Some of my proudest moments as a teacher are when I am a few minutes late to a class and the students begin without me. Or, times when a substitute will report that they didn’t even have to teach because the students took over and knew exactly what to do. I am most proud of the moments when the importance of the work motivates students more than the presence of a teacher and grades. That is the true story of this production and why I am overwhelmed with pride to be a part of it.
Just as we were about to move into production of this online play, I was called away from school entirely to focus on a family health emergency. The stage management crew, led by the indefatigable Clayton Wiley, organized, shot and edited this piece.
I stand in awe of this achievement. The actors and the stage managers all collaborated, using every bit of their 21 st Century skills, to make this piece what it is. I share directing credit with all of them.
Theater in the time of Covid has become filmmaking. It has been difficult to translate the group effort feeling that is engendered when we put on a live play to this remote, Zoom world. That sense of having to all pull together for the show. Yet, because of these brilliant, young, passionate minds refusing to yield in the face of setbacks, we have this miracle piece of art.
In 2009 I directed the Laramie Project at SAAS. It was a wonderful, live production. We felt we were doing good, important theatrical work. My thought was to try and build community by tying the two productions together. Yet, this production has distinguished itself in a stand-alone fashion. The piece is heartfelt, important and true. It is less the Epilogue it was meant to be and more a continuation of what social justice means once the initial dust has settled on the inciting action.
When I look back and tell the stories of our time making dramatic art in the time of Covid, the story of this production will be the first one I tell.
Thank you to Michael Cruz who picked up the teacher ball and helped the students maintain a full toolbox as they achieved this marvel.
My life is full of miracles right now. I stand, overwhelmed at my good fortune to work in a school that fosters students that don’t blink in the glare of adversity. Instead, they question what needs to be done, imagine a possible scenario, create a plan and contribute to the story of these trying times with astonishing performances.
-Cimino
