The Clearing

imagesAfter 23 years of teaching and teaching acting classes sometimes over 30 people it has always been my wish to have an advanced acting class that one had to audition to get in. I find that by the time theatre majors become juniors and certainly before they become seniors there is a clear division between those that cannot get enough acting training and those that have moved to another place and see acting class as simply another class that requires as much attention as any other academic class.

Both have a valid reason to be in the theatre department but they need to be approached differently. The student enjoying and benefiting from an acting class BUT NOT intending to pursue it in college needs to be handled differently – not as lesser than – but as someone who might be more helped by a focus on the business side of theatre or the gift that theatre can bring to education, psychology, law, or business in general. They do not need the tenth monologue or the fifth scene. Who is benefiting from that?

Luckily this year, my dream came true and Company – a twenty person, audition only company was created. Now, of course, having taught a more “generalized” acting class, I am faced with the joy and intense responsibility of raising my own bar.

One thing that I have instituted in class – – that is proving to have wonderful results is very simple (as I guess most good ideas are). Each class after a physical and vocal warmup suited to the needs of the particular day, we stand in a large circle and go around from person to person – – asking simply for them to “check in” They are asked to take a quick, honest inventory of where their heart, mind and body are and to share it with words. No comment is made, no suggestion, no judgment – – we all simply stand witness.

Then after a bit of yoga-like centering, we do an excersice I call “clearing.” In the same circle, the floor is opened for anyone to speak up and clear the air with any other member in the circle. It might be a compliment that they have not shared, a frustration, a problem, or any kind of observation. Day by day these “clearings” become more meaningful – constructive and even complimentary, but always sincere. They are asked to look at the person face to face. Wait until they have the focus of the other person and clearly state their view. No one is allowed to comment, fix, reinforce, negate – – no one does anything thing other then offer witness. The only response allowed is from subject of the clearing – and whether they agree or disagree – all they are allowed to respond is, “I hear you.” Then the matter is dropped.

This may sound like a bit of psycho-babble and pseudo therapy – but how can we practice our art without going to either of those two worlds. Valuable time is taken for this exercise, but the benefit pays off in the listening and communion of the actors for the rest of the class.

Sometimes you simply must be heard before you can practice such an intimate art. Clear the road before you expect any traffic to navigate.

Facebook Comments Box

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*