We are in the midst of rehearsals for my new play, Becoming Shakespeare. The play follows the adventures of young William Shakespeare one fateful summer. Shakespeare begins the play as a rude and obnoxious teenager, but he follows his classmates from Stratford to nearby Shottery where they plan to do summer theatre. Through the course of the summer, Shakespeare has ample opportunity to observe the foibles of human nature, and thus to become the great playwright he was meant to be. It might sound serious, but it’s not—there is cross-dressing, a foiled robbery, an allergic reaction, arrogance, foolishness, and at least one character inspired by the Old Spice guy. There is also a play with the play—a four-page version of The Taming of the Shrew, with the roles reversed: in this case Anne Hathaway tames Shakespeare.

My wife, and director, wasn’t quite happy with the way this scene ended. She was right—there just wasn’t a punch. So, I spent about a half-hour in the lounge with the ninth-grade members of the cast talking to them about it. We tried out different ideas and eventually, as a group, came up with a different ending. One of the students transcribed the new lines for us. We only added about six short lines, but it made a real difference in the scene. More importantly, it made a difference in how those students viewed the script. The chance to work together with the playwright gave them real insight into the collaborative nature of the theatre. You may not have a playwright in your midst, but don’t miss any opportunity you have to make your students true collaborators. Not only is it the best way for them to learn and to buy into the show, it’s also what theatre is all about.

On a day when many of us are wearing purple in support of those who have been the victims of homophobic bullying, I hope that we all remember one of the true gifts of theatre: the chance to walk for a while in someone else’s shoes. As actors we ask ourselves, “What if I were . . . Romeo or Scout or Cinderella?” As human beings I hope we will ask ourselves, “What if I were the person standing next to me . . . or that kid in the back of the bus . . . or the guy who’s always alone at the lunch table . . . or someone completely different from who I am?” You know that wonderful feeling of family you have when you’ve done a show with a group of people? Let’s take that feeling out into the world with us and remember that all people, even those who might be very different from ourselves, are part of the family of man. The theatre is well-known for welcoming all types of people; as theatre people, let’s spread that openness throughout the world.

Well, I saw two theatrical productions this weekend: the Broadway tour of a musical that shall remain nameless, and the world premiere of a play no one has ever heard of. The tickets for the Broadway tour cost $85, and we almost left at intermission it was so inane. The performances were fine, but the material just didn’t challenge me in any way. It didn’t make me think (other than thinking, “I just wasted $85). The tickets for the new play, Night Blooms, produced at Atlanta’s Horizon Theatre Company, cost $20. The play was a brilliant examination of family dynamics and race relations set against the backdrop of the famous Civil Rights March from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama in 1965. It made me think, and it led to wonderful conversations with friends and family (both those who saw the show and those who didn’t). Now I like a Broadway show as much as the next person; I was excited that my lifetime list of shows seen on Broadway hit 100 this year, but as Broadway has become more and more commercial, I’ve come to see the value in seeking out theatre elsewhere also. Community theatres and small companies often feel pressure to produce well-known shows as the only way to sell enough tickets to remain viable, but often the best theatre-going experiences occur when we see something new. So, I give you this charge: support your local theatre companies, especially when they take risks by producing new or lesser-known shows. I’m not saying every show will be a winner, but you may discover some real gems and you’ll definitely be challenged to think, to discuss, and to consider all the things theatre can do. And if you live in Atlanta, go see Night Blooms. You won’t regret it.