The Vs. Studio Blog

“I’m going to count to ten. I’m here, you’re there…You know what to do…Welcome…Welcome back.” –Stand Up If You’re Here Tonight by John Kolvenbach

Dear Friend and Vs. Ally,

I hope you had a great Holiday and this letter finds you well.  I know we’re all still dealing with this pandemic, but we will get through it and come out stronger on the other side.

2021 was a tough start for Vs.  We lost our theatre, our vibrant home for the last decade.  (The building in which we leased space was sold to a commercial kitchen and all tenants had to exit in April.)  Shutting everything down and moving equipment into storage was emotional and a difficult pill to swallow.

But I’m proud to say we didn’t let that stop us.  We persevered.  In August we opened a show!  The West Coast Premiere of John Kolvenbach’s poignant and funny and heartwarming play, “Stand Up If You’re Here Tonight.”  Originally slated to run three weeks at the Atwater Village Theatre, the show ran three months.  It received some excellent press including this article in the Los Angeles Times.  Most importantly, we gave audiences a great night out and reminded them of the power of live theatre and communal gathering (all the while doing it safely and responsibly).   I loved seeing the smiles on people’s faces as they exited.  Talking to them in the courtyard afterward brought me so much joy and affirmed why we produce theatre.

Speaking of joy, in 2021 we also launched the Vs. Studio Solo Workshop.  Aligned with the mission of The Vs. Studio–helping artists find and manifest the work they’re passionate about and doing so with excellence and generosity—the Solo Workshop was another high point.  Conceived and taught by Paul Stein, a world-class teacher and creative guide, it brought many artists together over Zoom.  The work they created, the vulnerability they displayed and the courage they had to share their work with others was remarkable.  When Paul and I first discussed launching the class, we were just thinking a single, stand-alone workshop and maybe 6-8 people would sign up.  By the end of the year, we’ve had multiple workshops and levels; all because the artists wanted to keep going.  The testimonials and feedback we’ve received is incredibly inspiring and I can’t wait to see what work stems from it next year and beyond.

We’ve also continued to offer weekly community through our Tuesday Night Play Readings.  This is a free reading series on Zoom and all are welcome to attend.  What I most love about these nights is that it’s a platform for artists to bring in the work that inspires them.  They have a warm and supportive environment in which they can “sponsor” a night–you can read more about what exactly that means Here and again, it aligns perfectly with The Vs. Studio mission.  One reading had nearly 200 people watching from all over the globe!

While it’s still tough to make specific live theatre plans for 2022, we will continue to offer community and support through our readings and workshops.  And just like 2021–and really every year since we started–when we find the play we’re dying to do, we’ll figure out a way to produce it.  No matter what.  That’s been our ethos since day one and I think it’s served us well.
So now’s the fun part where I ask you for help…Please consider making a fully tax deductible (we’re a 501c3 non-profit) donation to Vs. Theatre Company.

To donate via PayPal, please click HERE.  (You can also donate via Venmo.  Our handle is @vstheatre.  Snail mail is great too.  Checks payable to “VS. Theatre Company”.  Address to send is 3734 Santa Carlotta Street; La Crescenta, CA  91214)

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your financial support.  Every little bit helps.  Know that it means the world to Vs. as it allows us to continue making our art as well as inspire others to do the same. 
Have a Happy New Year!  I wish you good health, abundant joy and creative fulfillment.  (And that I see you in person at the theatre!)  In the meantime, please continue to take good care of yourself and others.

With Love and Gratitude,

Johnny

Johnny Clark
Artistic Director
Vs. Theatre Company & The Vs. Studio
www.vstheatre.org
www.thevsstudio.blog
M: 323.816.2471

“We have a strategic plan — it’s called doing things.” -Herb Kelleher, founder and former CEO of Southwest Airlines

“I hated every minute of training, but I said, ‘Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion. ‘” -Muhammad Ali

Ever look back at on all the things you used to stress about when you were young–taking that test, writing that term paper, calling that girl or guy on the phone and asking them out (gulp), going on your first job interview, etc…–and thinking how easy those things seem compared to your life now? To the many challenges you’ve faced or are currently facing?

Yes, some of that’s perspective.

But I think the other part is this…much like training for anything, the more hard things you do, the more equipped you are to handle harder things. So when you reflect on your past, It’s not that those things weren’t difficult, they absolutely were. At the time. But because you’ve continued to live your life, you’ve continued to do hard things, you’ve built up your grit, capacity and skill, those things seem easier.

All this to say…don’t run from the inevitable challenges that life throws your way. Any chance you get to do something hard, especially if it’s aligned with what you want and even sometimes when it’s not, do it.

