Matt Silva
| Guest columnist
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I spent a lot of time in detention as a kid. Grade school. High school. If detention existed in college and grad school, I’d likely have been a frequent flyer in those spaces, too.
It wasn’t because I was a prankster. It wasn’t because I was disrespectful or mean-spirited. It wasn’t because I didn’t care. It was because I couldn’t shut up. I was disruptive. I’m here to tell ya, not much has changed! Here’s the thing I’ve come to observe about disruption – it’s often the spark that ignites change.
My curiosity and unwillingness to accept things for the way they’ve always been fueled my path in the theater business. In those moments of detention, when I was labeled as disruptive, I actually was questioning the status quo, challenging norms and pushing boundaries.
Could I have found a more productive way to express these things in classroom settings? Without question.
My incredibly patient and thoughtful parents toiled endlessly with how to encourage my curiosity and flare for the dramatic (aka, inability to shut my trap), while making it abundantly clear that respecting my teachers and fellow classmates was non-negotiable. At the age of 7, I discovered the theater. The stage became my sanctuary. A place where my voice could be heard, where my questions were welcomed, and where my disruptive nature was not only accepted but celebrated.
Theater, with its power to provoke thought, inspire change and illuminate the human experience, became my calling. I found a home in the world of storytelling, where creativity thrives, where differences are embraced, and where transformation begins.
Transformation is the very thing we’re focused on at Delaware Theatre Company as we head into our 45th season. Last month, we completed a significant renovation to our theater space. After 45 years, for the first time since the building opened in 1985, we have 389 brand-new seats, new paint and new carpet, from floor to ceiling, in the entire building.
This refresh signifies something larger than a cosmetic beautification. It aligns with and inspires our goals for the next 45 years. A global pandemic and the obsession with streaming services has made it more pivotal than ever to shift not just what we put on stage but also who we do it with and the business model behind it.
At the core of this transformation is partnering with local organizations. It is paramount to the relevance, success and sustainability of theater in our community. By forging meaningful collaborations with community groups, non-profits, schools and grassroots initiatives, we can amplify our impact, expand our reach and truly serve the needs of the people we aim to inspire and empower.
We are doing that as we are now creating and dreaming with organizations like New Light Theatre, Opera Delaware, Delaware Shakespeare, the Music School of Delaware, The Delaware Art Museum, Elevate Vocal Arts, The Wilmington Children’s Chorus, 1440 Film Company, BPG, CSC, Bank of America, United Way of Delaware, Stubbs Early Elementary, The Bancfroft School, St. Edmond’s, East Side Charter, Shortlidge Academy, Junior Achievement of Delaware, and this is just the beginning of the list.
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The time is now for this transformation — a movement that reimagines the role of DTC as a dynamic, inclusive and accessible space that welcomes all voices, perspectives and experiences.
It is our mission in this 45th season and beyond to encourage artists, audiences, donors and all stakeholders to join us in this transformational journey, to embrace the power of collaboration, and to work together to continue to build an arts ecosystem in Wilmington that truly reflects the richness and diversity of our communities.
We need all hands on deck. It’s going to take being disruptive in all of the right ways!
The Delaware Theatre Company season: “Kinky Boots” Sept. 25 to Oct. 13; “Every Brilliant Thing” Oct. 23 to Nov. 10; “Home for the Holidays” Dec. 4 to Dec. 22; “Tuesdays with Morrie” Feb. 19 to March 9; “Stompin’ at the Savoy” April 16 to May 4.
For more information, visit delawaretheatre.org/
Matt Silva is the executive & artistic director of Delaware Theatre Company.
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Publish date : 2024-09-07 21:52:00
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