Full Group Discussion: Designing the Literary Office of the Future
Channel: HowlRound Theatre Commons
Date: 14/08/2014

With no breakout group, we moved right into the final full group conversation of the convening with Heather McDonald explaining Simon Sinek’s book, Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action.  The thesis is that most entrepreneurs start with “the what” and move to “the how” but that those who are most successful (she noted the Wright brothers) never lose sight of “the why.”  With this in mind, David asked the participants to think about what would go into terms of creating a guide as to what to bring to the next generation.

Conversation focused on creating a national database for script submissions, how to distribute audience engagement work, bringing playwrights more fully into the theaters (in terms of marketing, script reading, etc.), literary managers/dramaturgs being assertive in supporting artists and tailoring their own positions to best suit the needs of the institutions, staying nimble, best serving the local community, and finding joy.

To close, David asked each participant to write down three values intrinsic to the literary office, one practice to interrogate for change, and bright spots in the community.  There was great variety in the responses.  To get the full list, check out the video posted below.

Here is a condensed list of values: Curiosity, Generosity, Authenticity, Advocacy, Intellectual integrity and rigor, Nimbleness, Connectivity

Things to challenge: Making assumptions, Culture of narcissism and risk avoidance, Academic context of training, Culture of guilt, Unexamined activity, Silent acceptance of soul “suck-ery”, Cookie cutter development and production processes

And current bright spots: Kennedy Center’s commissioning ideas before they become plays, The world premiere losing its power, Denver Center for commissioning and fostering a plethora of Latino/a voices, the O’Neill Center’s engagement of designers in the development process, the McCarter Theater’s writing retreat, NNPN’s collaborative literary management, Mixed Blood’s radical hospitality, Kansas City Rep taking the institution-wide initiative to learn about devised work, 13P for circumventing literary management altogether.

- See more at: http://howlround.com/21st-century-literary-office-convening-day-2-nuts-bolts#sthash.hkLaLkkG.dpuf

Help us caption & translate this video!

http://amara.org/v/Sqft/