THE STINKY CHEESE MAN AND OTHER FAIRLY STUPID TALES (2021)
Director
Merril Arts Center - Woodbury, MN
"Keep the intention, Change the action"
This parody of childhood fables adds a humorous take on the classic “Once upon a time.” With musical elements and a vivacious cast of characters, “The Stinky Cheese Man” is a fun and wild experience for the whole family.
Process
Safety & Education
Children’s role in theatre immediately following the pandemic was a unique situation. For most of the young actors, this was their first exposure to the process of live theater. This required extra care in the rehearsal room in regards to safety and education.
Creating a safe space was vital in making sure all the kids' needs could be met. This involved recognizing each individual's pattern of behaviors and identifying how to best serve them in the room. We noticed a surplus of energy due to the lack of recent social interaction, and little self control to manage it. We implemented three key tactics to work through this situation: 1) incorporated high energy theater games(i.e. Freeze Dance, Frogger), 2) led grounding activities to regain their focus(stretching/breathing), and 3) supplied fidget toys to expel underlying energy.
Most of the children were not old enough before the pandemic to learn the process of theatre. This made education a key role in directing. We taught the basics such as stage directions, how to memorize lines, performance etiquette, stage presence, and definitions to terms like blocking, projection, and cues.
"Keep the Intention,
Change the Action"
The most adorable request I would get often was the children requesting to make up their own lines. Obviously, we know you cannot craft your own lines outside the script. Yet, these kids thought it was the most creative thing they could contribute! I would respond, “keep the intention, change the action.” Meaning, I want to validate and encourage this creative attitude, but we needed to redirect the energy into something we can practically accomplish.