Steppenwolf Theatre Company Blog – Chicago Theater, World-Class Ensemble

Some nights I stay after and listen to the post-show discussion. It is always so interesting to hear the audience reactions to what they have just seen–regardless of what that reaction may be.  If the purpose of art is to make us think and feel, which is what I believe, then the discussion sparked by a play, or any other piece of work, is the second half of the experience. Staying after to participate or simply observe the talkback is a little glimpse into others’ experiences which an actor doesn’t usually get.  It’s been terrific to get to do that so regularly during this run.

On Saturday I meet with my students again. I can’t wait. They are special people, and I’ve missed them terribly over the Holiday Break. My “students” are teachers. Every season we invite a group of fifteen or so from the Chicago Public Schools to participate in our Teacher Theater Immersion Course offered through Steppenwolf for Young Adults.

This group spends many months with us, learning new theatre-based techniques to take back to their English, Social Studies, History, and sometime even, Science and Math classrooms. They study and attend our plays and bring their students, as well. (more…)

One of my favorite parts of doing my job as an actor is the research. I’ve been reading The Lost Apple by Maria de Los Angeles Torres, which has been a real eye opener. I knew a tiny bit about the Pedro Pan flights before I ever read Sonia Flew, but reading the book and learning the details has been incredible. It’s just so hard to imagine leaving family, home, language, EVERYTHING behind at 15–let alone 6 or 7. And yet, it has happened, many times in human history. I guess I feel humbled thinking about that.