Dear White Allies, "Take the Note"

• Barrie Kealoha

Every actor has been there—sitting down for a notes session after a run, knowing—just knowing—you’re gonna get called out for that late entrance or that flubbed line, bracing for that stomach-drop feeling when that “company note” is totally subtweeting you. It’s gonna be uncomfortable, it’s gonna hurt your pride a little, but you say “thank you”, you write it down in your notebook, and you apply it the next day.

Because we all know there’s nothing worse than having to work with an actor who just. Won’t. Take. The. Note.

So you do it. Every actor, every stage manager, and every creative sits down and listens to the director dissect the run, point out what worked, what didn’t work, what’s an easy fix for tomorrow’s run, who needs to be called in earlier tomorrow to totally re-choreograph that section that just isn’t reading right; how, in general, to move forward so that the show that opens four days from now is a show that is a beautiful, captivating, Tony-bait work of art. By signing on to the show, you have decided to imbue the director with the power to shape the show into something that reflects the brilliance of the entire company.

Well, white allies, your BIPOC(Black, Indigenous, People of Color) pals are the director, and they have some notes for you.

Take your pride out of the equation. You’re going to hear some negative feedback about your language and your behavior, and it’s gonna suck. You’ll feel defensive, like your good intentions are being misunderstood, like you just “can’t say/do anything right”.  

Lean into that shame.  

Lean into that discomfort.  

Let it bubble through you. Don’t disregard it, and know that that icky feeling in your gut is what happens when you’ve made a mistake. But you’re not fired. You’re still a part of the cast, collaborating, learning how to make the music soar, how to bring the writer’s words to life, how your particular character contributes to the overall story. The director has told you how to correct your mistake, so tomorrow you’re going to do better. You’re going to be better.  

The show is called “Justice”, you are the actors, and this show is so good it’s gonna be a gamechanger. Let BIPOC lead. And take the note.