First rehearsals are up for Mestiza, or Mixed by Melissa Leilani Larson at Plan B Theatre. Being in the room again is a great feeling. I love first rehearsals – the newness, the possibilities – those initial ripples in the pond after the rock has just splashed into the water. Some ripples will make it all the way across the pond and effect the shore.
I am the only white guy in the room. And I think that’s awesome. For anywhere, that is a difficult feat to accomplish in theater; and also in Utah. It requires much attention. But this is what it’s about. How many plays have I been in where everyone was white except one person? A lot. Most of them. So this is good. This is progress. This is what we have been fighting for.
It’s thrilling to work for a theatre company that so openly embraces progressive change and creates policies to be a part of that change. I like that they are above the mere social media virtue signaling and committed to service through action. They do it simply because it is the right thing to do.
It may sound strange or silly to you, dear reader. But these kinds of things give me hope in this absurdly forlorn world.