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At the Guthrie, a Chance to Recharge By MAHIRA KAKKAR
Last spring, I was initially unsure about my plans for the summer. I had wanted very much to travel in Jordan, but realized the timing was bad. I thought that perhaps I should stay in New York and work—but I was feeling slightly burnt out after a long, intense school year and needed to leave Manhattan for a while. So, when the opportunity came up for me to be part of the Guthrie Experience in Minneapolis, I leapt at it.The Guthrie Theater, founded by Sir Tyrone Guthrie in 1963 and one of the country's leading regional theaters, enjoys both a national and international reputation. The Guthrie Experience, started by the theater in 1997, is a nine-week residential summer program that brings together about a dozen young actors from graduate training programs across the country to study and perform with various artists, invigorating their love for the theater. Conceived by the theater's director of company development, Kenneth Washington, the program's goal is to supplement training in a professional environment, acquaint actors with the Guthrie, and help build a bridge between their training and the professional world. The "experience" varies from year to year, with different guest artists and different schedules to suit the actors' needs.This year, which marked the seventh anniversary of the Guthrie Experience, there were 14 of us in the program—actors from Brandeis University, New York University, American Conservatory Theater, University of Washington-Seattle, Rutgers University, University of Missouri-Kansas City, University of California-Irvine, and, of course, Juilliard.
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| The women of the Guthrie Experience and director Casey Stangel (second from left) in the dressing room on opening night of a series of new 10-minute plays. |
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We worked 8- to 10-hour days with movement and acting teachers, and had master classes with instructors from the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, the Royal Shakespeare Company in London, and the former head of the Lecoq School in Paris. Parallel to these, we had ongoing dialogues about how to transition from school to the professional world, and how to stay in the theater while trying to pay bills and being tempted to devote oneself fully to a screen career. Our residency culminated in a series of new 10-minute plays especially written for us and directed by local and out-of-town directors.The Guthrie Experience was a blessing for me in several ways. Whereas school focuses largely on training, the Experience seeks to complement that training in a professional environment. I was treated like a professional actor and also, of course, expected to behave like one. The fun part of being treated professionally involved us being put up in beautiful apartments (with great views of downtown Minneapolis and a Jacuzzi, a spa, and a fitness center in the building). Our stipend covered both room and board and still left a little for fun. The Guthrie covered our transportation.The classes and the learning were invaluable. While being forced to stretch ourselves physically and emotionally, we were also wined and dined with opening- and closing-night parties, cast parties, and dinners with patrons, donors, and board members (one of whom gave us free passes to Prince's nightclub). Kenneth Washington ensured that we had memberships to the Walker Art Museum (with which the Guthrie shares a space).In addition, we saw many plays by Minneapolis-based companies. The city was wonderful to explore, since it had much of New York's culture but without the frenetic energy. Essentially, we worked hard and played hard.Best of all, though, were the relationships I formed. The Guthrie relies heavily on the support it receives from its community, and this is apparent in the way the theater functions—like a huge, well-functioning family. I felt immensely loved and wanted while I was there, and encouraged in my growth. That made me want to reach out to everyone, from people in the development office who would help me in grant-writing to those in management who had founded theater companies—and, of course, to the actors.
The actors in the Experience—my colleagues—were amazing. Part of it might have been that we were only with each other for nine weeks (as opposed to four years), and therefore didn't have time for friction. My peers were wonderful artists and people; I had the greatest time playing with them, both on- and off-stage. They constantly surprised me: Bonita from Brandeis, with a voice touched by God; Emily from N.Y.U., with a wicked sense of humor and an infectious laugh; Noel from U.C.-Irvine, with the biggest heart ever. I think I may have made some friends for life.Overall, the Guthrie Experience was just what I needed to reinvigorate my love for my craft. It helped me go deeper, question why I do what I do, and also find a huge sense of fun in it. It was the best way I could have spent my summer—a real gift. I would recommend it to all actors in training. Mahira Kakkar is a fourth-year drama student.
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