My Real Memoir
It was my last term of graduate school. I’d become engrossed in researching my final thesis paper, “Moral Disintegration in the Roman Theatre.” During its last 100+ years, I discovered, the empire had abandoned the Greek model of using drama to speak truth into people’s lives.
And as a result, Roman theatre devolved into grotesque spectacle. They no longer performed whole plays, only the most sensationalistic scenes from those plays. Ones in which actors—for the sake of “artistic realism”—literally raped, tortured and murdered people (condemned prisoners and slaves).
Could this kind of degeneration happen in our own culture? Yes, it could. As a creator, I felt compelled to live out Paul’s admonishment: to “live life with a due sense of responsibility…not as one who does not know the meaning of life, but as one who does.” Like the Greeks, I wanted my work to speak truth into people’s lives.
Suddenly, a congratulatory letter arrived, reminding me that my tuition and cost-of-living funds were ending. I needed a job! True, I was director of the Newport Beach Arts Festival, for which I was lavishly compensated in well-tanned smiles. And I was the founder of a bohemian arts academy, but it was running on vapor. I needed an actual income.
Then I read about a unique new community college. With no campus, its classes were taught in donated spaces. They had no theatre, and therefore no theatre program. So I barged into their Provost’s office, and told him, “I can work with that. We’ll enroll actors as students and put on a play at the Newport Beach Arts Festival!” Liking my audacity, he said, “You’re hired.”
Ironically, becoming Coastline Community College’s first drama teacher caused me to postpone finishing my master’s degree—the very thing that qualified me for the job. But no one noticed.
I submitted my plan to dramatically expand the Arts Festival. $15,000, I explained, would cover construction costs and rental equipment (all staff, including me, were volunteers). With thousands of paintings, sculptures, and five performing arts stages, it would be one of the biggest arts events on the west coast. The city enthusiastically approved it.
But then an exposé appeared in the local paper. The Festival’s budget, it said (in a city with one of the wealthiest populations in America) was outrageous! Because the event had previously been done with zero funds, it hinted, someone (guess who) was on the take!
The City Arts Commission had my back. Still, they were relieved when a group of rich businessmen said they’d pay for the event. All they asked was that I come and present my pitch to them.
I figured I should to dress “arty.” So I arrived at their penthouse office suite wearing an open-necked silk shirt and abstract necklace made by my ex-girlfriend. Each of them, I noted, sported an identical blue business suit. Except for one guy in a brown suit, whom they teased for being “eccentric.” I presented my pitch to steely stares, and left to chilly thank yous.
The next day, I learned that, offended by my “grossly inappropriate” clothing, they’d rescinded their offer! Fortunately, several Arts Commissioners wrote checks to cover the loss. I simply had no idea, I told them, there were people like that in the world, much less in laid-back Newport Beach! I still had a lot to learn about human nature…
Including my own.
My Real Memoir is a series. To read the next one, click here.
i’m glad it worked out Mitch. i can’t tell you how many times i thought i was running the right approach only for it to stall out at crucial turning points. Mike
I know what you mean, Mike.
This is such good stuff!!! 🙂
Thank you, Robin!
When I hear stories like this I’m reminded that “people are people.” There are good ones and not so good ones. I’m glad it worked out in the end for you. Love how you had big dreams and worked to make them happen.
Thanks, Brian.
In the end, though, it worked out. Something kept trying to hold it off or prevent it from taking place, but it all worked out in the end.
🧡
What a delightful post that is also about ‘perception.’ What we think we understand about people VS what/who they actually are & our attempts to please & ‘fit in.’ In my head I can hear my mom saying, “Just be yourself.” That’s sometimes difficult when we’re trying to figure out just who the ‘yourself’ actually is. As we become older, we are more comfortable with who we are, which makes life less awkward for us … most of the time.
I especially enjoyed reading about how life worked itself out for you.
Your question: “Could this kind of degeneration happen in our own culture?” was especially interesting to me because of the confusing time we’re currently embroiled in here in the US. I CAN see that this could happen here & my heart aches. May we have someone or a number of someones who live what Paul admonished.
Amen, Linda.
Presentation is everything. Unfortunately we don’t all think the same way.
Very true, Pete.
Sometimes it just comes down to plain ‘ol persistence, Mitch. 🙂
True then, and true now.
Yep.
Nice post. I’m glad it worked out, Mitch. 🙂
Thanks, T.
My pleasure.
Very ambitious with big dreams! 👏🏼
Great story
Thanks, L.G.
Wow. Amazing.
Always learning fun new things about you, Mitch! 🥰
🧡
You are quite a resourceful and goal-seeking guy. A better description of “back-in-the-day” Mitch would be that you were an artsy and inappropriately dressed eager beaver. 🙂
;>)
Fascinating, Mitch. If you have a copy of your thesis, I would love to read it. Sounds like a fruitful topic of study.
Unfortunately, no, I don’t have it anymore, Rob.
Sometimes we show up with our heart shining and all our enthusiasm, and people don’t know how to dress for that. You were trying on an image of passionate purpose, and that’s beautiful. I like to think that if my heart got dressed for the day, vibrancy and flowers would be involved.
You did good—you rode all those twists and turns, and landed with the right funders while learning who was less aligned. It’s lovely how the two worlds collided, and in the end, it was the arts itself that upheld the arts. That feels like community, and it’s a gift to gain the support of those who truly align with us.
Thank you, Raven.
Human nature always surprises me! What play did y’all produce? Happy evening!
Godspell. I’ll be talking about it in an upcoming post.
Do you mean Coastline Community College? I got my AA Degree from there.
Yes! They were brand new at the time. I read that they now have several mini-campuses.
A great account and another life lesson that all of us experience and make us better people in the future and one that I’m sure made God smile!
I’d like to think so, Don.
It’s wonderful to see how your audacity and commitment to the arts persevered through various challenges. This story provides insightful reflections on human nature and the unexpected paths to achieving a meaningful vision, resonating with the idea that genuine purpose often finds its way.
Thank you, Livora.
How exciting and satisfying it must have been to execute the first arts festival for Newport Beach. Kudos to you–a few decades after the fact!
Thank you, Nancy. But, just to clarify, it wasn’t their first arts festival. That had been going on for a long time. But before I took over it was a small half-day event on the city hall’s front lawn. I moved it a big outdoor mall and made it into a large-scale event.
Thanks for the clarification, Mitch!
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A very concise piece and very readable. I love your comments on dressing appropriately! And quite apt as we return to this suited White House.
How do you know when to dress up or down? 😆. This is the arts. One is supposed to be creative isn’t it.
Apparently, not when one is pitching to uber-conservative businessmen.
They’re just stuck up 😅.
This is an intriguing read especially for those outside the theatre world.
Can see the passion, struggles and inevitable compromises along the way 🙂
I’m glad it engaged you, Stephen.
🙂
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