THE COLLABORATIVE ARTS ARE A TEAM SPORT - BY BENJAMIN GREGG

My pathway and passion for the performing arts may have come from an unlikely starting point.

I grew up in a very sports-oriented family – albeit somewhat reluctantly. As a youngster, my dad coached grade school and high school football in Northeast Ohio for many years, but he never pressured me to engage with sports growing up. I dabbled into athletics as a kid, first with baseball and later, finally deciding to give football a try during my 8th grade year. Leading up to that point, I think I was more inclined to spend my time playing video games and reading comic books with my fellow nerds than the prospect of getting my butt kicked on the field by students who were a lot bigger and stronger than me.

However, I think for many people who decide to play football – there’s just something about the game that makes a fundamental imprint on your identity that you carry with you long after your ability (or lack thereof in my case) ends your “playing career.” To be honest, I pretty much sucked at football – I was quick, but not fast enough and standing at 5’6” and barely weighing 140 lbs., I’m frankly lucky I didn’t get seriously hurt – but I have absolutely no regrets about playing. Being a part of a team provides many, many life lessons that I would argue are needed more than ever in our culture right now. 

Football really taught me that life really isn’t “about you.” Success in sports rarely happens because of one person, it’s usually because it involves a bunch of people working in concert with one another towards a goal beyond individual accolades. It also teaches you commitment and work ethic. Because if you’re going to get anywhere as a team, it’s largely because of the many, MANY hours behind the scenes that people don’t see.

I was fortunate enough to be one of many students to attend St. Ignatius High School during their absolute peak of success in football for the last 40 plus years under the guidance of legendary head coach Chuck Kyle, who is now featured in a major documentary that just debuted on Amazon Prime called “The Object of the Game”, directed by Ignatius’ alum and former player Matt Waldeck. It was during this formative time in my life that essentially made me addicted to working in team environments and ultimately, what led me to the performing arts and social justice-based work.

Though perhaps many wouldn’t equate the two, theatre and football actually have a lot in common, especially at Seat of the Pants where we place such a huge emphasis on being process-oriented, rather than solely product-oriented. Becoming an ensemble member has made me appreciate more than ever understanding the intricacies of what it takes to put on a great show. Over the years, as an organization, we’ve been so fortunate to have great leadership as well as cultivate ensemble and audience members who are game to look at the work of creating theatre in unconventional and creative ways.

While many people who attend Seat of the Pants shows have gotten to know the many members that encompass our ensemble over the years, I don’t think the typical audience member may understand the time, skill, and dedication people like Kate Beckley (Ensemble Member and SM for Elephant’s Graveyard) put into making your theatrical experience memorable. I think this is why I’ve really enjoyed being in a more behind-the-scenes capacity in the ensemble because it’s made me appreciate everything that needs to take place in order to truly make a show come to fruition.