Legacy and Lessons – Choreography, Set Design, and Lessons from The Half-God of Rainfall

In this final episode of Wilma Theatercast, hosts Dwight Dunston and Toby Fraser reflect on the artistry and impact of The Half-God of Rainfall. They are joined by Ontaria Kim Wilson (Assistant Director & Choreographer) and Dahlia Al-Habieli (Scenic Designer) to explore how movement and scenic design shaped this powerful production.

🎭 Ontaria Kim Wilson shares how choreography balances Yoruba dance, Grecian movement, and contemporary theatrical techniques to honor the play’s themes while ensuring care for actors and audiences.

🎭 Dahlia Al-Habieli discusses the challenges of creating a set that moves between myth and reality, reflecting the vast scale of the story.

Topics Covered in This Episode

🌍 The Role of Movement in Mythological Storytelling
🎭 Honoring Yoruba & Greek Traditions in Theater
🛠️ Scenic Design as World-Building
🎤 Abstract vs. Literal Representation in Set Design
💭 Final Reflections on The Half-God of Rainfall

Guest Bios

Ontaria Kim Wilson is a choreographer, director, and educator pursuing an MFA in Directing at Temple University. A founding member of Rennie Harris Puremovement, she has choreographed for artists including Gina Thompson, Eve, and Teddy Pendergrass. Her work on The Half-God of Rainfall blends traditional dance forms, abstraction, and ritual to elevate storytelling.

Dahlia Al-Habieli is an award-winning scenic designer and educator whose work has been seen at Virginia Stage Company, Trinity Rep, Dallas Theater Center, and PlayMakers Rep. She has held faculty positions at Carnegie Mellon, Wake Forest, and Albright College. Her set designs use symbolism and space to transform the audience’s experience of myth and reality.

Featured Music & Resources

🎭 Explore More About the Play

• The Half-God of Rainfall at Wilma Theater will be available to stream until March 30, 2025 – Visit here
• Wilma Theater’s Dramaturgy Page – Read more

🎵 Music from the Episode

• The Half-God of Rainfall score by Jordan McCree & Elle Morris of Ill Doots
• The Half-God Mixtape by Dwight Dunston & Martronimous (Available on Apple Music & Spotify)
• Additional music from Epidemic Sound

What’s Next for Wilma Theatercast?

As The Half-God of Rainfall concludes, should Wilma Theatercast continue for future productions?

Upcoming productions include:

• Archduke by Rajiv Joseph (April 15 – May 4, 2025)
• A Summer Day by Jon Fosse (June 10 – 29, 2025)

Let us know your thoughts—connect with us on social media @WilmaTheater, or leave a voice message at 856-283-2116.

This keeps key themes, guest highlights, and resources while cutting excess words to fit within 3,500 characters. Let me know if you need any final tweaks! 🚀

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🎭 The Tony Award-winning Wilma Theater joyfully produces the Wilma Theatercast as part of our Accessible Productions Initiative. This program brings community partners into the rehearsal process and invites them to respond creatively to the work. This program is made possible with support from the William Penn Foundation.