Quantum Theatre: Katie Brook Directs 'radio island' Ahead of Artistic Director Debut

An hour and 40 minute runtime defines the new immersive production at Quantum Theatre. The play, titled “radio island,” runs through Nov. 15 at Rockwell Park in North Point Breeze. It is a world premiere script written by Liza Birkenmeier. The production serves as a final test before director Katie Brook assumes a new leadership role.

Brook was named in September to succeed Karla Boos, the company’s founder. Boos steps down from the artistic director position in January. Brook directed Quantum’s 2022 production of “The Cherry Orchard.” She studied directing at the Carnegie Mellon School of Drama. Her current work demonstrates a focus on place-based theater and technical innovation.

The plot begins with a 911 dispatcher played by Treasure Treasure reporting an incident at a rural Missouri home. The narrative then shifts back several weeks. Siovhan Christensen plays Ellen, who brings her adoptive mother Paula, played by Helena Ruoti, home from a hospital. Paula is recovering from an accidental fall. Ellen works as a hostage negotiator and must manage a complex case involving an oil tanker.

The staging uses a set designed by Chelsea M. Warren. Partial walls hide characters from the tiered seats. Lighting by C. Todd Brown creates long shadows and bright spots that obscure the view. This design creates a feeling of disconnect for the audience. The house set physically rotates onstage during the second act. This movement isolates the two lead characters as tension rises.

The story reveals that Ellen’s adoptive father is the source of fear in the home. A sheriff played by Wali Jamal investigates Paula’s accident and reports of gunshots. Brett Kennedy voices an oil executive and the local Reverend. Melinda Nanovsky plays Ellen’s girlfriend Rory. The characters’ interactions expose underlying trauma and control issues within the family.

The production features sound design by Stewart Blackwood. The audio cues become menacing during the climactic confrontation between mother and daughter. The play concludes with the 911 dispatcher bringing the story full circle. Audiences walk through the house set on their way out of the theater. This final step forces viewers to confront the physical space of the performance.