An Academic Opportunity

For the now come-and-gone holiday season, I was gifted something particularly exciting.  Most of my recent additions to this column come from my position as the artistic and managing director of Trident Theatre, but I am afforded the chance to expand beyond just that position every now and then.  This spring at Sheridan College, I will be teaching THEA 1000: Introduction to Theatre; a foundational course in theatre, open to any and all who wish to enhance her/his theatrical prowess.

On the surface, the course obviously explores the basics of theatre.  Of course, attendees can expect to gain a better understanding of the skeletal structures of how the art form has developed in America.  But, beyond that, the course offers an enhanced perspective on theatre as a collaborative effort, which can therefore amplify theatre viewing in the future.  My goal is to give you the tools to become your own armchair coach, but in the realm of theatre.

Think of it like this: when I teach to students, I usually recommend that they become a fan of a team sport, as it broadens their potential as a theatre artist.  Certainly, in every sport there are standout players, but each of those is only as successful as the team around them.  The pitcher that throws a no-hitter is only as good as the team that applies the right amount of fielding pressure. The strategic quarterback is only as good as the offensive line that leaves the opportunistic holes in the defense.  The triple-double point guard is only as good as the power forward that slams down the alley-oop pass.

In my opinion, this is the same in theatre.  While we have artists like Lin-Manuel Miranda and Sutton Foster (look those names up - they’ll certainly show up in course work this semester), those artists are only as good as the teams that help them set up their works.  I often use the following analogy when describing this concept as it relates to the stage.  Let’s say a performer is about to give the most inspirational or heartbreaking or gut-wrenching monologue or song, and that performance will define the art form for the next generation.  This performer only has one shot at perfecting this, and the time is now.  But, imagine that the light board operator didn’t turn on the lights at the right time.  Or, imagine that a stage hand didn’t open the curtain at the correct moment.  Or, imagine if the performer’s stage partner had tried to steal the show right before this moment.  In all of these instances, the influential performer is only as good as the team that helped create that opportunity, and without their contributions, the performance is not as successful.

That’s what I aim to help my students discover this semester.  Beyond just the bare bones of theatre and its history, I aim to offer my students a deeper understanding of the collaborative efforts just behind the facade of the performances seen on stage.  A look at the playbook, if you will.

The class begins on Wednesday, January 17th, and will take place every Monday and Wednesday at 5:15p on the Sheridan College Campus.  If you’re interested, please contact the college on how to proceed.  We have this extraordinary learning institution in our community, and any course is a great value for the low price you’ll pay.

Thanks for listening, and I hope to see you in class!