All this week LA Stage will present coverage of Directors Lab West 2010 with reports from DLW Steering Committee Associate Producer Cindy Marie Jenkins, Production Coordinator Rachel Jenkins and DLW intern Doug Oliphant. Each year the Lab chooses a theme around which all their sessions are based and a play around which many group workshops are organized. For 2010 the theme is “Balance” and the play Measure for Measure. Click here to view all DLW 2010 updates.

Doug Oliphant

GUILTY BY ASSOCIATION
Panel:  Jess Bard, Scott Alan Smith, Christopher Morrison
Moderator:  Cindy Marie Jenkins DLW ‘08
By Doug Oliphant

“I used to think asking for help was a sign of weakness.”

Christopher Morrison, Scott Alan Smith, Jess Bard and Cindy Marie Jenkins

Our final panel for the Lab was a discussion on the pros and cons of a life in the position of an Associate or Assistant Director. While the positions come with plenty of limitations and often are creatively stifling, the connections you make and relationships you form turn it into a worthwhile time investment. Though taking these positions can seem enticing, there’s an equal amount of value in knowing when to say no and turn something down for the better of your career. The others on the panel shared similar stories and experiences. All agreed with any job or position you take, you have to always keep things in perspective. One final note I found particularly interesting was when they encouraged the group to never feel too dignified to assist someone. The things you can learn by sitting in the backseat of a production are invaluable, and while you may have a lot of success already, there is always more to learn.

Cindy Marie Jenkins

WHO THE HELL ARE YOU?
2010 Labbies
By Cindy Marie Jenkins (DLW ‘08)

“You really don’t know your own history until you come in here.”

-Ellen Koivisto

Following the pattern set by Anne Cattaneo and the Lincoln Center Directors’ Lab, it’s not until the last day that all Labbies are given three minutes (timed by a stringent intern) to tell us anything they want: to rattle off their resume, what inspires them, why they do theatre: any way they want to tell the group who the hell they are. Here are just a small collection of quotes from that session:

“I just love what I love.” — Anne Donnelly

“It’s the community…how you can touch the people right there in the room.” –Buster Rojas

“It’s been a great journey that’s nowhere near ending…or accomplished.” — Tony Gatto

“I largely self-identify as a human being.” – Paul Cello

“My idea of a good death would be to keel over in the middle of a Shakespeare monologue at the age of 85.” – Bill Charlton

“And I really felt like I had found my language.” — Jennifer Chambers

“Theatre should be beautiful…I look for those moments when a character does something that is beautiful.” — Elizabeth Zerenko

“I’m interested in big visions.” – Rod Menzies

“I sat down and decided to write a statement of purpose for my life.” – Karen Jean Martinson

“This week has been extremely inspiring and energizing - and I’m jumping into the parade now.” — Daryl Johnson

“It’s that moment of communication….that moment is who I am.” – Carla Melo

“This week solidified that I’m on the right path and making the right decisions.” –Doug Oliphant

“This week [told me] oh, okay, I’m in the right place and it’s just …time to commit.” – June Carryl

“You’re trusting actors with a piece of the pie, why don’t you trust me with the oven?” — Steve Edlund

And so another year at the Directors Lab West comes to an end. An incredible amount of effort, goodwill and passion for storytelling ties all of these artists together. The very last session, a free form wrap-up when the Steering Committee explains further values of being Lab Alum and opens the room up for whatever discussion occurs, raised many questions on the power of the individual artist. It appears the 2010 Labbies will balance their lives and their art through collaborations and the knowledge that being a Director comes in all shapes and sizes. Telling compelling stories and reaching your audience may be the only metrics needed to measure success.

Directors Lab West is a unique forum which brings Theater Directors together with peers and seasoned professionals for an opportunity to collaborate and grow together as artists. Directors Lab West is modeled after the Lincoln Center Theater Directors Lab in New York City. Like its NY counterpart, the Lab is a series of discussions, working sessions, panels and symposia with some of the nation’s and region’s leading directors, playwrights, designers and other theatre practitioners. DirectorsLabWest.com