An arrival is, an arrival is, an arrival is... an arrival.
She Made Space
In this lyrical and semi-autobiographical one-woman show,\ a 20-something intellectual American lesbian tourist arrives in Paris at the turn of the 20th century, tracing the steps she has taken to get there in an honest and touching consideration of the occupation of space - both inside, and outside, of herself.
Written and Performed by Meredith Dayna Cope-Levy
Directed and Stage Managed by Lauren Brooke Ellis
Artist Biographies
Lauren Brooke Ellis is a director and stage manager from Aiken, South Carolina. In recent years, her directing work has almost exclusively been in new works, where her goal is to carve out space to amplify marginalized voices. She was honored by The Kennedy Center with a commendation for directing for her work on SHE MADE SPACE. Lauren holds an M.F.A. in Playwriting and a Certificate of New Play Directing from the Hollins University, where she most recently directed THE JUPITER BIRD, which performed at Hollins University and Under St. Marks Theatre in New York City. She currently works in the non-profit sector at an arts organization whose primary goal is to provide arts education and artistic experiences to underserved communities.
Meredith Dayna Cope-Levy (Roanoke, Va.) writes plays rooted in lived experience and emotional truth, and aims to make space through her work for dynamic, challenging women (both on stage and off). Produced work includes: DECISION HEIGHT (Samuel French/Concord Theatricals); SMART KID (Youth Plays Inc.); SHE MADE SPACE; COUPLER; and WAITING FOR SYLVIA. Her plays THE HILLS and THE BREAD BAKING PLAY were finalists for the 2020 and 2023 seasons of the National Playwright's Conference at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center. She holds an M.F.A. from the Hollins Playwright’s Lab and is a member of the Dramatist’s guild. She identifies as a lesbian.
Ensemble History
Lauren Brooke Ellis and Meredith Dayna Cope-Levy have been in collaboration since 2016, creating space for marginalized voices and stories onstage. They met through the Hollins Playwright's Lab and have toured SHE MADE SPACE across the Southeastern region since 2017. SHE MADE SPACE, a lyrical monodrama inspired by Meredith's own coming out story, occupies space made by the loves and works of Sylvia Beach, Gertrude Stein, and Djuna Barnes, inviting us all to critically consider how one traces steps towards embracing their whole self.
Other projects they have collaborated on have included THE HILLS
for the Hollins Playwright's Lab Summer Festival of New Works and
'THE TRAGEDY OF ROSIE AND HER VINTAGE LAUNDRY MACHINES.
Upcoming Dates
Currently, there are no upcoming tour dates.
Reach out to Lauren Brooke Ellis at laurenellis.theatre@gmail.com for more information about booking.
Awards
Winner, One-Act Play Category, Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival, Region 4, 2017
Commendation for Outstanding Directing, The Kennedy Center, 2017
Tour History
-Hollins Festival of New Works, July 2016, Reading
-Hollins Winter Festival. January 2017, Production
-Kennedy Center Region IV Festival, February 2017, Production
-Atlantic Stage in Myrtle Beach, SC, February 2017, Production
-SETC Fringe Festival in Lexington, KY, March 2017, Production
-The Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, March 2017, Production
-Hollins Winter Festival, January 2018, Revival Production
-Hollins Playwright's Lab, June 2018, Revival Production
-Women's Theatre Fringe in Raleigh, NC, July 2019, Production
Education
Workshop: You (Too) Make Space
In this workshop, participants engage in exploratory writing exercises which make space and generate material for investigation of the human condition from a personal perspective. Participants will generate written material that will be used to craft theatrical monologues, with the goal of expressing lived experience in an active fashion, making space for others to encounter and empathize.
Workshop: Writing Scenes
Scenes are the building blocks of plays - learn how to write one with confidence! In this workshop, participants will be introduced to the fundamentals of playwriting through a mixture of lecture and writing prompts. By the end of the workshop, participants will have three different versions of the same scene, and a better understanding of the interdependence of plot, dialogue, image, and action.
Workshop: 10 Minute Plays: The Bite-Sized Human Condition
In this workshop, participants will engage with exploratory writing exercises that will help them get in touch with personal truths and help to articulate their own unique perspective. Followed by a series of imagination exercises and a brief lecture on structure, participants will create their own outline and characters for the creation of their own ten-minute play.
Meredith and Lauren are happy to talk about individual needs and ideas and can curate a workshop or lecture
to meet any specifications of your needs and your audience.
Production photos taken at Hollins University by Todd Ristau
Contact Us
Director and Stage Manager
Lauren Brooke Ellis at laurenellis.theatre@gmail.com
Playwright and Performer
Meredith Dayna Cope-Levy at meredith.dayna@gmail.com
Touring costs are available by request.