Over the past couple weeks, our Easter Play rehearsals have taken on a new rhythm.  It’s been such a joy to watch the group grow more connected—to each other and to the characters they’re embodying.

We’ve been starting each session with playful physical warm-ups to get everyone moving and loosened up. Prompts like “walk as if you’re being chased by bees” or “walk in slow motion” usually get a few laughs, but they also help folks get out of their heads and into their bodies. From there, we transition into “walk as your character,” which invites people to begin stepping into their roles in a physical, intuitive way.

One of the most powerful (and hilarious) activities we did was something I called the “Dr. Mary Monologues.” This was a quirky idea I adapted from one of my professor’s interventions. I thought a Dr.-Phil-like character would be perfect for introducing a therapeutic aspect while still being absurd and funny enough to create some comfort and distance. So, I stepped into the role of “Dr. Mary,” a fictional talk-show therapist, and interviewed each participant as their character.

This setup allowed me to hold authority in a playful way without taking myself too seriously, which I think gave everyone else permission to be a little silly, too. It ended up being such a fun and revealing exercise. People shared surprisingly deep insights into their character’s desires, struggles, and inner conflicts, all the while keeping things light and imaginative. Honestly, I think it was the most comfortable and confident I’ve ever felt leading a session. Sometimes because I take being a facilitator so seriously, I forget that drama therapy is supposed to be fun.

Another intervention I used was the “beginning and end” activity. In this one, participants sculpted a frozen image of where their character is at the start of the play, and then a second one showing where they are by the end. It helped everyone visualize their character’s journey in a concise and embodied way.

These sessions have been such a meaningful part of the process—not just in preparing for the performance, but in deepening connections, building trust, and giving people a creative space to express themselves.  Since I’m constantly learning as I go, I’m really grateful to be practicing these skills with such a thoughtful and open-hearted group.

Be sure to catch our Easter Play next Wednesday (4/16) at 1:00pm in the Parish Hall.