I Ain't Down Yet...But...

I find myself struggling during this open-ended time of waiting during the Pandemic of COVID-19.  I'm a highly organized person. As a director and theatre educator, schedules, deadlines and calendars rule.  I am also a problem solver.  I don't give up easily.  In high school, I was Molly in The Unsinkable Molly Brown.  My mantra is "I ain't down yet." But right now all bets are off. What happens when the show can't go on?

I remember a line from the play, I Never Saw Another Butterfly, the true story that bears witness to the children interned in Terezin during the Holocaust.  Irena, the teacher who inspires and motivates her students to write poetry and draw pictures about their experience, says to young Raja, "waiting days are long days."

These are long days.  I am waiting, like everyone, for this to be over. But that is not likely to happen any time soon.  Given the reality, what does that mean for my students who have rehearsed and were ready to perform their spring musical, Into the Woods in April?  At what point do I holler uncle?
I'm walking a fine line between tenacity and insanity.

We are not returning to school for the rest of the year. I have given up on the notion that we will be able to perform for a live audience. So what choices are left?   I've envisioned everything from the actors coming back when it is safe - maybe late summer  or even over Thanksgiving - performing with clear face shields. The cast members could apply their makeup, do their hair, dress in costume and warm up at home.  But is that even feasible?

There are a million dominoes. The set is installed but nothing has been teched. No light cues have been programmed.  Does this make sense? Or would we be better off figuring out a way to do an audio recording of the cast?  These students deserve some kind of "finished product," don't they?
Or is this just another casualty of COVID-19.  Another loss for the class of 2020?

I don't know. Will the answers come? At some point will the answer be obvious? Will it be dictated to me? Somebody, anybody, tell me what to do!?

Unwinding the show will have its own set of complications - set, props, costume returns. Negotiating contracts. Retrieving musical scripts and scores. What else?  I don't know what I don't know.
But what will the emotional toll be on those kids?

Waiting to mount the show some time in the future without any idea of when that might be seems unreasonable. Reassembling a cast that would then include graduates,  reinstalling the set, re-assembling the costumes.... at what expense? Is that even possible?

I always say, "safety first." This is the ultimate, "heads up!" call.
We cannot do the show until it is safe to do so.  That line is clear.
How long to hold on to a full scale production is not so clear. When do you cut your losses, regroup and create something lasting in a different way?

Waiting days are indeed long days.  I ain't down yet...but it's feeling like the iceberg is on the horizon.
I'm willing to row. But where is the life boat?

From Football to Theatre: A Lesson on Great Coaching

I just listened to a new podcast episode entitled Flying Coach With Steve Kerr & Pete Carroll: Two Champions on Mentors, Philosophies and Why They Coach on The Ringer NFL Show.  Why would a high school theatre educator be the least bit interested in listening to a sports oriented podcast? Well, truth be known, I'm a huge Pete Carroll fan but more than that, I am an avid student of great coaching.  I'm fascinated by how coaches motivate their teams to win game after game.  I am wildly curious about what it takes to have a championship mentality.

 I love college football and (full disclosure) I am one of four USC alumni in our family so USC football has always been a favorite fall pastime. Over the years, I've observed differing coaching styles on display along the sidelines of college football games; the stern-faced authoritarian,  the clipboard-throwing bully and the exuberant enthusiast. Pete Carroll falls into the latter category.

When I saw that there was to be a podcast interview with Pete Carroll about his philosophy of coaching, I had to tune in.  Never a big NFL fan, once Pete left USC and joined the Seattle Seahawks, I suddenly cared about the Super Bowl.  Pete Carroll's energy, focus, and enthusiasm is effervescent. Watching Pete on the sidelines, chomping his gum is pure fun. He loves what he does. His passion is evident. His intensity is palpable.  His positive spirit is infectious.

Now, forty-years in, Pete Carroll's personal charisma combined with his skill, daring and determination are legendary.

Here are my five takeaways on coaching from Flying Coach With Steve Kerr & Pete Carroll: Two Champions on Mentors, Philosophies and Why They Coach  that can be applied to high school theatre directors:

1. Be authentic: It's not all about the "X's and O's" of play calling. Translated for theatre - it's not just about the blocking.  Bring yourself, your passion, your unique approach to directing and trust yourself.

2. Be consistent: I couldn't agree more. In high school theatre, consistency provides clarity of communication and expectation. This is not easy because there is always the exception to the rule. Theatre educators need to be aware, intentional and fair. Five minutes early is on time for everyone!

3. Have a philosophy: This falls right in line with my belief in the Theatre on Purpose approach to teaching. Know why you are in educational theatre. It's not something to "fall back on." It's a calling.

4. Do the hard work: Training, discipline and developing the tools necessary to create theatre are imperative. It takes practice, rehearsal, and self-discipline. Theatre, like football, requires a team effort. Not everyone can be the quarterback. But without the kicker or receiver there isn't a team. Technicians, stage crew, and the ensemble are equally important as the leading actor.

5. Make sound choices: This one is personal. Life-work balance. To thine own self be true. Not always an easy thing to achieve, but regret is real so think about the choices you make along the way.

I once heard that Pete Carroll would tell his team to  "go out there and do it better than you've ever done it before." I have quoted that "Pete Carrollism"  many times to my students. You've got to show up ready to perform; seasoned, healthy and focused.  The simple notion of doing something better than you've ever done before is a straight forward and clear directive.

And that's how we should live our lives, too, isn't it? Each day, shouldn't we be striving for excellence? Each day shouldn't we be trying to be the best version of ourselves?

I appreciate great coaching in educational theatre and recognize that it is all about the process. As I always say, if the process has integrity, the product will have integrity.

Theatre on Purpose is student-centered, nurturing, disciplined, passionate, authentic and above all, joyful!