Blog | Shearwater Productions

A group of clowns standing together during a performance

The Importance of Theatre Education

July 20, 2014

“Best times of my high school life.” I just received this comment on my Facebook page after posting a PSA on how theatre transforms students’ lives. This comment does not represent a desire to goof off and party, nor is it an isolated sentiment. Theatre Education programs provide a safe place for students to be themselves, explore relationships, develop compassion, and discover delayed gratification. These are the obvious take-aways. Here’s some less obvious ones. Success in school By any definition of “Youth at Risk,” the percentage of those who graduate from high school is doubled when those students are coming from

Interview with a Writer: Joan Reeves

June 22, 2014

I’m so honored to be interviewing writer Joan Reeves (we talk about writing tips, inspirations, and the whys of things)! Before I share her words with you, please take a moment to cruise around on the rabble.ca website, and support them if you can. It’s an amazing grassroots organization with real news and in-depth cultural content, and it’s not just for Canadians 🙂 June is Audiobook Month, and I personally love ‘reading by listening’. Whether I am cleaning or driving or doing paperwork, audiobooks delight me, inform me, comfort me, keep me awake, and so much more. Also, I am

Why You Should Make Masks

June 11, 2014

I have given many mask-making workshops, with the adult cast of a show, for toddlers, in school settings, with tweens who have disabilities, and as part of a physical theatre performance at a museum. Each time, the group members have been surprised by the newness of it, then cautious and worried about getting it right as they begin, then delighted and enthusiastic as the masks come into being in their hands. Too often, I think, such exploration of an alien landscape is relegated to an art class when its power and wonder would blossom in sooo many other circumstances. I

Holly Adams in her studio recording an audiobook

“On the Spectrum” and On the Stage

May 5, 2014

My wonderful and amazing students from “A Class Act” with The Magic Paintbrush Project performed on April 27th (a play they wrote!) and hit the ball out of the park. They were amazing, they were incredible, they brought the house down. And every single one of them has a disability. I wrote about them last fall, when we were just beginning our process (see “Life is Washable”), but as a result of the show, folks have been asking about children, challenges, and performance, especially children who are on the Asperger-Autism spectrum. I last posted some specific observations and activities about working

Landing the next one: 3 tips for marketing yourself

April 27, 2014

I have had a rash of opportunities lately, both ones I applied for and some where they reached out to me. This may seem obvious, but as artists, educators, community leaders, we’re typically always looking for our next gig. But we too often forget that what begets success, even in the face of what looks like failure, is less WHO we are than HOW we are. Duh, right? Yet, I know that at least two of my current projects came to me, not because I was the “best” (most stellar, most talented), nor even because I am “very good” —

Arts impacting life: 3 glimpses

March 2, 2014

These past weeks have held plentiful reminders of the horrendous things we do to each other as people and societies. In the face of large darknesses, we often forget that ignorance and intolerance are bred and cultivated in much smaller arenas long before they grow into mass malignancy. I myself have found it difficult to find anything to write about of late, and I am one of the most pragmatically action-oriented people I know. With this in mind, I have decided to devote this blog and the next to arts-based projects that are creating opportunities for connection and knowledge. The

Funding Olympics, Cutting the Arts

February 5, 2014

It’s Olympic time! Here’s the crazy thing — yes, I love the Olympics. I love watching them. I love that occasionally, people I know are involved, and I can route extra hard for them. I love the power and grace of the human form focused with intention…it is so beautiful, and for me, so very artistic, and I don’t just mean figure skating. What an excellent opportunity for the youth of the world to see the connections between sport and art, between strength and grace! And since the Olympics are supposed to foster peace and understanding, it’s a great chance

Gary as Scrooge for Mystery & Adventure Agency

Enter Up Left with Holiday Cheer

December 23, 2013

I write this from a large house in Pennsylvania that my beloved extended family has rented for the week so that we can converge upon our newest member and rejoice in each others’ sweet, silly, insightful and rambunctious company. That we are the types who like to make our own fun or enjoy things somewhat off the beaten path has prompted me to include two links to good cheer best enjoyed in such excellent company at Christmastime. Although Chanukah, Diwali, and Eid are all past, I also include some links to family-oriented and fun activities for each, including plays. Hopefully

Boy stands in front of white board with a science lesson on it

Fourth Graders and the Magic of Theatre

December 17, 2013

(Music plays) “The Earth is a magnet. It’s the (beat) third planet from the sun. Flowing electrons and protons/come together to make things run!” The Kid Scientists and Benjamin Franklin sing valiantly through an explanation of their thinking while the storm rages and the flying kite conducts electricity down to their home-made motor. The adults watching in the seats of the professional theatre are grinning, completely enchanted as the first group of fourth-graders performs the play they wrote, with an important plot-driving song, thank you very much. I am once again at the Hangar Theatre for the Project 4 performances,

Holly and her family sitting around a table for a mystery dinner

Sharing Without Spending: 3 ways to connect even across distances

November 16, 2013

With Chanukah and American Thanksgiving just around the corner, and festivals of light and Christmas not far behind, some of my friends are at a loss as to what kinds of presents to give or how to connect with their family, friends or communities across the miles. I was mentally masticating on this conundrum as I picked up a wonderful anthology I am reading, Murder for Christmas.Then it struck me like a frying pan to the face—WHAT A GREAT PROJECT TO DO! This being an arts-in-ed blog, I am hoping none of my readers freak out, but instead read on