Hannah Hammond - Featured Speaker for 2020 Triota Induction: Read her remarks

Elmira College theatre professor Hannah Hammond addressed the Triota inductees with an inspirational talk at the annual Iota Iota Iota induction ceremony on Monday, Feb. 24. 2020. She based her talk on the play she is currently directing, THE WOLVES, because there is so much in this production that relates to women's and gender studies. She has kindly provided the text for us to post here.

HANNAH HAMMOND

I've been working on this little play The Wolves, for the last 8 weeks. It's about a female soccer team.  It opens next week, and you should come to see it.
The playwright described each girl only by their team number, position, and one or two other words. Each girl is struggling to figure out who she is and her voice.

Nothing any of us can relate to right?

I'm still figuring it out, we all are really, it's one of the reasons Sarah DeLappe starts The Wolves with the Gertrude Stein quote "We are all the same age on the inside"

One of the things I told my actors when we started rehearsals was that you don't need to try to be someone else. You were cast in these roles because there is a part of you in them. Be who you are and let yourself shine through this character. That's all you have to do and you will find the heart and truth of these girls.

So I'm going to say the same thing to you, and remind myself as well.

All you have to be is yourself. Show up with the truest version of yourself, In everything you do. But maybe more importantly - don't be afraid of who you are, what you think and all the ways you show up in the world.

That negative story loop, that you aren't enough as you are, is just that. A story. You control it. You can choose to listen or not. I dare you to make the scary choice and start to ignore it. That anxiety is only fear and you never have to be afraid of who you are. Because who you are is all you can be and that is beautiful.

Did you know THE WOLVES was a 2017 Pulitzer Prize Finalist in Drama?
Don't miss this timely play about a girls’ high school soccer team that illuminates with the unmistakable ping of reality the way young selves are formed when innate character clashes with external challenges. March 6-8, Gibson Theatre. Admission is Free! Performances at 8pm, except for the Sunday matinee at 2pm.