ATHENA

Illusions Consultant

Written by Gracie Gardner

Directed by Emily Abrams

Adelphi University, 2025

Mary Wallace and Athena are brave, and seventeen, and fencers, and training for the Junior Olympics. They practice together, they compete against each other, they spend their lives together. They wish they were friends.

Ryan was hired as a guest artist through the Theatre Department at Adelphi University to consult with the student lead production team on how to create an impossible moment for the stage: a human being transforming into a different person. A two-hander with a surprise revelation of a third character at the climax of the play, only revealed when they remove their fencing face mask. Ryan was tasked with choreographing a secret switch for a body double to achieve this moment. The only catch was the actor had to be swapped while tethered to a steel cable the entire performance…The beauty of this effect was achieved with simple, subtle staging at the right time-pure misdirection!