For those of you who know me well... know my life... know my "flit" mode as my buddy Kim calls it, you know that "show-week" means insanity. Here I am- 3 days away from our spring show opening- a wonderful cast split with students who know how theater works, and those getting their feet wet for the first time... and as I awake in a panic at 2am I ask myself, "WHY? Why in the bleeding-frickity-frackity-blankity-blank do I put myself through this torture twice a year?" (Again, for those of you who know me well, you know that although I often fail at filtering my verbal words, I'm much better about filtering what is written down for posterity!)In the last week, I have been running around in circles: shopping for costumes, buying paint, writing up light cues, running rehearsals, sending out press releases, etc. Did I mention I have a full-time teaching job in addition to this? Oh, and then there are those pesky people at my house who call themselves my "family" and seem to think I should help feed children, do laundry, drive kids around, etc. Honestly, I'm not a very good person during this week. I'm short tempered. I'm easily freaked. I simply don't play well with others. My mind is going in about 500 different directions at once. So why? Why does Death get a holiday and I get stress attacks?
Okay... this is why: there are these amazing kids I work with. Some of them are strong students, and some are strong athletes. Some of the kids run with the "alternative" crowd, and some hide behind soda machines so they aren't seen. But when they come into the student center, and we make this art together, they become a family. They figure out how to work with kids they'd never talk to in the hallways. They clap- loudly even- for the young actress who finally figures out how to scream from backstage. They become beautifully human- treasuring in each other the skills that will bring them all to opening night. And I am entirely honored to be the lucky adult who is there to witness it all.
People always try to "box" drama club in with after school sports... but there is a fundamental difference... we do not compete. We create. We share. There are no trophies, nor any state playoffs. And we, we happy few are okay with that.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
And it is because YOU know this about the kids that you have taken in under your wing - that this week from insanity is endured; and weeks from now, when it is all over and you have recovered (from this) you and the student returning next year will be talking about the next venture your traverse down.
ReplyDeleteOn closing night you will, with heart-felt emotion and probably a tear or two (from you, not to mention the students) will have come to the realization (once again) that all of the hair pulling and lost sleep was worth it. That the time on stage was much too brief for all that was put into creating this production. And while Death may get to take a holiday, your energy and drive; your love and devotion; your belief in the good of others... will my friend be the reason you can not -