Happy Accidents and the Nebraska Girls Shakespeare Company
A couple of years ago we were approached by the Nebraska Girls Shakespeare Company as being possible mentors. This is a remarkable group of young women who produce, direct and create their own versions of the Bard’s work. They originated under the Haymarket Theatre with our friends Fred Stuart and Bob Hall, but over time found themselvels without a “home base”.
Instantly, this seemed like a perfect fit. Women who create theatre working with young women who create theatre.
Still…I was a little leery. I’ve got to be honest…I’m the mom of two little boys and teenage girls have always frightened and confused me. (Even when I was a teenage girl!)
We decided to move forward, making the NGSC a part of the Angels Company. They would remain their own organization, but we would mentor them in the theatre, create projects around them and work together whenever we could.
Our first collaborative experience was The Crucible in the fall of 2011. This was a project proposed by the ladies of the NGSC. I was not the person orginally tapped to direct this production, but because of scheduling and circumanstance, it became my baby.
I am so glad it became my baby.
It was wonderful to work with these extraordinary young women…still, I sometimes felt they didn’t fully trust me. I understand that. They had been independant and I know they didn’t want to lose their identity within the Angels Company.
What they didn’t know is this: I didn’t want them to lose their identity, either. My hope for them has always been that they maintain a feeling of independance. We are here to help them grow and survive.
We had a remarkable experience and life went on. We shared the time but with a cast that large, I couldn’t give each my constant focus.
You should know that many of the founding members of the NGSC are seniors this year, and most of the girls are so busy that they are constantly divided over projects. They live much busier lives than I did at age 14 or 16 or 18. In spite of the size of The Crucible cast, I feel I really had an opportunity to get to know a handful of the girls.
Throughout the course of the year, other opportunities presented themselves and I found myself learning more about many members of the NGSC. Several of them participated in Partners and Adversaries. Each time I got to work with the girls, I felt like I was able to catch a deeper glimpse of each young lady as an individual and artist. I also felt like they were starting to trust the Angels. We are truly only here to nurture.
Fast forward to April. We produced Culture Jam at the Sheldon Museum of Art, and once again I was able to spend a great deal of time with a handful of NGSC members.
This was a project that focused on images of women portrayed in the media: This idea of “perfection” that we are bombarded with and can never achieve.
These young women face this in so many aspects of life. We hold such high expectations of young people…especially high achievers. It occurred to me during the process of rehearsal that these young women are constantly feeling that pressure to be “perfect”.
I was seeing myself in these young women. I have felt the same pressures. Haven’t we all? I realized one night at rehearsal that for all the teaching I have wanted to provide to them, that they have also taught me – how to be graceful. How to be human. How to be reasonable. How to be okay with being myself. I’m totally ok with those moments when the teacher becomes the student.
Culture Jam was beautiful. These wonderful young women who are constantly burdened with expectation got onstage and played. They were joyful. They were messy and funny and truthful…and isn’t that what we aspire to in the theatre? I am so proud of them for being themselves and finding their own voices.
Not mine – but theirs…which is everything I hope for them.
I love these girls. I will say goodbye to some of them as they graduate this year, but history has taught me that relationships that start in the theatre can last lifetimes and I trust that our paths will continue to cross.
Then, there are the lovely undergraduates with whom I am so excited to share the future.
These girls are the future. They are hope.
We are so lucky to have them in our lives. I am grateful for this time with them.
I didn’t know what to expect of this relationship. In fact, at first I didn’t know what to do with it. Over time, it has become very clear and I am very grateful.
Happy accidents. Such is the way in this wacky world of theatre.
More soon,
Becky
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