What inspired you to adapt A Streetcar Named Desire from the unique perspective of Blanche and Stella’s sisterhood? 

I was fueled by necessity. Soeur Dubois was my graduate school dissertation, my final project. I remember starting the year wanting to do something with A Streetcar Named Desire because I adored Tennessee Williams and had fallen in love with Stella and Blanche. Remembering the workings of Rosencranz and Guildenstern are Dead by Tom Stoppard, A Doll’s House Part II by Lucas Hnath and lastly the comedic masterpiece that is Lion King 1 ½, I wanted to tell this story from the sisters point of view. Giving these characters agency and purpose outside of their given circumstances. I wanted to inspire hope and breathe a different perspective into this classic.  

How does Soeur DuBois reinterpret or expand on the themes of femininity and resilience originally presented in Tennessee Williams’ classic? 

I focused primarily on the development of the individual characters as women in their current society and their relationship to each other. By adding in scenes that didn’t exist in Streetcar, I’ve created room for the audience to change their perspective on these women. Expanding on their relationship as sisters allows for their walls to come down, forcing them out of performance and into real life. Balancing the hardships in Streetcar with this new story, to create a complete stand alone piece that can be enjoyed by Tennesse Williams newbies and fans alike. Adding moments of joy, laughter and the demasking of these beautifully flawed women. This piece gives us a peek into femininity, womanhood and sisterhood from a woman’s perspective 78 years later.  

Could you share some insights into your creative process when writing this piece? Were there specific moments in the original play that sparked this reimagining? 

My creative process isn’t necessarily life changing or radically different from any other writer, but here it is: 

• I have phone notes/journals full of thoughts, things I hear in conversations that spark something. 
• I read a lot to get inspiration, improve my writing daily with practice and talk to myself all the time. 
• I walk circles around my floor like a mad woman. Black out, write for three hours and then don’t touch the keyboard/pen for weeks. Repeat.

A specific moment that sparked this retelling was the Poker Scene (Scene 3) in the original. I was reading the men’s dialogue thinking; “I wonder what Blanche and Stella are doing? I hope they are getting f****** hammered at a swing bar somewhere having a good laugh.” After that, I wrote the scene and then the rest of the show over three months. Sometimes things hit you like a ton of bricks, sometimes it’s pulling teeth.  

What challenges and discoveries have you encountered while portraying Blanche in this adaptation, especially with the focus on her intimate, untold moments? 

My biggest challenge and discovery is playing Mask-Blanche versus Real-Blanche. Both are very much a part of her, and both have their moments. Finding authenticity in the character by linking moments and emotions that I’ve experienced in my life, to her. I think that is the biggest challenge, distinguishing, choosing and analyzing yourself within the character. The icing on this theatrical cake is that I am the writer of this piece as well. Having to stop and put on a writer-hat versus actor-hat can be a difficult feat.  

My talented scene partner Alara Koroglu who plays “Stella” does a similar thing, dancing beautifully on the line of vulnerability and strength. Revealing aspects about “Stella” that make every scene new and fresh, playing into the untold and intimate perspective of this character. I can’t wait for people to see our versions of these characters and their relationship on stage.  

What do you hope audiences will take away from this haunting retelling of such an iconic story? 

New found strength and hope. I want the audience to leave with strength and hope in themselves and their individual situation, whatever it may be. Love does not always have to come from a romantic connection, it can come from your friends, your family, or your found family. I want people to understand and accept that even if you are deeply flawed, covered in scars and teeming with bad decisions, you are still worthy of love and forgiveness. We all are.