The Seedling
An original play devised, workshopped, and produced in Spring, 2023 by KSU students, faculty, and local theatre artists in a series of classes during the 2022/2023 semesters explores the magic of nature’s life cycles and interconnections in a multi-sensory adventure.
Audiences of toddlers to grandparents responded with delight, enjoying the opportunity to participate in the production together in meaningful and diverse ways.
In The Seedling, the creatures of the garden work together to welcome their newest member, discovering as they do how to better their community by embracing all elements of their habitat. The play’s director, Andrea Washington, elaborates “The Seedling urges all to support their own community, garden, and little ones. Our best chance to save our Earth is to learn to care for it together now and in the next generation.”
This collaboration between the KSU Theatre Department and Smith-Gilbert Gardens, the first of its kind for both entities, has proven to be enriching on many levels. Smith-Gilbert Guest Experience Manager Vanita Keswani says “Garden visitors and families receive access to the arts in unexpected spaces and learning takes place through an exchange between audiences and actors. We’re excited to be part of this unique development in the performing arts.”
An original play devised, workshopped, and produced in Spring, 2023 by KSU students, faculty, and local theatre artists in a series of classes during the 2022/2023 semesters explores the magic of nature’s life cycles and interconnections in a multi-sensory adventure.
Audiences of toddlers to grandparents responded with delight, enjoying the opportunity to participate in the production together in meaningful and diverse ways.
In The Seedling, the creatures of the garden work together to welcome their newest member, discovering as they do how to better their community by embracing all elements of their habitat. The play’s director, Andrea Washington, elaborates “The Seedling urges all to support their own community, garden, and little ones. Our best chance to save our Earth is to learn to care for it together now and in the next generation.”
This collaboration between the KSU Theatre Department and Smith-Gilbert Gardens, the first of its kind for both entities, has proven to be enriching on many levels. Smith-Gilbert Guest Experience Manager Vanita Keswani says “Garden visitors and families receive access to the arts in unexpected spaces and learning takes place through an exchange between audiences and actors. We’re excited to be part of this unique development in the performing arts.”
Check out our Social Narrative, written by Sarah Rogers and designed by Lauren Lee. A visual story designed to help future audience members of all ages and abilities know what to expect when they attend the show.
Collaborators on this project thus far have included:
The Seedling Spring, 2023 Cast
Tree Spirit: Chloe Camp
Sky: Jetta Whitehurst
Mushroom Messenger: Sarah Rogers
Mushroom Messenger: Lauren Lee
Mushroom Messenger: Natalie Ober
Mushroom Messenger: Madeline Conrad
Skipper: Gabrielle Jones
Scamper: Tyler Grubbs
Gill: Senti Hamlett
Sal: Christie Miller
Flicker: Marissa Ciccone
Flutter: Mekaylah Dantzler
Whisper the Song Spirit: Anna Hobgood
The Seedling Crew & Collaborative Artists
Story Originally Devised in Spring, 2022 by: Kera Alleyne, Cordell Cade, Lauren Lee, Michelle Lee, Sarah Rogers, Mack Scales, Josh Shepherd, and Ian J. Smith, and faculty Nicole B. Adkins, Annie Harrison-Elliott, Brandon Bagwell
Story Adapted into Script by: Nicole B. Adkins and Andrea Washington
Script Workshopped/Further Developed in Fall, 2022 by: Jake Barnwell, Cordell Cade, Gabriel James, Brisa Mendez, Christopher Nastasi, Natalie Ober, Nathan Peters, Josh Shepherd, and faculty Nicole B. Adkins, Andrea Washington, and Jodye Underwood (movement/choreography)
Story Adapted into Script by: Nicole B. Adkins and Andrea Washington
Co-Directors: Andrea Washington/Nicole B. Adkins
Assistant Director: Lauren Lee
Stage Manager: Sarah Rogers
Early Childhood Consultant: Karen O’Connor Meacham
Music/Soundscape Composer: Anna Hobgood
Immersive & Site-Specific Theatre Consultant: Nichole Palmietto
Choreography: Chloe Camp & Jetta Whitehurst
Costume Design & Fabrication: Brisa Mendez, Josh Shepherd, Zoe Blair Johnson, Ricky Greenwell
Set & Props Design: Nathan Peters, Zoe Blair Johnson
Puppets Design & Fabrication: Karen O’Connor Meacham, Jim Davis, Nicole B. Adkins, Zoe Blair Johnson
T&PS Dramaturgy Team: Dr. Tom Fish, Emily Watson, Abby Smith
The Seedling Cover Artwork: Pamela Rodríguez-Montero
Children’s Program Artwork: Lauren Lee, Tyler Grubbs, Jetta Whitehurst, Senti Hamlett
Social Narrative: Sarah Rogers and Lauren Lee
Special thanks to: Olivia Aston Bosworth of Alliance Theatre, Gabriella Hanstein of the Georgia Herpetological Association and Rescue, Angie Jenkins of Kennesaw Mountain Nature Preschool, Eric Johnson, Emelia & Tomas Katysovas, Vanita Keswani of Smith-Gilbert Gardens, Suzanne Presto, Chuck Meacham, Amanda Wansa Morgan, Chris Nowack of Presto Photography, Scottie Rowell of Teller Productions, Lisa Skaggs, the wonderful staff at Smith-Gilbert Gardens, and our invaluable Test Audiences throughout all three semesters!
