New York actor and friend of CIC Margot White recently made her Broadway debut in Aaron Sorkin’s The Farnsworth Invention. Below is a letter Ms. White wrote after taking a workshop with CIC Executive Producer Angie McMahon and Children’s Theater Director Dave Whalley. Sounds like she had a pretty wonderful experience!
To Whom It May Concern:
2008 started out as a great year for me in this profession. I was working in a Broadway show, had just booked my first two national commercials, and was going out consistently for TV/Film roles, but wasn’t booking. The problem was, I didn’t believe.
That’s where Dave and Angie stepped in.
I’ve had the good fortune to know Dave for more than 20 years now, and when I think of someone whose passion, understanding, and commitment to theatre and it’s many variations as art forms, Dave is the first name in my head. He’s as tried and true as they come; he not only knows the references, but he has the uncanny ability to step out of comfort zones and delve into raw material and make it shine. It’s an ability I covet.
In speaking with him about this dilemma about my recent (what I felt to be) pseudo successes, he suggested I come out for an improv workshop with him in Chicago. Me, who’s got some decent credentials, has training in all the classics, studied in London, knew how to analyze scripts inside and out; and now my best friend has just called me out on my weak spot. Improv. Again, Dave and Angie to the rescue.
The first thing I receive is an extremely well thought out questionnaire which will help them tailor this customized workshop to my specific needs. Questions like: When am I most comfortable on stage? When am I least? What flavor is my stopwatch? And my responses, in an effort to be “correct” (ever the straight A student), apparently gave great insight into some primary goals for the upcoming workshop. Goals like getting out of my head, being reminded it’s called a “play”, and that perfection is not what improv is about, so throw that out the window. Angie chimed in at this point with an amazing email letting me know that the workshop was going to be a judgment free, safe place to work and discover, and that even though it’s not perfect (because it never is), it can’t be wrong and no one will die. What a gift of freedom to give to an overachiever.
So my first night in Chicago, Dave brought me to a show with Chemically Imbalanced Comedy in their theatre (yes, leave it to innovative Dave to join up with a theatre company, find and rent an actual theatre space – amazing). The show was raw, unrehearsed, and captivating. I had a glimmer of understanding for what the workshop would bring.
The next day, I showed up at Feed the Beast, with whom CIC has cleverly worked out a back room rehearsal space in exchange for patronage, and quickly learned that these two people not only know what they’re doing, but are completely comfortable with bringing others into this amazing world. Their training was immediately evident, and their openness to my fear was thoroughly comforting. We dove in.
For a little over two hours. Dave, a good friend, and Angie, a total stranger, offered their time, their wisdom, and their encouragement to one who didn’t even realize how in need she was of these strengths. It sounds cheesy, I know, but thanks to their charity, I started to believe in myself – they brought a myriad of possibility to what exists in this crazy thing that we do – show business. Fears were, though not eliminated, certainly checked into balance enough to be productive and not inhibitive.
Dave and Angie get my highest regard in terms of true artists – those who love what they do, are brilliant and fearless in what they do, and find a deeper value in the innovation of possibility. That, to me, is what Chemically Imbalanced Comedy
represents. It’s a home for artists. It deserves as much recognition and support as they so selflessly offer those who ask – or, in my case, don’t even know they’re asking. I will always remain grateful for Dave, Angie, and companies like Chemically Imbalanced, who continue to defy the mold and make art truly palpable.
Truly,
Margot White
