Stepping in Rivers

My own writing has really taken a backseat these days. I'm not actually complaining as I have been filling my time rehearsing for a show. What show you ask? This show: c. 1993 (you never step in the same river twice). It's a collaboratively created theatrical event ("show" is not exactly the right word) that will include ballroom dancing to a boy-band song, Sleepless in Seattle told through word balloons, and a Nirvana mash-up to name a few things.

In many ways, I feel like I was built to be a theatre cross-trainer (a term I lovingly stole from a professor of mine). I've never wanted to be just an actor or just a playwright. In fact, I think as theatre artists, we do more harm to ourselves than good when we try and label ourselves like that. Devising gave me a good opportunity to use all of my skills, some I didn't know I have. And I've been trained by (what I think are) some of the best. Now, having been a part of roughly five collaboratively created theatre pieces in the last four years, I am no stranger to this sort of work. All of those experiences have provided me with the opportunity to develop my skills so usually when I walk into something like this I feel incredibly prepared.

With c.1993, I must admit, I feel a little out of my league. Being a show of entirely found texts, a lot of singing, and a moderate amount of dancing, I'm flexing muscles I haven't flexed in a long time...if ever. Because of that, I am valuing my experience in this show a lot. I guess I had gotten kind of cocky when it comes to devising. I figured since I had done so much of it, anything would be cake. What I seemed to have forgotten was that for every different theatre artist there is a different way to approach devising. I had been devising with roughly the same group of people for a long time. A group of people I grew to love, understand, and collaborate with very well. Of course there had been some conflict; you don't create theatre without conflict. In the end the product was usually something I could be very proud of.

It was time to step out of my comfort zone. It was time to be introduced into a new way of doing collaborative work. It was time to get to know a whole new group of people with a different style of working. And I didn't even know it.

This show is going to be awesome I think. I love the cast/crew and we're working together pretty well. It's definitely going to be an interesting experience for our audiences.

So.
See it.