Bridgette Redman posted a great quote from a book she’s reading, and it really made me think about what we do in the theatre. (You can read more at Bridgette’s great blog, Front Row At Lansing’s Theaters)

Essentially, the quote said that exploring art, the beauty and harmony and rhythms of it, helps keep us healthy and balanced. I love this notion, and I love it being applied to theatre. The quote finished with this:

Enjoyment of the true, the good, the beautiful, and the divine are all important factors for elevating and enhancing human consciousness.

That’s a powerful thought.

And, I think, an important part of why we do what we do. From the heavy dramas to the silliest of comedies, these all have their own beauty, and can move people – in my book that’s a true, beautiful, and divine thing!

I also recently read a quote about theatre needing to “instruct”, and I’m a little at odds with that notion. Inform, maybe… offer options, ask questions, tell stories that make people think, share an experience in order to bring up issues worthy of discussion… I’ll take any of those as long as they’re coupled with the goal of “entertain” as well. But “instruct”? That’s not my cup of tea. It may be exactly what others enjoy, and there are folks who are great at it, and that’s wonderful. But I don’t think that’s ever going to be the reason behind why I make theatre.

When I’m teaching at a college, I’m there to instruct. If I’m leading a “how-to” workshop, I’m there to instruct. If I’m producing or directing a play, though? Then I’m there to tell a story, and hopefully make people feel something that sticks with them long enough for it to have some kind of positive impact on their life.

That’s when I feel I’ve done something useful, something important.

Not because I’ve had the experience of instructing someone, but because I’ve had the experience of sharing an experience with them.

It has been a long time since I let a week go by between entries in my journal. I’m going to try and catch up on some of the highlights with the next couple of LJ entries.

Although it’s been a busy time, it’s been a good, productive kind of busy:

I Cast A Show:

I had a TERRIFIC experience casting a show recently. I’m directing A Picasso at the Performance Network next Spring. It’s a great two-hander, and the lead man (Picasso!) was cast when I got the gig from the producer (and I’m very much looking forward to working with the actor). We had auditions for the lead woman, and they went really, really well. I mean, this was one of those “kid in a candy shop” type of events for me. The first round was wonderful, with all 10 women being terrific, terrific actors and the producer and I looking at each other saying “Wow! We’ve got good choices!” Then we had to narrow it down, and used age, type, ‘gut feeling’, etc… to narrow the field to 4. During callbacks, I was just thrilled to be able to work with each actor, get great results, and eventually narrow it down to one based on what felt the best “chemistry” and “feel” with the actor playing Picasso.

It was one of those events that really make you excited to work in this industry. Nearly a dozen professional actors walked in, were fabulous, and I got to pick from that great talent pool who I thought would fit the role best.

It was, for the producer and I, a powerful event for this reason: Although I already know it to be true, this was a fabulous reminder of the deep talent pool of professional actors we have in this state. Occasionally as a director, when you’re casting a show, you have the “We’ve only got two real options for this role” decision to make. Making those are fine, but it leaves you with few options in the casting of the OTHER roles in the play. Having a whole room full of people who could nail a part is a big treat. (Having to say no to all but one of them is no fun, but that’s part of the job.) This casting session definitely fell into the “treat” department.

So, a good day of casting. And, possibly more importantly, a good reminder of how fortunate I am to work in an area where the work is taken seriously, and people are seriously skilled at it.

I kinda love this quote from Andrew Stanton, writer and director of the upcoming Pixar film “Wall-E”, when asked about the “messages” in the film…

Yeah, frankly the love one is really all I was pushing. Everything else I was using elements that I knew matched those scenarios of environment and society and things, but I was just trying to go with things that [were] … true aspects of us that amplified the big point of the story, which was this love story and what is the point of living? What is the real point of living? There’s a lot of different ways people can fill their time, but there’s really only one reason we’re here and it’s relationships and loving one another. That’s all I was pushing. Everything else was a benefactor of that.

There’s no question, that’s a driving motivation behind the kind of plays I like to produce, as well, and I like the way he summed it up: “What is the real point of living? There’s a lot of different ways people can fill their time, but there’s really only one reason we’re here and it’s relationships and loving one another.” Yep, I like that thought! 🙂

Looking forward to seeing this film, and taking my family with me!

This one was taken with a camera OTHER than my phone, so it’s much better quality! 🙂
(click to make it biggerest!)

Wayne David Parker and Kate Peckham

I don’t discuss religion on here. This may be the first post that has any religion based content at all.
I think it’s a personal thing, I try not to pass judgment and I dislike being judged on religious issues.

However, last night I was really angered and bothered by something, and it’s my journal and I’m gonna vent.

