Learning from the Audience by Aaron Krogman

Aaron with Rebbekah Ogden-Braun as Ralphie

Two weeks ago was the opening of A Christmas Story, the final show on Rosebud Theatre’s Opera House stage for the 2019 season. It always seems a bit early to start thinking of Christmas on November 1st, no matter how many times I’ve done it, but that doesn’t stop audiences from heading our way, using their visit as a traditional kickstart to their holiday mindset. A Christmas Story marks my eighth Christmas show with Rosebud Theatre, but my last time was in 2012, and it’s been long enough that I wasn’t quite ready for the familiarity that washed over me as our first three audiences joined us this last Friday and Saturday. 

This fall, I started with great excitement as a new faculty member with RSA. With all the business of teaching around rehearsals and the show, and with 2 daughters under 3 living in a house in mid-renovation, I was hoping to get through rehearsal and opening somewhat intact. I wasn’t anticipating the amount of memorizing this play required of me, but I didn’t realize until week two of four that I was in for it, and I put in some long days with the script. Fast forward to opening week; the lines were mostly sticking (although there still seems to be one or two that mutate suddenly each performance—I don’t know where the next leak in the dam will appear), and we were needing—needing an audience. And they showed up!

Play after play, I’ve learned so much about the story I’ve been trying to tell from the audience. The director tries to help the actor with objectivity, the playwright tries to set up the actor with words and intention, the designers try to give context for the actor and their action, but the audience is the most important part. The most obvious thing that happens is laughter, but it’s so much more than just laughter, it’s attention. Young and old, tired and wired, anxious and relaxed, from so many different contexts and backgrounds, the members of the audience all pay attention in their own way. There is a palpable sense of what it is that they experience as they watch us on stage, and this is so helpful, I daresay one of the biggest contributing factors in my ongoing education as an actor.

I had no idea what acting was when I started as a student, but I was allowed to spend time alongside others actors who were more experienced in the shared life between audiences and storytellers. I have found audiences to be generous educators, and they continue to be. As we perform A Christmas Story, I often watch from the wings as student actors try things on stage and discover show by show what works through the feedback audiences give to them, and it is clear that the audience desires their success. The students take these affirmations as nudges in the direction of bold, clear, direct and generous storytelling. I believe the Rosebud Theatre audience is unique because they are somehow in on the training we offer here.

Aaron connects with visiting students students during a talkback.

After opening A Christmas Story this November, I was overwhelmed with gratitude to our audience with a new clarity for the education they offer me and all those who’ve studied and worked at Rosebud Theatre. It is truly a collaboration: when people come to see theatre here, it’s for much more than a show to watch or a bit of entertainment to consume; whether they know it or not, they participate powerfully in the work of training young storytellers. I’ve found nothing like it. 

Aaron has done several shows for Rosebud Theatre as well as played Jesus for the Canadian Badlands Passion Play.  We're thrilled to have him back in Rosebud this year serving both on the stage and in the classroom.

Announcing our 2020 Season!

Announcing our upcoming season of True Stories! From the ridiculously uplifting to the scientifically soul searching - the 2020 Season covers ground from battlefields to sports arenas to the infinite depths of outer space. We've got magic up our sleeves you won't want to miss.

For tickets and more information, visit rosebudtheatre.com

Our 2019 Season! Live Life!

Announcing our 35th Anniversary Season

Introducing our 35th Anniversary Season with a party of plays that will tickle your funny-bone, cause you to sing at the top of your lungs, celebrate your great big life, and intrigue, inspire and bless you!

For tickets and more information visit rosebudtheatre.com

Guest Artist “Snapshot” - Jordan Cutbill

Jordan Cutbill last appeared on Rosebud's mainstage in ‘Miracle on 34^th Street’, but audiences may also remember him from ‘Last Train to Nibroc’ and ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’. A 2004 graduate of Rosebud School of the Arts, he’s been teaching videography and sharing his passion of filmmaking for the last four years as an instructor with RSA and more recently Prairie College. He is the co-founder of Smoke Signal Media, a production power house based in Rosebud, and the co-owner of Rosebud Valley Honey.

Jordan Cutbill and David Snider in Rosebud Theatre's The Christians. Photo by Morris Ertman.

