Kevin Hauge

Who doesn’t have a wacky story to share from their time spent in the theater. Some are inspirational. Some are educational. And some mostly prove that Velcro, adrenaline, and live entertainment should probably come with a warning label. More than 40 years ago, I worked on a creative team that produced shows for theme parks across the country. It was the Golden Age of theme parks, when every detail—from trash cans to storefronts—was designed with artistry, and live entertainment often mattered...

I have learned that making theater with a team is so much easier when people communicate openly, quickly, and honestly. From production meetings to rehearsals to performances, everyone works better when they know what they are dealing with as early as possible. If someone tells me “there is no fly space”, or “the cast might be over 100 people”, or “we have to take $1,000.00 out of the set budget”, I can plan for that. The problem is finding out too late to do anything useful about it. Theater...

Communication is the key. Whether we are creating, inspiring, or explaining, it sits at the heart of the collective construction we do in the studio. I have had victories and disasters while trying to create shared experiences with clear, unified direction. If I’m rehearsing with more than a handful of people, I try to sit everyone down for a quick, open chat about “What’s new and interesting?” Kids with stories raise their hands and tell us about passing their driving tests, getting summer...