The more hard things you do, the more hard things you can do.

“Think of many things; do only one.” -Portuguese proverb

A New Year’s resolution that might actually stick…

Do fewer things.

Focus like a laser beam on those few things.

How to choose?

Remember to ask yourself (daily) this magic focusing question.

P.S. – Can you name the 80’s film in the above pic?

“Perfect love casts out fear.” -John 4:18

“There is no deed in this life so impossible that you cannot do it. Your whole life should be lived as a heroic deed.” -Leo Tolstoy

“The world wants to know if you have cojones. If you are brave?” -Emilo Perez asking John Grady in Cormac McCarthy’s novel, All The Pretty Horses

The word courage is derived from the Latin word “cor” which literally means heart.

Every courageous act throughout history, all those people we admire for their bravery, had one thing in common.

Love.

They loved something, someone, so deeply and with all their heart. Their love transcended and went beyond self. So much so that when the time came for them to demonstrate courage, to step up, they answered the call. Even if that meant giving up their lives.

You probably don’t have to die to make your art, to make the change you want to make in this world, but you do need tremendous courage. To risk. To be vulnerable. To put yourself out there. To be willing to fail.

Find your love and your courage will follow.

P.S. – If you’re looking for some inspiration, read Ryan Holiday’s latest book “Courage Is Calling”.

“The question of what you want to own is actually the question of how you want to live your life.” -Marie Kondo, “The Life-Changing Magic Of Tidying Up”

“How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives. What we do with this hour, and that one, is what we are doing. A schedule defends from chaos and whim. It is a net for catching days. It is a scaffolding on which a worker can stand and labor with both hands at sections of time. A schedule is a mock-up of reason and order—willed, faked, and so brought into being; it is a peace and a haven set into the wreck of time; it is a lifeboat on which you find yourself, decades later, still living.” -Anne Dillard, “The Writing Life”

The very first post I wrote was stating a formula for artistic happiness. Here it is again:

Meaningful Work + Meaningful Community = Artistic Happiness.

In the two years since, much of the blog’s been devoted to helping and inspiring you to find and manifest your passion project.

Today, I want to add a little wrinkle to the equation. Something we need to practice so that we can pursue the formula in the first place.

And that is, meaningful consumption.

What is it?

I define meaningful consumption as the ongoing process of examining how we spend our days, and ultimately (as Anne Dillard brilliantly states above), our lives. Bringing awareness to all our consumption patters. Our time, our money, our energy, the foods we eat, the things we watch, listen to and read, etc…Everything gets scrutinized to see if these patterns are bringing us joy or chaos. And when/where appropriate, we make a change.

Why engage in meaningful consumption?

Well for starters, it makes us feel good. Knowing we’re not wasteful gives us peace of mind. It’s just good practice overall.

Second, our planet and future generations are depending on us to be efficient. Right now.

And finally let’s face it, manifesting our passion projects takes a whole lot of time and energy (and often, money). We need to be ruthlessly efficient in our lives so that we can pursue these projects and do them with excellence and generosity.

Meaningful consumption is the necessary oxygen and lift off to make these projects a reality. To pursue the formula. To find artistic happiness.

“Our vanity, our self-love, promotes the cult of the genius,” Nietzsche said. “For if we think of genius as something magical, we are not obliged to compare ourselves and find ourselves lacking. . . . To call someone ‘divine’ means: ‘here there is no need to compete.”
― Angela Duckworth, “Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance”

If you want to be let off the hook, just assume that the reason you’re not doing the thing you want to do, living the life you want to lead, is because it’s just not in the cards for you. Certain people are more gifted than you, they’re “born to do this” and therefore you shouldn’t even waste your time trying.

If you want to be ON the hook, take responsibility and give yourself agency. Be awed and inspired by other’s great achievements. Not jealous or envious. Decide that this is what you love to do and you will do it, no matter what. (I’m not talking about commercial success by the way. I’m talking about love of the thing for the thing itself.)

If you’re looking for a mantra (and a role model) to repeat over and over….

“To hell with circumstance. I create opportunities.” -Bruce Lee

Before you do ANYTHING (running an errand, making a phone call, driving a car, etc…you name it) ask yourself this question…

“What’s my intention here or what do I want to happen?”

It immediately focuses you. Makes you present. And ultimately will save you a lot of time and grief.

If you can’t answer the question or forget to ask it, you’re not ready for said task. Proceed at your own risk.

“It is difficult to understand the universe if you only study one planet.” -Muhashi, The Book Of Five Rings

Bill:
Socrates – “The only true wisdom consists of knowing you know nothing.”