What made you come to Rosebud, and what have you been up to since graduating?

I first came in response to three separate individuals approaching me on three separate locations and telling me about the school. I took a brief hiatus from acting and Rosebud after graduation and went fishing and adventuring on the West Coast of British Columbia where I’m originally from. I spent [another] eight months cruising the Caribbean on a 30 foot sailboat with a buddy of mine, was a waiter at Fine Dining restaurants in Tofino and Victoria, and three years fishing guiding in the Queen Charlotte Islands (now called Haida Gwai).

You’ve got a bit of a reputation as an Outdoorsy Renaissance Man. What’s next on your list?

At present I’m learning more about permaculture gardening with the hopes of starting up a market garden here in Rosebud. I’m learning more about canning and food preservation since our garden produced an excess of tomatoes this year.

What do you do in your spare time?

When I have free time I like to garden, hunt, keep bees, fish, cook, and spend quality time with my loving wife and our friends in this beautiful hamlet of Rosebud.

What’s your favorite cold weather drink to warm up?

I have to admit I’m a coffee addict. It’s really the best thing that God ever created.

Jordan Cutbill as Pastor Joshua with Cassandra Garbutt, Caitlyn O'Connor, and Stephanie Lanting in Lucas Hnath's The Christians. Photo by Morris Ertman.

In ‘The Christians’, you’re playing Associate Pastor Joshua, a man of convictions who’s integral to the church. He’s also the character who unflinchingly addresses the central conflict, almost immediately. Do you identify with him?

I identify with addressing the central conflict immediately. I didn’t find that part of the character difficult to connect with. He lives in an entirely different world then I choose to be a part of, but I think at the heart people are people and everyone believes what they believe for a reason. So finding Josh wasn’t that difficult.

What surprised you about the play?

The response has been the most surprising thing for me. I initially thought it would be much more controversial and that the audience would really struggle with the content. I have been so encouraged by our audience giving us the benefit of the doubt and trusting us to go on an uncomfortable ride together. The talk-backs after the show have been the most rewarding talk-backs I’ve ever been a part of.

Has anything in particular challenged you about the process?

You definitely feel naked when you’re emotionally vulnerable on stage in front of a group of people, and that takes some getting used to - and some trust that doesn’t come easy to me.

Why do you think so many people have baggage / hang-ups about church?

I think people have baggage or hangups about the church and Christianity because it has led such a controversial role throughout history. I think anything that matters polarizes people... so of course religion/politics/money will fit right into that.

If this play weren’t called ‘The Christians’, what would you call it?

I would call it The People. I don’t think it only applies to Christians, I think it speaks a universal truth that everyone can connect with.

What’s inspiring you lately?

Generally for inspiration I listen to a lot of music. At present I’m enjoying the work of Bears Den, Max Richter, Ryan Adams, and a host of others.

Jordan and co-owner of Rosebud Valley Honey, Kelsey Krogman. Photo courtesy Rosebud Valley Honey.

How did you get into Rosebud Valley Honey?

I’ve always been fascinated by beekeeping and curious as to the natural fear that most people have of these wonderful little creatures. Their level of sophistication and community is showcased through the hive mentality: greater care for the whole (rather than the individual) is an astounding example of community and care. Rosebud Valley Honey was started four years ago with Kelsey Krogman and myself. We practice chemical-free beekeeping in an effort to care for the bees first and collect honey as humanely and decently as possible. We believe that caring for the bees is primary and if they produce an excess of honey beyond what they need, then we get to offer that to the people in Rosebud and beyond.

Lastly, what’s a great piece of advice that’s connected with you over the years?

Don’t let your life be ruled by fear. I strive to live my life with intentionality and drive and recognize that everything is a choice. I choose not to let fear be the thing that speaks the loudest in my life.

