I just completed a week-long workshop series for children grades 5th-8th at The Garden Theatre in Winter Garden, Florida.  The Garden Theatre is a lavishly restored historic movie house now converted into a live theater/cinema venue in the heart of the vibrant, beautiful, and historic downtown Winter Garden, FL.  This theater house is a truly wonderful facility that shares adjoining conference rooms with neighboring buildings, perfect for conventions and meetings. Garden Theater is run by General Manager Alauna McMillen who has been a delight to work with over the years.  Shelli Kinsley is Garden's Educational Director with whom I worked with on this project.  Both Alauna and Shelli truly desire to enrich the lives of Winter Garden's residents with a theater that gives back to the community.  Having done this project, I submit my pure pleasure being affiliated with Garden Theatre. 

The workshop itself was thoroughly enjoyable.  The children that played theater games and improvised scenes were good-natured, giving, supportive, and fun to work with.  It is revealing to witness how intuitive children are when play acting.  The sense of wonder and their willingness to explore the unknown allows discovery that is fun and rewarding.  Children naturally have some inhibitions and focus on a different experience than that of adults taking an acting class.  In a sense, a child's objective taking this workshop only appears immature as compared to an adult actor's personal motivations to participate in the same kind of  workshop. Whereas most adults take acting workshops to benefit from a workshop’s training, most children desire the experience of simulated play.  Give them some hula hoops and a pool noodle and they can make the most elaborate game to play for hours on end.  Ask adults to do this and you find that adults have forgotten they too can create games spontaneously through group collaboration. Children instinctively know (although not conscious of) that 'playing games' is a universal form of social communication. Observing this first hand, a comfort level had already been established before I even uttered a word to welcome them to the workshop.  Periodically, I would give 5 minute breaks throughout workshop sessions and immediately every child wanted to interact with game play.  Authentic experiences can be facilitated through 'game theory' to produce an inclusive and stimulating environment.  

 

I realize I am blathering on, so I will conclude by stating that is it important for everyone to play.  Tapping into the spirit of play allows for our intuitive nature to reveal itself.  This intuitive self manifests a communication that crosses the most marginal of boundaries.  At heart is our natural ability to communicate and share a common bond through a vivid experience rooted in the present moment.  To play puts you in the same space as me.  Playing in the same space is natural, communal, fun, and enriching.  I am happy to be in that same space with Garden Theatre.  What a wonderful week with wonderful people.  Thank you Garden Theatre, Alauna, Shelli, and the children for making it possible to play and be authentic!