Acting For Change

Last night I watched my amazingly beautiful almost grown neice in her first play. I was mesmerized by her and the rest of the cast- so young, inexperienced yet full of the fire that creative expression requires.

Today, I performed in my own "play" of sorts- in an acting troupe called "Acting for Change." It's basically Playback Theatre- a dramatic medium that takes stories from the audience and acts them out, improvisationally, for the tellers. As a child I never even thought of acting. My stage fright was pretty inhibiting back then. Of course I was a drama queen like most little girls and grew up watching narratives on TV and in film and reading stories. Now I realize how much I missed by not getting involved in stage performances. Just like when I'm singing, I find myself being carried to another realm- time stands still and the connection between actors, audience, and facilitator is visceral.

The most incredible thing about this particular form is how it uses counseling creatively. The audience members watch as their stories are acted out which often leads them to connect to the story in a way they hadn't before. I appreciate the permission to be silly, distort my body, interact with others and just play. When I see that look of recognition on the teller's face - it's like they feel accepted and understood in a way they never have.

Of course, since it is improv, things usually don't go as planned- especially since there really isn't a plan at all. Long story short (pun intended), some stories are better than others and cooperation is absolutely essential for a successful skit. I have never been required to listen more closely, been asked to connect more fully, or been inspired to use my gifts more selflessly.