Awhile ago, I had come to the conclusion that I needed to better understand the role of an actor and the part they play (punny I know) in bringing a story to life. So, I decided to take an acting class from Chris Clark at UVU’s Theater dept. This led to an amazing journey that landed me in a Tennessee Williams play titled “Summer and Smoke” directed by James Arrington.

The process of getting a play ready for the opening night was in itself a fascinating journey. I grew as an actor and an artist quite a  lot however, the most amazing experience was the opening night. Up to that point, I had reached a place where I thought I felt comfortable with the role and the story but, what I had not understood was the impact a live audience has on the presentation. I walked off the stage in a trance. I was able to see the character I *thought* I knew in a different light because of the way the audience saw him. They laughed at places I had not considered. I felt the palpable shock when my character was murdered by a drunken mexican. I was just unexpected but, delicious. However, I was in for another shock. The next night was totally different. The audience felt the play in a different way. Same actors. Same stage direction. Different show. I am just amazed at the organic element of art that an artist isn’t always able to see. The person experiencing the art brings a whole lifetime of information to the work that informs them in a very different way. I am finding myself more sensitized to this reality and it does affect the projects I work on - even *which* projects I work on.

I am forever changed by the experience. One because I LOVE acting now but, also because I am much more appreciative of the incredible organic nature of art and how it affects us individually and collectively.