Actors, as they work on a role, can have a very self-indulgent approach to their process, and I am no exception. This “self-indulgence” can be manifest in many different ways – tunnel vision of the role, an unwillingness to move forward, and a procrastination that masks the actors fear, to name a few. These speak to the importance of a director.

Over the last year I have been privileged to work on three main stage productions: "No Exit", "Notes From Underground", and "The Dumb Waiter". I not only acted in all three of these plays, but was also the director. This was more from necessity then from some misguided belief that I didn’t need an outside perspective/director. Throughout those three productions I was aware that I was developing bad habits as an actor, but unfortunately I was unable to provide myself with an honest critique, a critique that a director provides the actor.

This week we began rehearsals on "I Dream Before I Take the Stand", a one act play by Arlene Hutton, which is being produced as part of The Bird & Baby Theatre Co.’s summer production "The Few Lilies Project." David Schneider, The Bird & Baby Theatre Co.’s Artistic Director, is the director for the project, including the one act play.

At the first rehearsal I was expecting the standard table read, and since the play is short I assumed that we would read through it a couple of times and then I would be free to go to Fitzpatricks and hang out with friends. The rehearsal began as expected; David had us read the play, twice. Upon finishing the second read thru he asked us some standard questions about our characters and our super objectives. After discussing the role(s) for a bit David asked me some questions about my perspective of my role (Questions I won’t go into detail about ‘cause I don’t want to run the risk of lifting the wizard’s curtain too much to the point where there is no need to come see the production.) After I explained my brilliant analysis he asked me to completely ignore my instincts during the next reading and to take the role in a completely different direction. I have to confess that my first response was annoyance. Not because I didn’t understand the reason and importance of his request, but because he was asking me to work sooner than I wanted to. I had anticipated a walk-in-the-park, phone-it-in table read, and here was this young, punk director asking me, John Ellis, to begin working before I wanted to! I thought to myself, “David, I have a very specific process that has been tested in the fires of 50+ productions and I don’t need you to tinker with it. But, since I want to set a good example I’ll humor you.” So I did it. And then he had me do it again.

The first (third) reading was a challenge, a good challenge and I recognized that, but as I wrote above I didn’t want to be challenged, yet. During the second (fourth) reading really cool things began happening. My instincts caught up with David’s direction and I was able to find layers that I wasn’t aware were there. This is always an exciting moment for actors - when we take cognitive steps forward in the role. After the final reading I reflected on what had happened and compared this rehearsal with my previous rehearsals this past year. The contrast between this rehearsal and the previous rehearsals highlighted some of the bad habits that my previous director, myself, had allowed me to fall into. There were moments during those previous three productions from this past year where I felt behind and that I wasn’t firing on all cylinders. I recognize that this was a product of not having someone to force me to work, instead of allowing me to be wallow in my increasingly self-indulgent process. David has reinforced my need for a strong director who is willing and able to force me to work and stretch, even at the first rehearsal.

One of the exciting aspects of this is, how much will my character in "I Dream Before I Take the Stand" grow and develop, and how much more sharp will my storytelling be compared to my three previous roles?

The table reading tonight for The Bird and Baby Theater Company’s upcoming production of Arlene Hutton’s I Dream Before I Take The Stand (done in conjunction with Anne Pecaro’s monologues for A Few Lilies Project) was fascinating. Although it was just a table reading, the layers of complexity in each of these characters are already becoming apparent. It is a very challenging piece! After the initial read, director David Schneider experimented with several approaches for each of the characters as they began the process of discovering their superobjectives. It was fascinating to watch both the actors (John Ellis and Heather Moffatt) work as each one explored the desires of their characters. The next three readings were like watching three different plays. Guided by David’s competent direction, both actors began the process of taking risks and experimenting. It is so exciting to be able to watch this piece come to life from the ground up, and I can’t wait to see how things will continue to develop between now and its opening in August!

One of the perks of being the executive director of The Bird & Baby Theatre Co. is the privilege of “spying” on rehearsals. This evening I took advantage of this perk, and attended the rehearsal for "The Few Lilies Project". Rehearsal this evening was a table read of the original work by local playwright Anne Pecaro. Anne interviewed survivors of domestic violence and turned their stories into dramatic monologues. This evening’s read through was more for the playwright then the cast as Anne continues to tighten the script. Since a new play evolves I’m not going to reveal any thematic or structural elements of the piece at this point. What I will reveal is the intense visceral response that was elicited in me as I listened to this powerful script read by wonderful actresses. I was brought to tears, angered, and prompted to action; all from an unfinished play with actresses sitting in chairs holding scripts in their hands. Imagine how powerful the play is going to be after this talented playwright polishes an already powerful script and the committed cast directed by an incredible director, David Schneider, brings their full talent to bear on the story.

Don’t miss The Bird & Baby Theatre Co.’s production of "The Few Lilies Project", which opens on August 6. www.thebirdandbaby.com