A Pandemic Return to Live Performances in the Theatre: A Staged Reading of The Auslander
…Part of my weekly-ish series Sunshine with A Slant: Inspiration and Introspection…
With mask mandates and vaccine verifications in place, Broadway made its joyful if not somewhat different looking than one expected return. I also in my own small way made my triumphant return to the stage. I performed as Theodora Auslander in a staged reading of The Auslander by Fengar Gael with New Voices Playwrights Theatre. Being back on stage was such a joy that it reminded me of 5 reasons I love the theatre. (There are oh so many more.)
I Love the Rehearsal Process!
The Auslander had a very short but lovely rehearsal process. The first day of rehearsals can be compared to the first day of school. There’s the nervous excitement of the beginning potential. I was blessed to get to play with artists whose work and personalities I have enjoyed previously but from afar. This time we were in the same playground. These artists did not disappoint. Laughs were had, energy was exchanged, and the seed to mount a full production was sown.
Theatre is Collaborative.
After a year of Zoom, it was so refreshing to be in a room with other creative vaccinated souls working together for a common purpose. Zoom was a great tool as a placeholder but nothing can compare to the physical rehearsal room and stage. The Auslander staged reading and working at New Voices Playwrights Theatre in general is a unique experience because the playwright is developing a new work. This company is run by playwrights whose goal is to develop their works. As an actor, getting to have important conversations with the playwright is invaluable to getting into the skin of your character. It is also exciting to be able to have a say in the development process. It’s invigorating to see first hand the cuts and additions to the script.
Theatre is Visceral and Fleeting.
As quickly as the rehearsal process began it seemed the reading was over. Theatre is not something that lasts forever or something a recording or picture can fully capture. There is a special relationship with the audience, a give and take of sorts, an exchange of energy. This relationship is visceral; a living, breathing tangible event that slips through your fingers as quick as sand. It’s beautiful. It’s slightly tragic because it is fleeting. It is quite simply magic.
Theatre is Imaginative.
Expanding upon the statement that theatre is magic, theatre allows us to suspend our disbelief and create magical worlds. In the Auslander for example, my character, Theodora, has a beloved pet bat named Cora Corona whom she goes on nightly flights with. Another term for this is magical realism. This means the world of the play is rooted in reality but has certain fantastical elements that the audience accepts as true. As an actor, I enjoy being able to explore worlds and personalities that are far removed from my own. It makes me a better person with a wider world view.
Theatre is Bigger than Oneself.
Theatre is bigger than any one person involved in it. I like to imagine an audience member who is caught up in the daily annoyances of surviving, arriving somewhat frantically to the theatre. This audience member takes a minute to open up and truly listen to the play but once they do perhaps their heart is softened and their world view is opened up. Perhaps seeing the staged reading of The Auslander inspired an audience member to mend or shift their relationship to a family member or at the very least cuddle their beloved pet a bit tighter. As an actor, every character I play becomes a part of the fabric that makes up my DNA. Some characters are inspirational and some are cautionary tales but all teach me life lessons. The theatre contains a multitude for all willing to listen.
Have you returned to a live theatre performance yet? Let me know about your experience in the comments!
Need More Inspiration or Introspection?
Check out:
Ted Lasso: A Win for the Good Guys
Author Elise Hooper: Filling My Dear America Series Void