Ted:
That’s us, dude.

One of my favorite albums of 2021 is “A Beginner’s Mind” by Sufjan Stevens and Angelo De Augustine. (Great headphone album!) In an article here, the duo reveal their writing process…isolating themselves in a friend’s cabin, watching films at night and writing songs loosely inspired by the movies the following day.

“They wrote in tandem — one person writing a verse, the other a chorus, churning out chord progressions and lyrical tapestries willy-nilly, often finishing each other’s sentences in the process,” according to a statement. They channeled the Zen Buddhist concept of “shoshin” which means having an attitude of openness and a lack of preconceptions toward a subject regardless of expertise. One approaches all study like a beginner.

I’ll leave with you a story that perfectly encapsulates shoshin…

There once existed a scholar named Tokusan, who was full of opinions on philosophy.

One day, in search for debate, the scholar Tokusan knocked on the door of a famous Zen Master. The master’s name was Ryutan, and he bid the scholar welcome.

As per tradition, Ryutan served Tokusan tea before the conversation began. However, Ryutan did not stop pouring even when the cup was full. Piping hot tea begun to spill over its brim, falling on the saucer, the low desk and finally coming to rest on the robes of the scholar Tokusan himself.

In a panic, Tokusan yelled, “Stop! What are you doing? Can’t you see that the teacup is full?”

“Exactly.” Master Ryutan replied. “You are like this cup; filled to the brim with ideas. You come and ask for teaching, but your cup is full; I can’t put anything in. Before I can teach you, you’ll have to empty your cup.”

“Your actions reveal not what you want, but what you choose.” -Shane Parrish

“In our world, it is becoming harder and harder to communicate with each other simply and honestly, on a gut level. Yet we still go to the theatre to have a communion with the truth of our existence, and, ideally, we leave it knowing that kind of communication is still possible The theatre can put forward simple human values in hopes that the audience may leave inspired to try to live by such values. Seeing an individual doing [their] best against impossible odds and without regard to [their] fears allows the audience to identify that very capacity within themselves. That iron will is the will of the actor bringing not some “magnificent performance” to the stage, but [their] own simple human values and the actions to which they drive [him/her]. When truth and virtue are so rare in almost every area of sour society the world needs theatre and the theatre needs actors who will bring the truth of the human soul to the stage. The theatre may now be the only place in society where people can go hear the truth.” -“A Practical Handbook For The Actor” by Melissa Bruder, Lee Michael Cohn, Madeleine Olnek, Nathaniel Pollack,. Robert Previto and Scott Zigler

“Always tell the truth, it’s the easiest thing to remember.” -David Mamet

“A Practical Handbook For The Actor” is one of my all time favorite acting books because it’s…well….so…practical. My very first acting mentor/teacher, Kurt Naebig, introduced me to it in his class way back in Chicago. It then led to me seeking out the Atlantic Theatre Company and their classes in Los Angeles which then led to the founding of Vs. Theatre Company (Another blog post for another time.) I constantly revisit the book.

I recently re-read the chapter on “physical action.” It states that there are 9 components or requirements to a good action. I won’t go into detail here as the book (get it, read it!) does a great job explaining each one. But I’ll list them below.

An action must…

1. be physically capable of being done.
2. be fun to do.
3. be specific.
4. have it’s test in the other person.
5. not be an errand.
6. not presuppose any physical or emotional state.
7. not be manipulative
8. have a “cap”.
9. be in line with the intentions of the playwright.

Pretty terrific life advice too, don’t you think?

“I have had it with the deathbed. We burn a lot of fuel thinking about the deathbed. How long do you plan to spend on your deathbed? A day, a week? Maybe a couple months, at most. You got a whole lifetime before you get to the deathbed. Maybe live your life the way you want and just accept that, whether alone or otherwise, the deathbed is not going to be the high point. You’re all alone on your deathbed? Cheer up, you’re about to die.” -from the play Linda Vista by Tracy Letts

You certainly can’t control being missed, but it’s a worthwhile thing to strive for. Because it means that you contributed something to a group of people. You did something meaningful for others.

So, how might you be missed someday? Here’s a little primer…

Demand excellence of yourself.

Don’t be afraid to be vulnerable. Risk!

Don’t need to be thanked or praised.

Be generous to a fault.

Be exacting with your why.

Get super specific. Who’s it for? What’s it for? Find your smallest viable audience and radically delight them.

Be consistent. Show up. Show up. Show up.

Finally, don’t really care about being missed. Care about giving everything you have to the change you’re trying to make and the people you’re trying to serve.

And maybe, just maybe, they’ll miss you when you’re gone. More importantly, you’ll miss them!