The Seedling Spring, 2023 Cast
Tree Spirit: Chloe Camp
Sky: Jetta Whitehurst
Mushroom Messenger: Sarah Rogers
Mushroom Messenger: Lauren Lee
Mushroom Messenger: Natalie Ober
Mushroom Messenger: Madeline Conrad
Skipper: Gabrielle Jones
Scamper: Tyler Grubbs
Gill: Senti Hamlett
Sal: Christie Miller
Flicker: Marissa Ciccone
Flutter: Mekaylah Dantzler
Whisper the Song Spirit: Anna Hobgood
The Seedling Crew & Collaborative Artists
Story Originally Devised in Spring, 2022 by: Kera Alleyne, Cordell Cade, Lauren Lee, Michelle Lee, Sarah Rogers, Mack Scales, Josh Shepherd, and Ian J. Smith, and faculty Nicole B. Adkins, Annie Harrison-Elliott, Brandon Bagwell
Story Adapted into Script by: Nicole B. Adkins and Andrea Washington
Script Workshopped/Further Developed in Fall, 2022 by: Jake Barnwell, Cordell Cade, Gabriel James, Brisa Mendez, Christopher Nastasi, Natalie Ober, Nathan Peters, Josh Shepherd, and faculty Nicole B. Adkins, Andrea Washington, and Jodye Underwood (movement/choreography)
Story Adapted into Script by: Nicole B. Adkins and Andrea Washington
Co-Directors: Andrea Washington/Nicole B. Adkins
Assistant Director: Lauren Lee
Stage Manager: Sarah Rogers
Early Childhood Consultant: Karen O’Connor Meacham
Music/Soundscape Composer: Anna Hobgood
Immersive & Site-Specific Theatre Consultant: Nichole Palmietto
Choreography: Chloe Camp & Jetta Whitehurst
Costume Design & Fabrication: Brisa Mendez, Josh Shepherd, Zoe Blair Johnson, Ricky Greenwell
Set & Props Design: Nathan Peters, Zoe Blair Johnson
Puppets Design & Fabrication: Karen O’Connor Meacham, Jim Davis, Nicole B. Adkins, Zoe Blair Johnson
T&PS Dramaturgy Team: Dr. Tom Fish, Emily Watson, Abby Smith
The Seedling Cover Artwork: Pamela Rodríguez-Montero
Children’s Program Artwork: Lauren Lee, Tyler Grubbs, Jetta Whitehurst, Senti Hamlett
Social Narrative: Sarah Rogers and Lauren Lee
Special thanks to: Olivia Aston Bosworth of Alliance Theatre, Gabriella Hanstein of the Georgia Herpetological Association and Rescue, Angie Jenkins of Kennesaw Mountain Nature Preschool, Eric Johnson, Emelia & Tomas Katysovas, Vanita Keswani of Smith-Gilbert Gardens, Suzanne Presto, Chuck Meacham, Amanda Wansa Morgan, Chris Nowack of Presto Photography, Scottie Rowell of Teller Productions, Lisa Skaggs, the wonderful staff at Smith-Gilbert Gardens, and our invaluable Test Audiences throughout all three semesters!
