Ellen Kaplan is an actress, writer, and director, and professor emerita of acting and directing at Smith College. She performs and directs internationally, in places like Pakistan, China, Israel, Costa Rica, Argentina, and Puerto Rico, and she recently edited the new book Theater Responds to Social Trauma: Chasing the Demons. Ellen joins me to talk about her work in and out of the classroom, dealing with “the shoulds,” how easy it is to get in our own way, why we are each a culture unto ourselves, what we’ve each learned from our students, and more.
Read this week's article, on how Apple accidentally told the truth about technology and creativity, here.
Episode breakdown:
00:00 Introduction
03:15 Self-discovery through teaching experiences
08:42 Importance of humility, listening, and respect
12:27 Cultural differences observed while teaching ESL
18:15 Embracing individuality in students
22:30 Influence of "should" on decision-making
28:05 Pressure of being an expert vs. staying open to learning
34:14 Value of revision in the creative process
38:50 Saying yes in improv and life
44:35 Creating healing spaces through storytelling
48:52 Career serendipity and intrinsic experiences
54:18 Commodification's impact on creativity
58:23 Kitsugi and the beauty of imperfections
01:03:41 Ellen's work in conflict zones and peace efforts
01:09:56 Improvisational recalculating of identity and work
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Check out the full show notes at fycuriosity.com, and connect with me and fellow creatives on Substack.
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Want more? Here's a handy playlist with all my previous interviews with guests in theatre.
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