Outside the box

Prior to beginning this post, let me assure you that I am not a great user of the latest “catch phrases.” As a high school teacher for twenty-plus years you would think contemporary phrases and terminology would have entered my vocabulary but much to my students’ dismay (and occasional confusion) I still speak like the fifty-four-year-old man I am. I must admit to having adopted “my bad” and occasionally “shizzle” as part of the phrase “I believe that at fifty-four, my shizzle has fizzled.” Hence, “outside the box” seems awkward to me and now, likely passé, however it is an apt descriptor of what follows.

This morning, I was updating the news feed on my school’s fine arts academy website and was surprised by how many events we are sponsoring, hosting, or producing this year. We do a great deal with students, and I take pride in that we try to be a bit different from the other high schools in our area. It is pride for what we try to attain—not always how well it is received.

Take for instance our upcoming Theatrical Rigging Seminar with Bill Sapsis of Sapsis Rigging.  Bill will present a thorough, thoughtful introduction to theatrical rigging with a focus on safety, usage, maintenance, and increasing knowledge of the attendees. But to be honest, theatrical rigging isn’t “sexy” and likely will only generate a modest turnout. It’s possible encourager increased appreciation for rigging safety following recent events at the Indiana State Fair and similar events in Belgium and Canada will boost attendance.

Likewise, in February we will host a master class with the internationally recognized vocal ensemble Anonymous 4. For my money, there really isn’t a better ensemble in the realm of medieval vocal music. But, medieval chant and polyphony isn’t terribly popular and beyond diehard fans, medieval studies majors, and those required to attend, we will have a respectable, if modest, turnout.

In May, we are bringing in Christopher Tin, the 2011 Grammy Award winner for best Classical Crossover, recording as part of a performance of his song cycle, Calling All Dawns. The singers will be accompanied by our local philharmonic orchestra, and the technical theatre students will work with moving lights and media servers. Our graphic design students will create longform digital content for projection during the work. Very sexy but not cheap. I am always a bit haunted by the expense incurred and worried about how successful we will be in community engagement as we try to fill seats and secure underwriting.

So why bother to be “outside the box”? Why take the risk of being ignored, being decidedly “not sexy” and spending the money? Simply said: because it is good for kids, teachers, and the community—and it certainly keeps me from being bored.

“Outside the box” may also be a way of describing the nature of what we do in technical theatre, in general. Exploring new options for lighting, scenic design and construction, audio and everything else is a must if we want to keep our students walking a reasonably straight path to careers in theatre. I realize that some elements currently in professional use may be beyond our grasp and/or budget. But so much is ripe for use. From audio and scenic design using free tools like Audacity and Sketchup to trying to design a show without using 4x8 flats, or perhaps re-envisioning how we advertise our productions or communicate with our cast (Facebook, etc.) I realize there aren’t enough hours in the day to explore all the options but picking a few or even one new direction/tool will let a bit of fresh air into the room and draw some students (and teachers) out of but-that’s-not-how-we-do-it land.

I sometimes like to try new things for no other reason than I’ve never tried it before. Or because I have sense of obligation to provide leadership to my students and colleagues. In the case of our upcoming rigging seminar, I have a sense of duty to the educational theatre community. Call it “outside the box,” “breaking the rules,” “shaking things up” or what you will, it seems to be in everyone’s better interest to seek out and explore alternatives. And for those like me, we likely need to do this before our shizzle does fizzle.