Friday, July 25, 2008

Mamma Mia (Act II)

Now, is it too bold to say it was the musical with song and dance that attracted and energized me and possibly many more? Could it just be the music? Could it just be the spirit of the art? Perhaps to all the above. But I submit, there are very few events that bring so much positive energy as a well written musical or singing/dance concert (I say that because I work with such a group and I’d be remiss not to include them in the genre because they bring it and bring out the enthusiasm of everyone.) Sporting matches get me juiced up just as much as the next guy, well maybe not as much as every guy. Symphony concerts or even rock concerts arouse a certain excitement and energy from deep in the soul. But never do I get as enthused or feel like I’m riding an emotional roller coaster as when I see a musical theatre production. The song, dance, and movement interwoven in a story generate a dynamic creation that’s lost without the collaboration.

Collaboration invites people with various expertise to create a single, unified project. Such a focus is necessary for musical theatre as disciplines of writing, acting, dance, song, and technical theatre are all integrated. Without one piece, the rest is just incomplete. I won’t be dancing in my seat/the aisle next to my seat without direction from the actors on stage. I can’t retell a story without a plot or characters to live with in those two hours at the theater. I don’t feel the full wave of emotions in my mind and soul without proper lighting or audio dynamics.

As much as I like musicals, I really like the word collaboration because it evokes the idea of community. Musicals provide a good image for collaboration and community. The actors feed off one another and rely on each other’s agreement to say yes to the moment and scene at hand. The producers and designers work together for a common goal. What better ambition of any community but to reach common goals? Neighborhoods seek the common desire of safety for kids, comfortable living, and peace. Churches seek to spread God’s message of love. Schools wish to educate and inspire children to meet their potential. Each one of these institutions has various means and ways of meeting the goal, but one thing is certain. Collaboration, working together, must be present. With a common goal in mind, more people are served and a closer bond can be found. While tiffs and power struggles can rear their ugly faces, hopefully the productive and positive means will make the end worthwhile. A collaborative community can create and improve the quality of life for the collective group in living out their spirit as people working together.

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