Maya Angelou, who I return to over and over for strength and inspiration, has one of my favorite quotes…
“I’ve learned that people will forget what you’ve said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
I am reminded of auditions I held for a play at The Berman. Many of the young people auditioning had come from my summer stock theatre program, and had worked with me for years. On the second day of auditions, I heard one of my summer stock kids say to someone who was making a fuss in the back of the theatre, “If you want to be in this play, you have to be kinder than that. Elaine only gives roles to kind people.” I did not stop what I was doing, nor did I acknowledge that I heard the young actor. However, hearing them say that kindness is important to me in the theatre as much as it is in life, was a stunningly wonderful moment. It has stuck with me over the years.
My summer stock kid was right, kindness is an active part of my directorial decision making. It’s also an active part of my daily life. I am not some guru of kindness, as a matter of fact, I struggle to be kind every day of my life. But, I struggle to be more kind everyday because I see where kindness leads.
Kindness leads to respect. Respect allows for curiosity without judgment. Curiosity allows for play, which is required in rehearsals. Play in rehearsals leads to deeper understanding of character, a safe space where being weird is not only okay, but encouraged. Being weird allows for barriers to creativity to come down, and when there aren’t barriers to creativity, anything is possible.
My hope is that by struggling with myself to be a kinder, more understanding person everyday, that others will see this, and feel it, and remember kindness, respect, understanding, acceptance, to be weird, and creativity.
So, I guess, for me, kindness leads to creativity, and creativity leads…well…everywhere.