I was driving, with the radio on, at about 7:30pm. I had the “scan” feature going, and it was flipping stations. It stopped for a few seconds on what was, apparently, a religious broadcast. There was a man doing a sermon, or just preaching or talking into his microphone to his listeners, and what came through my car speakers was this: “I promise you – I know this for a fact – if you do not make right with Jesus Christ, and let Christ into your heart, you WILL spend eternity in hell.”

Okay.

Now, listen. I know a lot of people believe this. Fine. People can believe that, they can believe the opposite of that, they can believe that eating lawn trimmings and root-beer floats will deliver them to valhalla for all I care.

But what if my kids had been in the car?

My daughter is 10, and right now is going through a difficult “I don’t want to die, Dad. I don’t want you guys to die” phase. The question “What comes next?” is big Big BIG in our lives right now, and we’re working to help her understand that it’s a mystery and lots of people have a LOT of different beliefs and faiths. But for her to hear some big scary authoritarian voice on the radio say “I know for a FACT that if you don’t follow Jesus Christ you will spend eternity in hell” would’ve been a VERY difficult thing for her. You know this for a FACT, do you sir?

Really?

A FACT?!

I’m very glad she wasn’t there to hear it. Yes, if she had been I would’ve used it as a springboard for a discussion – something like “Well, he’s using ‘fact’ incorrectly – in truth, no one knows exactly what happens, but some people have such faith and believe so strongly that it feels like fact…” blahblahblah, but it still ticks me off. And I don’t mean to offend anyone who has strong beliefs either way, but while I DO believe that religion is a faith-based entity NOT based on hard fact, I DON’T go around making threatening statements about that. And I don’t claim that things I WANT to be true are actual FACT unless they’ve been PROVEN TO BE FACTUALLY TRUE.

After having my 10-year-old cry in my arms because she’s wrestling with “What happens to Mom and Dad when they die? What happens to ME when they die? What happens to me when I die?”, the idea that some jerk could’ve scared the wits out of her even MORE by presenting his faith as a threatening fact really, really pisses me off.

/end rant

Here on Earth, I have my cake,
I’m gonna eat it, too, make no mistake,
cuz if it’s a question of to be or not to be,
I’ll put on my boots, and go see what I can see!
–-Crash Test Dummies “Here On Earth”

Whew, it’s been a busy few days.

– Saturday had a great “Max/Daddy” evening that culminated with an awesome “campout” in the basement playing videogames! This was a truly wonderful evening. The biggest “I love being a Dad” moment? At one point Max was falling asleep with his head on my arm, and as I stared at him to see if he was out for the night he drowsily forced his eyes open, stared back at me and very quietly and slowly said “Boo.”. I laughed and he giggled, rolled over, wrapped himself around my arm, sighed contentedly, whispered “I love you Dad”, and fell asleep almost instantly. I just lay there, snuggling him, smelling his hair and listening to him breathe, taking in the moment and wanting to be nowhere else in the universe. It occured to me that although moments that make us feel like I was feeling seem rare, I’m not sure they’re as rare as I think they are. I think it’s a matter of just paying attention – they’re there, we just need to stop and let them happen.

– Father’s Day was great. Was allowed to sleep in for a while in our “basement campout”, then served an amazing breakfast of eggs, biscuits and sausage gravy! Played with the family for a bit, took a little nap (!), then went to Home Depot to spend some gift card money! Came home with a new weed trimmer, a nice patio umbrella for the backyard, and a new little Weber grill that we used to cook steaks, sweet potatoes and corn on the cob for dinner! Lots of family fun time. Maggie, all day, kept saying “What is your bidding, oh Father? Today is the day for us to do your bidding!” So I had a lot of lemonade, snacks and backrubs. (Well, I HAD to keep her happy, didn’t I!?) 🙂

– Monday – Oy. Work work work! A ton of stuff on the to-do list, and no WAY am I getting them all done. So now it’s prioritize, delegate, postpone, and dig deep to get done what has to get done in time over the next two weeks. This show is going to be beautiful, though, and next season is shaping up to be incredibly exciting!

Oh, and on Monday night we attended the Pulsar Awards, where Williamston Theatre won Best New Play, Best Ensemble Cast, and Best Professional Production of the Season! ALL were won by Maidens, Mothers and Crones, which is a huge thrill for us!

If you read this, if your eyes are passing over this right now, even if we don’t speak often, please post a comment with a memory of you and me. It can be anything you want — good or bad. When you’re finished, post this little paragraph on your blog (if you have one) and be surprised (or mortified) about what people remember about you.

So, c’mon folks, let’s see what you remember! 🙂