Words, Words, Words

Call me a theatre geek, but I firmly believe that WORDS are the most immediate form of human communication. They don't require a pencil or a computer. They just happen... from our breath... immediately!

Theatre was obviously more relevant when everything was words, words, words. But we've moved from that. Moved on to pictures, and then to moving pictures, and now to DIGITAL moving pictures... they're easy to understand quickly, and in some ways they communicate more. And that's great...

But.. WORDS... they still have their place. We need them! To express who we are and what's going on with us! They resonate - literally!- within our bodies. They trip from our lips and slip from our tongues. They viscerally explain what we're feeling with vibration that soothes and stimulates...

All right, I'll stop. I could go on for a while about the necessity of the spoken word, but I'll save that for another post.

However, if the spoken word is important, it must rediscover its place in society. I believe one of way it can do that is by showing relevance to our communities.

(yeah, yeah, we sit in our ivory tours and we talk about the importance of arts and literacy - but we don't seem to PRACTICE it. In practice we -the public ed system- continue to teach to the test and look for an immediate return - the system doesn't make a long-term investment in a student's life-long growth in communication skills)

And the school system isn't going to be able to do it. They have their own issues. But WE, the ARTISTS, the ones who understand empathy, and emotional intelligence, and the sheer power of words... we must take up the mantle. We must share what we know. Preferably with those who would not otherwise have a chance to learn.

So... we're attempting to do that at my theatre company. Educational programs for under-served and at-risk students are the obvious approach, and we're doing that, sure.

BUT I love that we're moving beyond that and creating theatre about our region of the country and presenting it to, even aiming it at, our region. And not easy topics.... Race, Military, Gays and Evangelicals, and more topics in process.

We are jump starting conversations - conversations needed for healing and for growth.

Our current project is about MASSIVE RESISTANCE - the situation that occurred when integration was forced on Virginia. Schools were closed for a year! And they re-opened because the white kids filed a reverse-discrimination case. Resentments are still harbored on both sides (Pretty tough for a city that is pretty much 50/50 black and white).

If Norfolk is to move past this - to get on with its growth - its got to talk about it. And where better than the theatre to jump-start this conversation?

Check out this interview with my artistic director about Line in the Sand. It will give you a taste of what's going on.

Much more press on the project and others will evolve in the following weeks.

Any ideas from your world? How you're increasing the common man's connection to theatre? I'd love to hear!

Information about Massive Resistance and Race in Norfolk:

Nothing like a recession to change the conversation...

was the heading on a google group discussion I was involved in recently.

The following is my rather rant-ish response...

Well, ok, yes, the recession "changes the conversation", but I feel like there's a certain negativity hidden in that comment. Or at least in how I hear that comment, right now, tonight. And, personally, I can't handle anymore negativity. I've had to ban CNN from my life, and go on a media diet. (well, except twitter... and facebook... and my rss feed-c'mon-let's-not-be-crazy-here)

It feels like there's an idea out there (or at least in my own head) that worrying about money means that we can't really focus on art anymore. Or growth. Or relevance. Or if a job at a big company will be waiting for me when I'm ready.

But shouldn't it just increase those things?

And isn't this downshift about creating a NEW system? A relevant one?
Creating a new job at a new or re-examined company?
About learning to integrate theatre as a visceral, connective experience with a world of ever digitally connected persons?
If this is the biggest shift in technology since the industrial revolution, then why should our economy, much less our institutional arts system be built to withstand it?
And doesn't this "down time" reveal that the boomers don't have all the answers anyway, so why am I waiting on them to fix things?
And isn't short-term viability crucial to long-term viability? Aren't they integrally connected?
And why am I feeling alone, when there's this great google group of people that are much like me, but I never talk to them and there are 84-ish "new leaders" members, but they never or seldom post, and I know nothing about them or how they're handling this time even though they're part of my "tribe"?

deap breath.

The artist is the artist because he creates something amazing with the materials given. And sure, a great artist can create great things with great materials. And that's... great... Sure, whatever.

But, in my humble opinion, an amazing artist - I mean, a truly astounding artist- takes what s/he's given and creates an exponentially greater product.

Seth Godin's viewpoint is that the playing field has been leveled. The world is having to relearn how it works economically.

Well, so is the theatre. And I would go one further and say that now the rest of the world is playing by the rules we've existed on for years.

So, artist,
whacha gonna do?

I want to know what's going on out there! What have you done because of finances that is working or teaching you something? or inspiring you?
Can I hear something good that you're doing?

Personally, I'm creating a lot of new educational programing. On the surface, it makes the company more money. I pay young, local artists, and they teach - new camps, new residencies, etc. But you know what? I've been DYING to deepen these programs for a couple of years. (of course, I was always "too busy" then!) But now, we need to pay the bills. So here goes! And it seems to be working!

And the result? Penetration. Deeper Impact. Repeated exposure to new people who will come back... to see my work, to see my teachers, to see our educational tours, to see our mainstage shows. Who benefits? My theater? Sure. In the short term. But in the long term - the theatre community grows. We create better citizens. People learn to communicate. More students gain a love of theatre that will last the rest of their lives. And, hey, they eventually buy tickets for my shows and YOURS!

(funny that I LOVE to complain about the boomer's lack of serious arts education focus, and have been so... "busy" myself, ahem...)

So, there's a very tiny example...

And I know that my LORT-D theatre in a mid sized city is probably FAR different than your situation, but...
What's going on in your world? Are you changing what you do in a way that's making what you do BETTER? More efficient? Greener? Are you more closely connecting to your audience, your talent, yourself? Let me know!

Great Kitchen Post

I'm a little late reposting this GREAT article from the NYT about what you should and shouldn't keep in your kitchen.

Avery in the News

The Greensboro FOX affiliate featured Avery's studio this week -

Clam Chowder at Henry's

The communal nature of food. The gathering of friends to partake in common experience - food, drink, laughter and music.

It was such an evening last week as the glass artist, the professor, the grad student, and the theatre director shared champagne (picked up on the host's recent trip to Napa Valley) and some fresh clam chowder.






CLAM CHOWDER

1. Heat two tablespoons of bacon grease Saute a half cup of onion.
2. Add one pound of diced potatoes and saute until coated by fat. 3. Add one tablespoon of flour and saute until potatoes and onions are coated.
4. Add one cup of clam juice and bring to a boil while stirring.
5. Reduce heat and let simmer for 20 minutes or until potatoes are tender.
6. Add one cup of whole milk and one cup of cream along with 1 pound of clam meat to the pot.
7. Stir and heat through until hot, but NOT boiling.
8. Add salt and pepper to taste.
9. Spoon into bowls.
10. Add parsley to garnish and serve with hardtack.
11. Enjoy with friends.