Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.

These words of Samuel Beckett’s are on a poster displayed in my studio. The first day of class or rehearsal I point out that “determined failure” of experimentation is what I expect. In other words, I strive to create an atmosphere in which students feel they are working in supportive conditions where artistic risks can be taken. My theatre classes and rehearsals are places where intellectual and social boundaries are loosened, where students can exercise creativity in a nurturing and welcoming environment. Polite, respectful articulation (and receipt) of contrasting or even dissenting ideas keeps everyone engaged in the creative process and helps produce a better artistic product. I encourage the interchange of ideas through classroom and rehearsal discussions and have discovered that although there may be some uncomfortable moments, the result is a greater understanding of opposing views. Encouraging a student to keep an open mind while examining a subject helps develop their critical judgments, strengthens their powers of observation, and keeps them open to new ideas and different ways of thinking. All these are valuable perspectives for the theatrical performance artist who must examine multiple aspects of humanity, not just the ones with which they agree. Theatre is most relevant and meaningful when it connects, reflects, and provides commentary on contemporary conditions or situations. Theatre helps us better understand the world, our place within it, and ultimately, our individual self worth.