I took on the directing job for Bridge to Terabithia in Racine. The new knowledge and the possibilities have to outweigh my own brain. Fantasy, depression, guilt, family issues, escapism, music… that’s a lot to delve into, YA fiction or no. If I feel too suburban about it all later, I can tell myself it’s on the challenged book list. I’m glad they offered me the job, even if I am the last minute choice.

In addition to that, I will be filling in as board operator for a few days on Upon a Midnight Clear, which has charmed me more than I thought it would. Liz created a mythology that speaks to me, and used accessible language to fill in the gaps. I would like her to try a new style, perhaps, with the next play, but I also don’t want to command her to do anything. That’s not a good way to create art, under dictation, but I like the Oulipan notion of foreign strictures as a means for growth.

After 10 years of solid training — as I write of growth — I am now teaching at the workshop where I started learning. I always say that I have 20 years of training, because teaching, writing, and producing the madrigal dinner taught me a great deal. I learned from myself, of course, but when I observed that my ability to self-assess began to falter, I sought new mentorship and testing. Now that I have proven myself, I must not allow my self-doubt to weaken my resolve. I gave myself a mission. I finished boot camp. Now, I will train others, as I have trained myself.