” she said. “In the midst of this real pain and uncertainty, there’s also great beauty and great opportunities for connection and for beauty.” Rasmussen says the music alone makes the play worth it. There’s soul, hip-hop, classical — even Eastern European folk songs, sung by the actors and played by a fabulous band on stage. “It takes place in a warehouse where a carnival has been stored,” she said. “It’s visually stunning. The design work is amazing. Eye-popping, fantastical.”