I thought about the above phrase these last couple of days while I was rehearsing with actors, musicians and singers for my next play black/white.  At one point during the rehearsals this week, I stopped a scene several times and I apologized immediately.  But then just as quick, I took that apology back and told the group that I will never be sorry for trying to make something better.  These are all volunteers I’m working with and I’m constantly pushing them to be better, strive for bigger emotion, make the moment on stage count and come alive. 

I never feel good enough when I finish a piece of writing whether it’s a play or screenplay.   Pablo Casals said it right.    Progress is slow, but in order to get better, you must keep going back to the thing that drives you.  I’m not just talking to artists right now, but anyone who has a burning passion inside of them; whether you are a parent or a teacher, do it with excellence and keep striving to reach for the stars.  The minute you think you’re good enough, stagnation sets in.  It is very easy to become comfortable at a certain level.  The hard thing for many of us is to stop, look in the mirror and ask ourselves:   Am I doing my very best?  Can I be better?  If the problem is you don’t have a burning passion, well, that’s another topic and a different blog altogether.

black/white plays for one performance on Sunday April 13 @ 11 am at the Stone Church.  Check out the cast and the details of the play here.  We still have a couple more rehearsals to make black/white even better than it was yesterday.  And until the curtain rises, we will keep moving forward.