| [BACK]
This summer finds me teaching playwriting to teens in an arts program sponsored by the city recreation department. While other kids dribble basketballs, we're about half way through six weeks which culminates with each student completing a one act play. The acting component of the program is participating by reading their work in progress and performing selected plays at the end of the summer. The music component is writing a "theme" song for everyone's play. And the film component may produce one of the scripts as part of their work.
The kids I'm working with are fantastic-talented, motivated, enthusiastic, willing to take risks with their writing. They've bonded as a group, giving and taking feedback in a positive manner. (Something adults occasionally have difficulty doing.)
The point? It's important to give something back to the field we work in. Although none of these kids will go on to a career in the arts (although who knows?), they represent the future audience for theatre and film. They will carry the discipline, skills and confidence gained from the program into their future studies.
But the big winner is me. It's my honor to work with such kids. So if you ever get a similar chance, take the plunge. Pay it forward.
|
