I regard the theatre as the greatest of all art forms, the most immediate way in which a human being can share with another the sense of what it is to be a human being. - Oscar Wilde
TAKING IT TO THE STREETS:
OUR ROAD TRIP TO ALABAMA
Last week, eight of us traveled to rural Alabama to work with BAMA Kids,
an organization our dear friend, Kate Schutt, has volunteered her talent to since 2010.
In preparation for our Madagascar trip, we would test the sea legs of our intrepid team of big-hearted artists and refine our existing pedagogy while putting in some work stateside.
We drove an aptly named Dodge Caravan for 20 hours and landed in the welcoming arms of Ms. Sheryl Threadgill-Matthews and her incredible band of children.
We were greeted with huge smiles and epic hugs.
One little boy named Christopher came up to me and announced, “I got my eye on you."
He then put his little hand in mine and led me around the center.
Our goal was to create an original show based on a Malagasy folktale and share it on Saturday.
Could we pull this off?
Our hearts were in the right place.
We had the skills to do the work we planned.
But we’d never worked together as an ensemble to create a show in entirety with a group of kids.
We crushed it. More accurately, the kids CRUSHED it.
These 27 kids, ages 9-14, started with little or no theatre training and most had never even seen a full length play before.
Nevertheless, they wrote original songs, improvised and crafted scenes, and learned the delicate art of shadow puppetry.
What!?!?!? I’ve been in productions where we never got past the table-read in a single week.
It wasn’t all smooth sailing.
There were definitely moments when I thought the show would end in a train wreck of good intentions.
I often found myself brooding about one element of the show or another.
Then I would feel a tiny hand on my shoulder and look over to see Christopher’s smiling face saying,
“I still got my eye on you.”
Saturday's "dress rehearsal" was ridiculously stressful.
Props were missing, technical elements failed, and cues were dropped.
Everything came together, and the show was hilarious, touching, compelling, and ultimately,
a galvanizing experience for everyone involved.
We are so proud of those who courageously pitched in at every opportunity to give these kids an experience they won’t forget.
Through theatre, we offered these kids a chance to be heard and seen.
We let them know that their voices matter and that they have a unique and valuable gift to give the world: themselves.
I hope I never forget the light encouraging hand of Christopher and the faces of those kids as they stood in front of their community soaking up their well-deserved applause.
We have a lot of work to do before lift-off for Madagascar on May 1st,
but our hearts are full and our courage is tested.
Stay tuned ‘cuz we’re taking you with us every step of the way.