There’s just two more weeks to catch Jordan Cutbill navigating the tumultuous waters of church politics and relationships in Lucas Hnath’s powerhouse-packed ‘The Christians’. Playing now, through October 28, for tickets and showtimes, visit www.rosebudtheatre.com

Quick Take - Morris talks The Christians

'The Christians', by Lucas Hnath, playing on our MainStage continues to garner international acclaim for its succinct ability to present complex and conflicting takes on a situation, all without sermonizing. Which is ironic, given it’s set in an American Mega-Church. The play moves quickly through the aftermath of a Pastor radically changing theological direction on a hot button issue. In the spirit of the script, we asked director Morris Ertman for some “succinct” thoughts on Rosebud’s production.

You can read this interview in a minute! Take a minute to check out why The Christians will make the most of your time.

Describe the play in one word:

Love

In one sentence, what challenges you about the script?

Describing the challenge(s) in one sentence.

What’s a Bible verse that challenges you?

“I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father but by me.”

If this play weren’t called ‘The Christians’, what would you call it?

I’m no good at titles, but The Cost of Conviction. [Which] sounds more like a sermon title. There’s a Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young song with the following lyrics, written about the Kent State shootings in the 60s. It seems somehow appropriate.

Find the cost of freedom

Buried in the ground

Mother Earth will swallow you

Lay your body down.

There’s something about the spiritual journey of the people in this play that is contained in that lyric, if you replace “freedom” with “belief.”

If someone doesn’t go to church, why would/should they go to a show set in a church?

Because they can look at church with outside eyes, and not have to participate.

What’s a Bible verse you try and live your life by?

“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”

What’s your favorite zinger line from the script that isn’t a plot spoiler?

“It says that. It actually says that!”

Which role in the script do you identify with most?
(Pastor / Elder / Associate / Congregant / Spouse)

Pastor Paul

What’s a question that should be in everyone’s post-show discussion? (Either over drinks or on the ride home?)

What does personal conviction cost us, and is it worth it?

He did it! He actually did it! Morris Ertman, man of a multitude of inspiration, kept it to a minimum. It's a teaser taste for how much more’s in store with 'The Christians', playing now through October 28^th. For more about the show, check out 'The Christians: not what you might be thinking' . For tickets and showtimes, visit www.rosebudtheatre.com

The Christians: Not what you might be thinking

"The Christians is a play about the pastor of a very very big church. And what happens when he... reveals to the congregation something that he has found out... that the Bible doesn't quite say something that we think it says. And then the reaction of the congregation - which is not exactly what you'd expect. And then what happens after that is also not exactly what you'd expect. And then what happens as a result of that is also not exactly what you'd expect... and the whole play just sort of tumbles forward." 

- Lucas Hnath, playwright

                                                                            

At a tight 80 minutes with not a word wasted, The Christians is an emotional and intellectual ride through politics, faith, and dissension in a contemporary charismatic mega-church. Though the plot hinges on a doctrinal deal-breaker, the church is simply the setting for a snowballing series of interactions stunning in their simplicity, complexity, and astounding ability to keep audiences guessing what happens next. 

Raised near Disneyworld, with no neighbors but a gun range across the street, playwright Lucas Hnath says his 'surreal' childhood prepared him for the stage. "Disneyworld was my first theatrical experience. It sort of informs everything that I write. I like it when plays feel like a ride." But through the twists and turns Hnath never quite lets on where his sympathies lie, not even in interviews. Instead, he confounds with competing arguments. "As long as your brain is searching for the answer, you're awake. Once you have the answer, you go to sleep," he argues.

The Christians premiered at the Actors Theatre of Louisville in 2014 and its 2015 New York production at Playwrights Horizons launched the play (and playwright) into the national spotlight. Critically appraised and widely produced across the United States, it has been embraced by secular and faith-based organizations alike. With a polarizing title, the play itself is anything but. The Christians concerns not only matters of faith, but questions of leadership, integrity, and unspoken rules for reconciliation. What happens when a man speaks what he believes, and shakes up not only his congregation, but the intricate framework of relationships his organization was built upon? Are beliefs a thing we hold on to in spite of the havoc they wreak, or is there room to hold other perspectives without losing our own?

"Church splits are Hell. This play about one isn't."

- Christianity Today

'The Christians' runs Sept 22 - Oct 28, and if you have any doubts about whether the show is right for you, it is. This play is a must-see and elegant portrayal of a fractured body of believers who keep searching for resolution. For tickets and more information, visit www.rosebudtheatre.com