Island Life & Rehearsal Reflections

While I miss being in the room with our courageous and disciplined students this quarter, stepping back into a rehearsal process has been a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the relationship between performance and teaching, and to notice how collaboration continues to reveal new insights about craft, connection, and presence.

I’m living on Whidbey Island for the run of rehearsals, and I’m loving every moment of island life: long walks along the water, the leaves transforming day by day into what feels like painted fall landscapes, and the small-town, close-knit community vibe that deepens my connection with the fellow artists I get to work alongside.

We’re rehearsing in Langley, where the woods, water, and sky seem to echo the expansiveness of Houston’s landscapes. While her stories are rooted in Montana and Colorado, there’s something about being surrounded by Whidbey’s wild beauty that feels like a parallel current — a space that allows the text to truly come alive. Houston’s characters stumble through love and desire, often chasing freedom while fearing its cost. In Book-It style, these truths are activated: the text leaps off the page, landing in the room, in the body, and in the moment, revealing emotional layers and surprises that can only exist in live performance.

Being in this rehearsal process has reminded me how much presence and curiosity shape both performance and teaching. Watching the text come alive has sparked new ideas for class exercises and ways to help students trust their instincts while exploring the work. I’m excited to bring these discoveries to our winter quarter classes—applications are open now through December 1. Come join us and do your best work, now.