Secret Admirer
SECRET ADMIRER
MARCH — APRIL 2021
produced by Dacha Theatre
streamed to Twitch
a hybrid live performance
created by Danielle Mohlman with Dacha Theatre
Virtual reunions, well-loved board games and 90s kid nostalgia in SECRET ADMIRER, a brand new interactive show designed for a digital platform!
SECRET ADMIRER saves a pillow at the slumber party for the exhilaration (and occasional awkwardness) of enduring friendship—and the power of revisiting the past, growing pains and all.
This devised digital play features an original board game, and invites audiences to join the fun, too!
When Autumn, Maya, Raven, and Zoe graduated from sixth grade, they celebrated by eating too much pizza, codifying the rules of best-friendship in gel pen, and playing their very cool new prom-themed board game, “Secret Admirer.” Now, fifteen years later, Autumn is getting married—and audiences are invited to the friends’ virtual reunion sleepover, where the four friends reconnect, revive their time-tested rules of friendship, and rediscover their affection for the nostalgia-infused board game… Until the “secret admirers” from the game itself—high school boys, all—suddenly appear in the Zoom room, ready to spill the beans on the BFFs with some old secrets of their own.
production screenshot, photos by Brett Love
PRODUCTION TEAM:
Streaming Director: MIKE LION
Assistant Director: OLIVIA KRIDLE
Additional Game Design & Chat B.F.F.: NATHAN WHITEHOUSE
Board Op: ORIANNA O’NEILL
Twitch Consultant: CASEY BOWEN
Programming: KEVIN TANNER, MADDY ABY, BEN SYMONS, OWEN O’LEARY
Director: KATE DRUMMOND
Created & Written by: DANIELLE MOHLMAN
Game Designer: NICK O’LEARY
Co-Writer & Script Supervisor: RYAN LONG
Graphic Designer: EVELYN ROBERTSON
Sound Designer & Composer: KYLE LEVIEN
Lighting & Scenic Designer: AMBER PARKER
Production Manager: CLAIRE STARK
Stage Manager: HALEY THOMAS
production screenshot, photos by Brett Love
Praise for Secret Admirer:
“Secret Admirer is the perfect antidote to every dull Zoom call you’ve ever been on. It welcomes everyone into an inspirational, and hilarious, journey from awkwardness to real human connection.”
“Secret Admirer was somehow nostalgic and crazy innovative at the same time. It captures the entire emotional journey of a sleepover perfectly. From awkward beginnings to giant arguments and huge laughs, this show has all of it. Best virtual theatre I’ve seen so far!”
“[Secret Admirer] scores points for emotional candor, uplifting thematic content, and a charming portrayal of ’90s childhood.”