While William & Mary is launching her environment year, Batten School & Vims by William & Mary and the theater and performance department collaborated to present the play in a “Rollover” act on February 15 and 22.
Directed by the professor of theater and president of the Holly Maples department and produced by the assistant professor of Battren School of Coastal & Marine Sciences & Vims, Nicole Millette, the play tells the story of the inhabitants of a barrier island dealing with immediate consequences of a hurricane.
Millette was inspired to bring “Rollover” to W&M after having attended a scientific conference where the creator of the play, Professor Laura Moore of the University of North Caroline in Chapel Hill, presented a poster based on the work. Millette then connected to Maples thanks to a teaching workshop in which they both participated and approached Maples to put the game.
Millette finished her graduate research and now lives in the Chesapeake bay region. “I see many environmental problems and I hear local people and scientists who treat them,” said Millette. “This includes the rise of the sea, the threat of hurricanes and a constantly evolving landscape. You always hear people say, “Why do people stay in these vulnerable coastal areas that are subject to floods?” This piece addresses these problems, through the objective of people forced to deal with this exact question. These characters discuss whether he has to stay or leave their island community after a devastating hurricane. »»
In addition to her scientific career as a phytoplankton ecologist, Millette has also been involved in the world of theater for a long time. “Unfortunately, there may never be a piece of phytoplankton, but I always see the power of art and theater and what they can do to fill the gaps between people, create discussions and help People to understand the subjects in a new way, “said Millette.
Maples began her mandate as president of the theater and performance department in William & Mary in January 2024. With a passion for the merger of performance with university research, she was a pioneer, promoting the commitment of public uniquely. Before joining W&M, Maples had planned to collaborate with Vims, the Battren School of Coastal & Marine Science & Vims to create performances that fill the gap between science and the public, using the arts to illuminate complex subjects and a Sparkling dialogue. She was delighted to collaborate with Millette and impatiently awaits future collaborations.
“”Thanks to performance, we can create spaces where science, history and narration intersect, inviting the public not only to observe, but to live and to engage with knowledge so as to resonate at a deep level human,“” said Maples.
As a producer, Millette is responsible for bringing together the non -theatrical components of the play, such as promoting performance.
Millette is also interested in deepening the links between the School of the Bassette and the Vims and the artistic aspect of the arts and sciences on the main campus.
“The expansion of the type of collaborations occurring between different parts of a very large community (Batten & Vims school and theater and performance department) was really great. Just at the Batten School & Vims campus, there seems to be so much enthusiasm from the excited people by the idea of science in arts and theater, “said Millette.
In the future, Maples and Millette are very interested in future collaborations, because they are both passionate about the type of educational work which is at the heart of the themes of “Rollover”.
“From here, I would like to see more unique collaborations between the scientists of the Battren School & Vims and Artists in the Arts & Sciences. These types of collaborations offer the opportunity to reach people in a new way of getting around important subjects, “said Millette.
You can reserve free tickets to “rollover” made at Phi Beta Kappa Memorial Hall on February 15 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.Or VIMS Watermen’s Hall, MCHUL AUDITORIUM on February 22 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m..