http://theyearoflivingunofficially.com/05/18/no-dirty-dishes-day/
Sort of obvious when you think about it...but it’s just like being in a relationship, the petty little details get in the way: the mound of dishes in the sink from last Tuesday, the electric bill taped to the fridge, that weird odor emitting from your loved-one’s sneakers...
your life.
Believe it or not, theater companies and just about every organization worth its salt
has their own metaphorical (and sometimes literal) dishes/bills/strange odors
they have to deal with every day in order to make it even possible to survive.
Unfortunately, just like the passive aggressive fight you may or may not have with your loved one over
why-in-the-hell-can’t-you-for-the-love-of-GOD-stop-breathing-so-LOUD,
the turmoil that comes out of growing dissent within a theater company can crack
even the strongest of foundations.
has their own metaphorical (and sometimes literal) dishes/bills/strange odors
they have to deal with every day in order to make it even possible to survive.
Unfortunately, just like the passive aggressive fight you may or may not have with your loved one over
why-in-the-hell-can’t-you-for-the-love-of-GOD-stop-breathing-so-LOUD,
the turmoil that comes out of growing dissent within a theater company can crack
even the strongest of foundations.
This last April, such was the state of American Bard Theater Company. Because things got so piled up, things had unknowingly been pushed aside. The immense workload was being shared--but only among an intrepid few--and the very structure of the company was called into question. A work-session was scheduled for the last Sunday of July as a concerted effort to air out all grievances and determine the most important question of all: Who are we? What do we want to be?
In my opinion, the outcome was truly inspiring. Folks, we have had an overhaul here at ABTC: Vision? We now have one. Mission Statement? Fine tuned to better fit what we’re doing these days. Company Structure? An Artistic Ensemble, thank you very much.
What was interesting was that when asked to write down how we envisioned American Bard 3,5,7 years from now, the same ideas kept popping up on our flip chart papers: we want to make an impact, we want a home base, we want to produce exciting, innovative theater. Our visions were somewhat similar without us even realizing it. Go Figure!
There is still a whole lot to figure out, of course, but this is a fantastic start! Out of that we came into our meeting that next Thursday with a renewed sense of purpose and knowing each other a little better. And since the company members had taken some time to address the nitty gritty everyday housework, the majority of that Thursday meeting was spent discussing fun artistic stuff, namely our spring show, Pericles.
In my opinion, the outcome was truly inspiring. Folks, we have had an overhaul here at ABTC: Vision? We now have one. Mission Statement? Fine tuned to better fit what we’re doing these days. Company Structure? An Artistic Ensemble, thank you very much.
What was interesting was that when asked to write down how we envisioned American Bard 3,5,7 years from now, the same ideas kept popping up on our flip chart papers: we want to make an impact, we want a home base, we want to produce exciting, innovative theater. Our visions were somewhat similar without us even realizing it. Go Figure!
There is still a whole lot to figure out, of course, but this is a fantastic start! Out of that we came into our meeting that next Thursday with a renewed sense of purpose and knowing each other a little better. And since the company members had taken some time to address the nitty gritty everyday housework, the majority of that Thursday meeting was spent discussing fun artistic stuff, namely our spring show, Pericles.
Pericles Aerialist: http://www.globe-education.org/discovery-space/plays/pericles-2005
So, I guess what I have learned from this adventure is that a relationship is still a relationship, whether it be between 2 people in a tiny apartment in Brooklyn or the entire population of New York City, both need communication to survive and flourish--if you actually take the time to work through the difficult stuff (and/or just suck it up do those damn dishes) then you can enjoy the relationship for the reasons you became a part of it in the first place. To end on a neat little proverbial note: take a step back, don’t be someone who can’t see the forest for looking at the trees.
STAY TUNED FOR MY NEXT ENTRY! Pericles: A peculiar history.
STAY TUNED FOR MY NEXT ENTRY! Pericles: A peculiar history.
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