Interactive technology drives weekend’s senior thesis performance

The cast members of Transparency, the theater-dance senior thesis piece offered in three performances this weekend, are called Keila, Hannah, Regan and Lucas.

And don’t forget Isadora.

Isadora is a graphics programming system that allows artists to manipulate digital multimedia, video in particular, in real time during live performances. This software can be programmed to respond to the sound and movement of performers, creating stage environments in which dancers can actually interact with onstage audio and video.

As part of his senior thesis project in theater, Lucas Wilson-Spiro ’15 of Nassau, N.Y., developed the Isadora design for Transparency. (Wilson-Spiro is double-majoring in theater and Russian.)

He also performs in the piece, along with Keila Ching ’18 of Honolulu, Bates staffer Hannah Miller ’14 and Regan Radulski ’15 of Topsham, Maine, whose creative contributions to the work also include the choreography.

“Transparency is a fusion of dance and Isadora technology exploring the ins and outs of daily life,” Radulski says.

Wilson-Spiro’s Isadora design and Radulski’s choreography are based on cast members’ responses to a series of prompts that the pair developed. The responses were randomly distributed back to the cast and Wilson-Spiro recorded them reading the responses.

“The resulting audio became an inspiration for movement, which is my part, and technology, which is Lucas’,” Radulski says.

Transparency will be performed at 7:30 p.m. tonight through Sunday in Schaeffer Theatre. Admission is free. For more information, please call 207-786-8294.