Open Forum

We did BIG RIVER a few years back.  To this day, it is still one of the most talked about shows I've done during my tenure at school...in a POSITIVE way.
From the moment I announced that we were doing the show, I made sure to address the literary and historical elements of the story and we, as a department, kept an open dialogue about what was acceptable in that time period compared to now. Throughout the production process, I began to witness something amazing. My students became more compassionate toward each other. There was more openness, more sharing, and more socializing across the normal friendship groupings. By the time we got to the curtain call on opening night, for the first time in my career, my cast had pulled our entire crew onstage with them and our entire auditorium was filled with their collective voices singing Muddy Water at the top of their lungs. Our audiences were moved by the sheer emotion of seeing a group of students from very diverse backgrounds, present a story about the injustices of slavery, overcome by the power of friendship and human kindness. (Not to mention a show with incredible music, and characters) Our production is one that I will forever claim "all the stars aligned" for. It was an incredibly emotional experience for ALL of us - actors and audience alike. I would do it again in a heartbeat.