What does it take to bring a play from the page to the stage? This four-part series follows the making of Theatre Sewanee’s winter 2026 production of Jen Silverman's The Moors. Each episode highlights the students who played key creative roles—from directing and design to acting—and offers a behind-the-scenes look at how a production comes together. Watch the videos below to learn more about the collaboration, experimentation, and artistry at the heart of the theatrical process.
directing the moors | Ivy Francis Moore, C’26
What does it take to direct a full mainstage theater production as a college student?
We sat down with theatre major Ivy Francis Moore, C’26, to talk about leading Theatre Sewanee's production of The Moors by Jen Silverman.
Moore shares what the last year of research and preparation looked like, how he developed a vision for the play, what it meant to collaborate with other artists to bring that vision to life—and how it feels to see it all come together on opening night at the Tennessee Williams Center.
Designing the Costumes of THE MOORS | Roman Belton, C’26
How do costumes bring a world—and its characters—to life?
We spoke with Sewanee art and theatre major Roman Belton, C’26, the costume designer for Theatre Sewanee's production of The Moors, about their creations.
In the costume shop, Belton shares their design inspirations, how they balanced historical accuracy with unexpected creative flourishes, and what it’s like to see ideas that began as research and sketches transformed into fully realized, built-from-scratch costumes on stage.
Finding the Characters of THE MOORS | The Ensemble Cast
Eerie. Thrilling. Melancholic. And … fried chicken?
Those are some of the descriptors that the cast of Theatre Sewanee’s production of Jen Silverman's The Moors came up with to describe the show.
In this video, the cast reflects on their characters, the collaborative rehearsal process, and how actors, directors, and designers work together to create a show. From early table reads to final performances, the actors reflect on the creativity, trust, and experimentation at the heart of theatre.
Building the World of THE MOORS | Professor Jordan Vera
Welcome to England(ish). Circa the 1840s(ish).
In this video, we step inside the world of Theatre Sewanee’s production of Jen Silverman's The Moors with Jordan Vera, assistant professor of theatre at the University of the South and the show’s lighting and set designer.
Vera discusses creating a setting that feels both historical and slightly off-kilter, and notes how specific lighting choices can serve to enhance the play’s mood, action, and themes. He also reflects on the rewards of collaborating with student artists—especially student director Ivy Francis Moore, C’26, and costume designer Roman Belton, C’26—on a fully realized mainstage production.
