Mitchell Thomas
Associate Professor of Theatre
Spring 2011 Sabbatical Report
I am extremely grateful for having had the opportunity to enjoy a sabbatical during the spring of 2011, which was beneficial to me personally and professionally. I was able to accomplish both an important re-connection with my wife and children (more on this later) as well as engage in significant professional projects as an artistic director, actor, producer, and director that would have been impossible without this time away from my responsibilities at Westmont.
The biggest change from my sabbatical proposal was I opted for a 6-month period rather than the original 12 months. This was largely due to circumstances at the Ensemble theatre, which was originally going to be the main focus of my work. In the time between when I submitted my proposal and when I assumed my role as artist in residence, the Ensemble theatre was rocked by the recession, multiple lawsuits, and front page exposé articles in the Newspress while in the middle of a capital campaign to move into their new theatre space. Due to this intense financial and PR pressure, the team at the Ensemble became extremely conservative in both fiscal oversight and extended programming, which negatively affected my ability to implement new programs, ideas, and outreach. This was very disappointing initially, but I was able to re-focus my professional efforts to a looser connection with the Ensemble theatre and to engage in more projects with other theatre companies and artists. Ultimately, this yielded fruitful and positive results.
Project 1: Artist in residence at the Ensemble Theatre
Though my role shifted with the Ensemble from the original plan, I was still able to assist the artistic director in season selection, artistic direction, and brainstorming about future programming, new play development programs, and new audience initiatives. I served as a reader for all new plays being considered by the theatre, and helped to craft the current season. The birth of my daughter, Gwyneth, coincided with the beginning of rehearsals (held in Los Angeles to accommodate the director) for a production of OPUS I was cast in, so I had to decline that acting opportunity. Still, as a result of my role as artist in residence, I developed a very strong relationship with the artistic director and am confident that I will be very active at the Ensemble in multiple ways in future years.
Project 2: Wallace Shawn’s The Fever
The most significant project as an actor during my sabbatical was my solo performance of Wallace Shawn’s The Fever. Winner of the 1991 Obie award for best play, The Fever is 90-minute tour-de-force performance that asks in a highly original way: Is it possible, or even right, for a sensitive person to be happy in today’s world? I was actor and producer for this production, and worked with Maurie Lord as director, who is the artistic director of the Genesis West Theatre Company here in Santa Barbara. Together, we rehearsed the play for 8 weeks and then put together a performance schedule of 15 shows in Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, Spokane, and London. I am also performing the play as part of Westmont theatre’s 2011/2012 season, and we expect to continue to occasionally bring the play back for the foreseeable future. I grew immensely as an actor and producer from this project, as it was unlike any show I had ever done. The subject material of the play was also highly convicting and continues to provoke my assumptions about what it means for me to live out the life God has given me.
Project 3: Producer of Tim Crouch’s ENGLAND at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art
Tim Crouch is an award-winning international author and performer, and I was thrilled to be able to collaborate with the SBMA, Lit Moon Theatre, and the Skirball Center of Los Angeles to bring him to the United States. I was the primary producer, including pitching the idea to SBMA and Lit Moon, and oversaw the entire production from start to finish. I was very gratified when the LA TIMES named England one of the top ten theatre productions of 2011. England is set in an art gallery, and the beautiful modern gallery at the SBMA was a perfect location for this play about empire, art, and the value of human life. The museum was thrilled with the turnout for the production, and want to continue working with me as a producer.
Continuing Projects that came out of my sabbatical period:
Project 4: Actor in Lit Moon production of Ibsen’s Peer Gynt
During Fall 2011, I played the troll king in the epic production of Ibsen’s Peer Gynt. My continued connection as actor and producer to Lit Moon remains strong.
Project 5: Director of Steve Martin’s Picasso at the Lapin Agile at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art
The museum asked me to direct and produce a production of Steve Martin’s play to coincide with the closing of their Picasso/Braque exhibition. I cast 11 local actors and played the play in the museum to overflowing crowds. The museum wants me to continue to work with them in this capacity due to the success of the projects.
The biggest project of all was the birth of my 3rd daughter, Gwyneth Emma Thomas, on January 3, 2011 (during the first days of the sabbatical!). My flexible schedule allowed me to take on an expanded role as a father and husband during those wonderful and difficult first few months. My family and I are extremely grateful for that.
In closing, my sabbatical period allowed me to work with a variety of local, national, and international artists and arts organizations, including the Ensemble Theatre company, Genesis West, Lit Moon Theatre, and Santa Barbara Museum of Art, Tim Crouch and Hannah Ringham (England), the Skirball Center of LA (England), and the SaltPeter Theatre Company (The Fever in London). I found fulfilling work as an actor, director, producer, and artistic director. I was expanded as a person and artist, and am experiencing a continuing energy and opportunity flowing out of my sabbatical. Thank you to Westmont for the gift.
Respectfully submitted,
Mitchell Thomas