Directors Craft Creation

I created a theatre piece once based on a painting I saw. There was myself and 5 other actors. I directed the piece and the 5 actors, I considered to be my troop. This theatre piece often sticks out in my mind because, it reflected a lot more than just the painting. For me, it reflected what I am capable of, even under the greatest of stresses. It was sucha small piece, for such a small class ""experiement" but it went to well that this piece often gives me the hope I need to remember, that theatre feels like home. I've now managed to lose the place I called "home." It no longer feels like home, but I will always have a home in theatre. Doing anything in theatre feels so familiar and comfortable.
Back to my creation piece....I took part in the very first ever Directors Craft course at my highschool. It was intended for students re-entering high school in their 5th year after they graduated so they could continue with their Dramatic Arts studies. Anyhow, one of our first assignments for this course was to go to the Art Gallery of Sudbury and find a painting that stood out for us. Personally, not single painting stoof out for me. I think I was thinking too hard about what I was looking for. I was trying to think outside the box and look for something really abstract, but really, in today's society by TRYING to think outside the box, you're really still inside the box. So, rather than taking a painting that I thought would really stand out due to its "abstract nature" I took one that was really regular. It was actually almost exactly the same as "American Gothic" by Grant Wood. Except just the faces, and they were a bit distorted.
The reason I considered my actors and myself to be a more of a troop was because all the work we did on this piece was a process of creating TOGETHER. From the very beginning. We began by writing words and phrases and such that we felt related to the painting. This was mostly just to get some creative juices flowing. This whole process lasted about 2 weeks and included finding a space, finding props, discussing sound and costumes and such. The best moment was what I consider to be the "AHA" moment of discovery and inspiration. That moment when you know everyone is on board and it really excited about something that we created.
When we performed it came together so beautifully! I created a beautiful baby in the theatre world, and nothing has felt quite as gratifying since.
I miss those beautiful days of pure creation.