Hey Hartlist,
Is it legal to perform jackhammering, drilling, banging, noisy, rip-up-the-street construction in NYC between the hours of 11PM and 5AM on a weeknight?
Asking for a friend.
JUST THE GIGS
SUNDAY 11/19 3:00PM - Melodia Women’s Choir Fall Concert
Holy Apostles Church, Chelsea NYC
296 Ninth Avenue at 28th Street
THURS 12/21 Live From The Chrysalis Rebecca Hart Winter Solstice Gig
Somewhere, Possibly Solo, I’ve Just Decided to Do This, Stay Tuned
FROM THE CHRYSALIS
OK possibly because I am very tired due to said all-night drilling (and not the fun kind - EY-O!), I will let other people speak for me today:
Something there is that doesn’t love a wall.
-Robert Frost
I’ve learned that I don’t gotta be the only leader.
-Bear Smallhill, ‘Reservation Dogs’ Finale
I particularly love that last one. Yeah, yeah, I know I watch a lot of TV but, was your lifestyle, like, not fundamentally affected by your quarantine?? Also, Reservation Dogs was a revelation on so many levels…. but this is already hovering too close to a recap blog.
In the finale of this beloved, almost-entirely-Indigenous-American-created series set on a fictional Oklahoma reservation, young Bear Smallhill has a last conversation with his “irreverent, dubiously helpful”1 spirit guide William Knifeman. In it, WK asks what Bear has learned in their time together, and Bear says, “I’ve learned that I don’t gotta be the only leader.”
This really struck me. I was primed for a more familiar binary: Leader Vs. Follower, Lead vs. Ensemble, I’m going to California vs There’s no place like home. The show is so much about the power of community that I figured we were heading there. And Bear does, in fact, say clearly, “I’m from an amazing community and I’m just proud to be part of it.”
But before that, he says “I’ve learned I don’t gotta be the only leader.”
Not “I’m content to follow.”
Not “I don’t gotta be a leader.”
I don’t gotta be the only leader.
Like… there might be another option besides either Lead or Supporting. Like, we can want to lead and shine and stand out… AND be part of others doing so. Both/And. Like.. I don’t know, we can join a choir and plan a solo show (again, I just decided to do this) at the same time. (Also my solo show might involve band members. Why be Either/Or.)
I was just talking last night about how before I went to grad school I didn’t feel super sold on the idea of “collaborating”. (I mean, I’d worked in theatre for a number of years by that point, AND had a band, which shows you how narrow my definition of collaboration was.) I knew that NYU GMTWP2 was a mandated-teamwork deal, and figured that would probably be good for me, but also kind of assumed it meant “literally having to share the literal writing part” and “compromising on all your instincts and ideas”. It sort of lived in the same space as “participation trophies” in my mind; a ‘nice’ idea that is ultimately a lie. I didn’t understand that there are many ways to collaborate, a lot of which define your role clearly, make your work easier and often better, and are fun. I also didn’t understand - though I would have said I did - that no one was going to limit me to working this way at any time. I could ALSO do whatever else I wanted, during the two measly years of grad school AND in my life. And, indeed, I made my own album and did a couple of plays during a time where I was also creating tons of collaborative work with composers. And ALL of those endeavors involved other people without which my work wouldn’t exist. And at this point, I can’t even think of my recent solo show as a solo endeavor, since it was a deep collaboration with a director from start to finish.
What’s next? A writers’ room? I truly can’t imagine enjoying that, but I know now that doesn’t necessarily mean anything.
Ok. I have to go lie down. But first, I have to practice. We just got a passionately worded email from our Director reminding us that we only have two rehearsals left before the concert. So I’m gonna lean in, learn my part and do my best. If I excel, you’ll never know I’m there. If I stand out… well, let’s just say that’s not the goal.
I did audition for and get one of the solos though, which pleased me. It somehow pleases me even more that the solo I got - the beginning of our encore, so stick around - is actually a trio. Stepping out in front while staying in harmony? Somehow feels just right for this moment.
I don’t gotta be the only leader.
Love
Rebecca
I am so tired. I went through seven adjectives before I gave up and quoted a Vulture article by Kathryn VanArendonk. Thanks Kathryn.
graduate musical theatre writing program. I wish there was one vowel in there.