Is it Thursday Yet?

The Answer to that Question Resides in a Powerful Introspection by Dancer and Creator Jenn Freeman in a Performance that Should be Seen by All.

Currently Playing at La Jolla Playhouse Until August 6th

A Blog View by Alejandra Enciso-Dardashti

Jenn Freeman in La Jolla Playhouse’s production of IS IT THURSDAY YET? created, choreographed, and performed by Jenn Freeman; created, choreographed
and directed by Sonya Tayeh, composed and performed by Holland Andrews; photo by Jenna Selby.

I have seen theatre practically every day this week, including Monday! (Industry Night of course) and I am in awe of all the original offerings that are tapping different sides of the soul in San Diego right now.

La Jolla Playhouse premiered Is It Thursday Yet? a multi-media dance piece, created and choreographed by Jenn Freeman and Sonya Tayeh. Directed by Tayeh, who won the Tony for Best Choreography in 2021 for Moulin Rouge, and starting Freeman, Thursday' dives deep into Jenn's Autism Spectrum Disorder diagnosis in 2021, at 33 years old. A fantastic dancer, Jenn goes back to their childhood videos and matches them up, or parallels them with audio from their recorded therapy sessions with Psychologist and Autism Diagnostician Dr. Kimberly Gilbert, Ph.D. The projection takes place on a large screen in the middle of the stage but also on vintage TV's distributed across, while Jenn performs impressive and skillful contemporary choreographies that also shine with Márion Talán de la Rosa's costume design that defines the upper part of the body with a fitted leotard, contrasting with loose pants and oversized jackets that also play a role as well as the color choice, which I would say is pretty telling. 

Jenn Freeman in La Jolla Playhouse’s production of IS IT THURSDAY YET?, created, choreographed, and performed by
Jenn Freeman; created, choreographed and directed Sonya Tayeh, composed and performed by Holland Andrews; photo by Jenna Selby.

Various moving pieces stimulate the senses like the music composed and performed by Holland Andrews with a powerful interaction with Jenn throughout the show, and the drumming performed by Price McGuffey. Holland's music is deep, and her interpretation is mighty, giving audiences a line to follow and question the days until there is an answer to why Thursday is part of the show title. Price is an excellent drummer keeping the beats of each moment, marking the pertinent cues. He also plays a couple more instruments during the performance and coats the interactions with tenderness and care. 

The set designed by Rachel Hauck resembles a black box theatre or rehearsal space that is filled with boxes that contain memories like VHS videos and plush toys, as well as Jenn's closet which also serves as an entrance and exit to the back of the stage. There are a couple of video cameras, one on the stage and another inside the closet, giving a sort of live broadcast about Jenn's feelings and answers to all these puzzling questions, trying to put the pieces in by answering now, what was happening then. The detailed and meticulous setting with Melanie Chen Cole's sound design and Joseph DiGiovanna's media design that combines the recorded voices of Jenn, the therapist, Holland, and the videos, is highly stirring, up to the point where I felt overwhelmed by everything that was happening all at once. Cha See's lighting design guides all the pieces and key moments through each movement that Jenn does but also nods to the audience, which then gave me a sense of gratitude as Jenn accompanied by all these components, is bringing us into her world and struggle through the language she knows best: dance. 

Jenn Freeman in La Jolla Playhouse’s production of IS IT THURSDAY YET?,

This piece once again shows and proves how critical art is in this world and the fact that Jenn is using her tools to understand better, and grow is enormous, grounding, sensitizing, and educating for the rest of us. We definitely need more shows like this. The creative and performative elements are precise with uniqueness and beauty as well as a loving message of empathy. There is a documentary in the works and more performances in other cities after La Jolla so, do yourself a favor and experience Is It Thursday Yet? for yourself. Missing it would be a disservice. 

Currently playing until August 6th. For performance dates and times please click here.

And, for a sneak peek at the creative process, click here: