Week 1: Casting and Confidence
Within minutes, first day jitters had subsided and rehearsal for CSW's upcoming production of Urinetown began with a bang—literally. Standing in a large circle onstage, a student purposefully, and comically, collapsed to the floor as a means of introducing themself. It was then that I knew that having an opportunity to participate in the group’s daily warm-up activities would not only be entertaining but a privilege.
Within minutes, first day jitters had subsided and rehearsal for CSW's upcoming production of Urinetown began with a bang—literally. Standing in a large circle onstage, a student purposefully, and comically, collapsed to the floor as a means of introducing themself. It was then that I knew that having an opportunity to participate in the group’s daily warm-up activities would not only entertaining, but a privilege.
By the time each cast and crew member shared their names (and the sporadic Netflix recommendation), there was already an unmistakable bond prevalent among us.
“Time to warm up!” Co-director Colin Wilson ’08 shouted joyously from the audience. Instructed to walk about the stage with our mouths hanging wide open, an intentional angry expression on our faces, I paused. But as soon as Colin shouted “go!” from the back of the room, I was the only one not moving. Walking around with a slack jaw, grunting wordlessly at my peers was absolutely not an activity in which I cared to engage.
As bodies continued to bump by me, motionless in my state of naiveté, Colin’s voice erupted once again, this time joined by Musical Director Jeanne Segal; “I don’t believe you! Tell your audience something. Take the stage! Own it.”
Suddenly aware that I likely looked more ridiculous paralyzed in the middle of the stage than I would slack-jawed, I opted to “own it” and disappeared into the sea of enthusiastic actors whose mouths hung open as they now searched for “an imaginary person amidst a crowd of people.” By the end of that rehearsal, I felt utterly enlightened by the hardworking group around me.
“There’s something to theatre where you can let yourself go,” says MC DuBard ’21. “The activities we do obviously look insane to people who haven’t experienced this environment, and sometimes even I feel awkward, but when you’re surrounded by people that are just as passionate as you about being the best they can, it makes it comfortable.”
In just a few hours I discovered that the motivation behind this musical was more than just putting on a show, it was learning how to be involved in the theatre. It was working together, being yourself, and consciously attempting to let go of the notion of perfection. While I myself took the entirety of the afternoon to recover from my participation in what were, to me, outlandish but high-spirited vocal warm-ups, the actors around me refused to be hard on themselves. I seemed to be the only one who hadn’t realized that self-criticism only inhibits the limitlessness of creative possibilities.
These actors, who seemed so natural while auditioning on Wednesday, I learned are only successful when they are self-aware. It is from them that I discovered the difference between self-consciousness and self-awareness: acting is being aware of, not distracted by yourself.
“The most important part is that you put your heart into it and have fun,” Jeanne says. Amazed at how many students were able to just “have fun,” I felt inclined to chat with them further.
“Of course when you first start singing for your audition it’s terrifying,” says Cam McAdam ’20, “but the amount of support in the room allows you to let go of that. The group shows so much love and confidence in others that it’s easier.”
For some, theatre has been an integral part of their high school experience and perhaps predates it, but for others, it is an active protest against caring, against fearing that others are judging you, or judging them in return, but to the audience, it’s seamless.
“It’s amazing to watch people give it their all, but nothing surprising,” says Assistant Stage Manager Grace Campbell ’19. “CSW Theatre has a way of bringing out confidence and highlighting the best in people. Nevertheless, I'm pretty proud of what they're doing, even in the first week.”
It is true that week one has been a whirlwind, but a process that clearly extends beyond the introduction to Urinetown and its characters, and the auditions that portrayed each of them uniquely. It’s “learning how to energize each other,” says Jeanne. It has been a time to “appreciate and learn about each person here… all we need is for students to be expressive and give it everything they’ve got.” Those who sit among the audience—both seasoned professionals and rooky theatre dwellers—watch in awe as Jeanne shouts from behind the piano, “It’s time to shine!” and the students do just that.
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CSW—a gender-inclusive day and boarding school for grades 9-12—is a national leader in progressive education. We live out our values of inquiry-based learning, student agency, and embracing diverse perspectives in every aspect of our student experience. Young people come to CSW to learn how to learn and then put what they learn into action—essential skills they carry into their futures as doers, makers, innovators, leaders, and exceptional humans who do meaningful work in the world.