From a staged reading at a senior showcase to years gathering dust on a shelf, “Weapon in Waiting” will see the spotlight once again.
Written by Keira Stogin-Matthews and directed by Abigail Rebekah, both University of Utah alumni were inspired to tell a story that could be “applicable to modern-day audiences.” “Weapon in Waiting” tells the story of Jackie Cochran’s contributions to the aviation industry.
Women’s stories told by women
The play was inspired first by a move to Salt Lake City, where Stogin-Matthews and Rebekah were inspired to audition for BFA programs at the U. Coming from Idaho and Montana, they thought the arts landscape Utah offered was exactly what they needed for a jumping-off point.
“As an artistic creative, it was fantastic,” Rebekah said. “And just like, really nurtured that kind of world.”
In her last year with the Actor Training Program, Stogin-Matthews gained inspiration from Fannie Flagg’s “The All-Girl Filling Station’s Last Reunion.” It explores the history of women in the aviation industry during WWII and their stories following the push to redesign their lives. This reading led Stogin-Matthews to “The Women With Silver Wings,” a story written by Katherine Sharp Landdeck, who introduces Jackie Cochran.
With no knowledge of Cochran and a desire to become a pilot for the Navy, Stogin-Matthews began writing “Weapon in Waiting,” researching everything she needed to know about Cochran, female aviators and other background that led to women’s roles in the military today.
“I just became extremely interested with this woman, and like all the contradictory things and confusing things about her, I just couldn’t stop thinking about it,” Stogin-Matthews said.
The value in historical storytelling
Stogin-Matthews and Rebekah agreed that in the production of “Weapon in Waiting,” there was an emphasis on historical representation. Rebekah added that telling historical stories in artistic ways is vital for communities and audiences.
“This story is a historical story that no one knows about,” Rebekah said. “It is so unknown, and it’s just so interesting, like, the parts of history that just don’t make it into culture and into everyday conversation. I think it’s extremely valuable because it did greatly affect us more than we realize.”
Jackie Cochran is the most accomplished female aviator in history. Rebekah and Stogin-Matthews both agreed that representing her admirably and accurately was the first step to bringing awareness to the female aviator industry.
“Jackie Cochran, the leading player of this play, is an anomaly of a human being, and she actually makes no real sense for argument’s sake at a superficial level,” Stogin-Matthews said. “And so I’ll be curious to see how an audience responds to her real-life sharing.
How to view the show
The production debuts in New York City on April 4 and 5. The production will have a live or digital format for audiences interested in viewing the show. They will also seek feedback on how audiences engage with the show, so they can produce it on a larger scale. Find more information about the show here.
“I just want audience members to take curiosity for history out of it,” Rebekah said. “It’s kind of a reflection of whatever your society is pushing onto your government,” Stogin-Matthews added. “So, it’s kind of like the ultimate form of democracy in this play, in that way, I find that endlessly interesting. I think that applies in any year of our existence.”
