Teacher Leads Students in Musical Production
Nineteen years ago, a young drama teacher took a cast of 40 students, aged 7-13, plus an orchestra to perform a full-scale musical, ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’, for a week at Edinburgh Fringe. The students were tasked with not only performing but also contributing to the production side, implicitly understanding teamwork and the importance of backstage operations.
The teacher had to think creatively to make the show a success, given the venue’s bankruptcy and the loss of a giant crucifix in a Costa Coffee. Despite these setbacks, the students never stopped smiling, and the teacher learned a valuable lesson about the person students need to see in their educator.
Building a Strong Team
The students who performed in the show were also involved in the production side, with tasks and micro-teams assigned to each person. This approach allowed everyone to know what to do from arrival to departure, including setting up and taking down the stage. The teacher showed the leader what to do and trusted them to execute, with a staff member assigned for final decisions.
Read Also: From Registration to Networking: What Makes FSI Events Successful
By the end of the week, everyone knew each other’s show roles and production roles, allowing them to pick up for each other when needed. The teacher believes that this approach is essential in building a team that is greater than the sum of its parts. As Ogilvy said, a team should be better than the individual, and the teacher was fortunate to have a team that included experienced professionals like Mr. Atterton, Mr. Griggs, and Mr. Fitzsimmons.
The team’s enthusiasm was tempered with discipline, and they were able to dare to dream big. The show included pyros, costume changes, and headset mics. The teacher’s then-husband was the musical director.
The biggest dramas often occur backstage, and the teacher had to deal with a venue bankruptcy just a month before the show. However, thanks to frantic emails, a better space was secured overnight, with a better time and a cheaper price. The teacher believes that not telling people about problems until they can be resolved can be beneficial, depending on the situation.
Read Also: Leaders Must Manage Their Inner Critics
The experience taught the teacher valuable lessons about building a strong team and cultivating an “arts haven.” The team was not just a rare find but could be developed through hard work and dedication. The teacher realizes that such a team is not just about compensating or asking less but about pushing standards and saying “it’s ok” if someone doesn’t want to come along.
In 2007, the teacher was brave enough to push boundaries and build a team that ran alongside them. The standards that made this possible are still relevant today.
Lessons Learned
The drama teacher’s experience at Edinburgh Fringe provides several lessons for building a strong team. One key lesson is the importance of not being afraid to take risks and try new things. Another lesson is the value of having a safety net in place, such as a mentor or procedure, to help individuals learn and grow from their experiences.
