This article appeared in the January 2011 issue of KC Stage
I had the privilege of directing The Boys Next Door for The Barn Players this past summer. The cast consisted of several young ladies who are developmentally challenged; a middle-aged man who had never been on stage; an actress who had been away from the stage for many years; a young college theatre student; seasoned veterans who have also worked professionally; a reluctant conscriptee; an actor who multi-tasked as a techie; and a young woman who challenged herself to portray a senior. Those who saw our show experienced joy from another quality production from a respected theatre company, but I am sure they were unaware of the cohesive community that we had developed back stage from working with such a variety of performers, technicians, volunteers, staff and board members to accomplish the near “perfect storm” experience.
How does this relate to your theatre company? Do you sometimes feel you are having developmental difficulties? Or no matter how much your board and volunteers try to find cohesiveness, you just don’t. How about young startup companies; do you feel overwhelmed and don’t exactly know which way to turn or to whom? Are you a seasoned tenured company who challenges others to meet your standards of expertise? Have you been around for decades? Are you young, full of great energy and new ideas? Does your board resist the 21st century? Do you have paid staff to do the work most boards dread... or wish that you did? Does your company consist of a variety of connected/concerned community members; are you well established with a huge season subscription; have you received prestigious awards... or would like to be in those categories? Or are you just a bunch of great people who simply want to do theatre? Theatre is not a secret society... so why are we so reluctant to gather and share?
The states of Kansas and Missouri both have active state community theatre organizations. The unfortunate side is that many of our local theatres are not involved. There is so much to be learned and shared. It is said that “a rising tide lifts all ships”. Many of these same theatres have memberships with the American Association of Community Theatre (AACT), and that is wonderful, but how about our own state organizations? Maybe, I hope not, but maybe you aren’t aware they exist or even worse feel there is nothing in it for you, or you have nothing to offer. These premises are wrong. There is much to share and much to learn. Again, the tide rising will lift us all.
As we approach 2011, AACT is prepping for its festival/competition, which starts at the state level progressing to regional and on to national. I have participated as a director, actress and audience member with several theatres in the metro. The quality is remarkable and worthy for competition. At the festivals, workshops are offered and facilitated by local and nationally recognized presenters covering a variety of topics. The camaraderie and networking are legendary. In the off festival season, the states offer festivals and conferences. There is always something worthy of participation.
I would challenge each community theatre to reevaluate why you are not active participants in our state organizations. There is still time to enter the state competitions; or at least plan to attend. Watch the shows and take some workshops; or offer to present one. We need each other. Like in The Boys Next Door, diversity should be embraced to strengthen ourselves as a theatre community and theatre as a whole in the KC Metro.
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