One of my most influential mentors at Columbia was Anne Bogart. For those who don't know, Anne is an award-winning theater and opera director, the Artistic Director of SITI Company, and a truly gifted teacher.
I learned a ton from Anne but one of the things I admired most about her was the way she took care of actors. During our weekly Collaboration Class she'd lean forward in her chair the entire 6 hours and never let her focus wane. She listened to each performance as if her life depended on it. And after each play she'd offer feedback that was constructive and energizing. She made you want to be better.
One of the ways she did this was by the language she used. Instead of saying, "That didn't work for me," or "I don't get it," she appreciated the courage it took to stand on a stage and be vulnerable. She'd say things like, "I support that," or "What if we tried this instead?"
Her manner of speaking inspired dialogue and critical thought rather than isolation and ridicule. I learned the way we interact with one another is everything both on and off-stage.
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