Stillness and Silence | Student Blog

“You are enough” —Jim Houghton

Before the spring break, the fourth-year drama students went on something called a Silent Retreat in order to reflect on our time here at Juilliard. After four years of hard work, dedication, and growth, it was an incredible gift to be able to find some stillness and silence toward the end of our journey here. I won’t give too much away and ruin the surprise of the retreat for the years below me, but it was a great place to reflect and meditate. The grounds were stunning, the food was great, and I couldn’t have asked for a better sourced library on self-care and wellness. The silent retreat was something put in place by Jim Houghton, our former artistic director, who passed away in the summer of 2017 and whom we always will cherish and miss. He would always tell us, “You are enough.” He was a very special person who did an enormous amount for the Juilliard Drama Division and in the words of Tony Kushner, "He was smart and passionate. He built his singular legacy, founded on his devotion to playwrights’ work and to playwrights themselves, with a uniquely sweet, generous spirit; with unflagging optimism; and with grace.” Toward the end of my journey, I've been thinking of him and the short time I was lucky enough to know him. It’s interesting because from afar, I’m sure one may have many idols. I could list countless actors and directors whom I love. Judy Dench. Jessica Chastain. Adrian Lester. Carrie Cracknell. Sally Hawkins. The list could go on and on—but I’ve never met them. I did meet Jim. He was generous and humble with his achievements and open with his failures. And I thought his way of moving through the world was quite extraordinary.

Jim also created the three-day audition weekend, and this year's finished the other day. This is where applicants who are called back to audition again after their first audition spend three days immersed in classes and shows and get to know the school, faculty, and experiences of the current students. Applicants will be finding out in the next coming days whether or not they will be embarking on this Juilliard journey for the next upcoming years. I was lucky enough to spend some time with the applicants and be humbled by their deep love for the craft—such a wonderful reminder of why we do what we do. I had some great and surprising memories come back to me. Some that I had forgotten and some things that I will miss but never forget and use when needed. I spent time in rhe Metropolitan Museum of Art over the weekend, and it was such a reminder of my first year at Juilliard and how you’re taught the importance of curiosity and going before you’re ready. I’ve attached some pictures of my time there. I was deeply inspired and reminded of the importance of art in our lives. Wasn’t it Shakespeare who said that art was a mirror held up to nature?

Thanks for reading.

—Hannah Rose