Conservatory Comes to a Close...

I just spent the past two weeks helping out some high school kids learn about the wonders of theatre with an intensive in the following areas: voice and movement, improv, acting, Shakespeare, stage combat, play analysis, and other little seminars on a slew of other things.

It was intense and exhausting for them and for the teachers. But I’m only speaking for myself. It was a lesson in juggling responsibilities: marketing work (which has time-sensitive deadlines), acting, understudying, and a day trip getaway to see some family. Those weeks with the conservatory were demanding and the first time when I felt a bit bogged down like I was in college.

I also learned more about teaching. When I started college, I got to thinking about teaching (specifically English) and that slowly fizzled out when I entered education courses and became more involved in theatre productions at school. There was a shift from “I can never ‘make it’ in theatre” to “it’s gonna take a lot of work, but I want theatre to be a part of the rest of my life.” This doesn’t mean that I have to make it to NYC or Hollywood (and I’ve got not a shred of film experience yet).

Teaching has been lingering in the back of my head, and this conservatory was the first time that I was able to try it on for size. I wasn’t in charge of any one class, but I was able to offer suggestions and input—particularly in the acting and Shakespeare classes. I did lead discussion of one period of Shakespeare for a day. We poured over dictionaries and understood more clearly what Hermia and Demetrius were talking about in the whole “treat me as you treat your spaniel” scene (which is absolutely hilarious). I had a blast discovering the text with them.

I haven’t sworn off teaching. One of the reasons I’m considering auditioning for M.F.A. programs is so that I could teach at some university and do other courses and things in addition to acting. Teaching reinforces what the teacher already knows. I become just as much of a student as the pupils are. It requires improv skills too.

The final presentation was tonight and it went very well. There were monologues, songs, and scenes from The Glass Menagerie, Picnic, and Fools (Neil Simon). Families were around and laughed and clapped. After the reception, most of the students gathered in the rehearsal/events room for a final time and we played “Bippity-Bippity-Bop” and “Big Booty.” Who knew that these mild mannered kids would burst out of their shells to initiate those games in front of their parents? They embraced this small community that was created for them and ran with it. That’s pretty gratifying. Who knows what they’ll do with theatre in the future. Many of them are just about to enter high school. I hope this conservatory gave them a boost in confidence. They know dozens of games that can be played in a many different situations.

No matter–I wish them all well, wherever they go.