Catherine M. Pratt

Middle Tennessee State University Department of Theatre and Dance
Choreography: Alexandra Winer & Anna Conar
Lighting: Catherine M. Pratt
Costumes: Maria Mignone & Haley Hunsford


Photography: Catherine M. Pratt

"Another (again)" is a piece that takes a look at the repetitiveness of routine and burnout. At first, a new schedule or happenings in our lives feel open, refreshing, we are excited for the newness of it. As piece continues, we start to see the wear many of us go though in various cycles of our lives. Our days lose their sparkle, we become frustrated and even burned out with the receptiveness of our days. Lighting for this piece really focused on this journey- how can something like a new day start so bright and become dull and less saturated as the routine becomes drawn out. As the frstruations of the movement and dancers grow, lighting grows with them, screaming out alongside them in ambers and reds to show the visceral release of emotions and how even sometimes, that is not enough to help us through the day and the cycle of our frustrations continues to build and build. 

"Altruist" takes a look at our relationships and how draining it can be to offer help to those who may not want it. Through this, we also see how we change ourselves based on who we are around. We all have different versions of ourselves where at times we may be super outgoing and want to help, and in others we may be more reserved and pull back from offering help or even accepting help. It feels blurry in ways of how we are constantly adapting ourselves and who we show what parts of us to others. Lighting drew on this constant adaptation and change of ourselves for the lighting, focusing on the contrast between warm verses cool, light verses shadow. Each creates a different environment that shows how much we as humans adapt around ourselves and sometimes may not realize how much we are changing ourselves in the process.