I want to talk about a box and how a box has led me on a journey recently to new
has led me on a journey recently to new
has led me on a journey recently to new ways to think both about the theater I
ways to think both about the theater I
ways to think both about the theater I make and also how I might want to live
make and also how I might want to live
make and also how I might want to live in the world and I want to talk about
in the world and I want to talk about
in the world and I want to talk about the box as it relates to one of my great
the box as it relates to one of my great
the box as it relates to one of my great heroes he’s a tremendous philosopher and
heroes he’s a tremendous philosopher and
heroes he’s a tremendous philosopher and a sage he’s my spiritual guide these
a sage he’s my spiritual guide these
a sage he’s my spiritual guide these days and an artistic inspiration and I’m
days and an artistic inspiration and I’m
days and an artistic inspiration and I’m completely in love with this guy and
completely in love with this guy and
completely in love with this guy and crazy as it sounds but I mean it really
crazy as it sounds but I mean it really
crazy as it sounds but I mean it really truly it is none other than SpongeBob
truly it is none other than SpongeBob
truly it is none other than SpongeBob SquarePants
SquarePants
SquarePants the little yellow guy who was in a
the little yellow guy who was in a
the little yellow guy who was in a pineapple under the sea that unlucky to
pineapple under the sea that unlucky to
pineapple under the sea that unlucky to be making a musical about when I first
be making a musical about when I first
be making a musical about when I first started on this project which was
started on this project which was
started on this project which was actually about eight years ago I sat
actually about eight years ago I sat
actually about eight years ago I sat down at the beginning and I tried to
down at the beginning and I tried to
down at the beginning and I tried to watch as many of these eleven men
watch as many of these eleven men
watch as many of these eleven men episodes as I could and one that quickly
episodes as I could and one that quickly
episodes as I could and one that quickly emerged as yeah well you know I found
emerged as yeah well you know I found
emerged as yeah well you know I found that I could only watch like two at a
that I could only watch like two at a
that I could only watch like two at a time because of the speed at which they
time because of the speed at which they
time because of the speed at which they meet and I had one that quickly emerged
meet and I had one that quickly emerged
meet and I had one that quickly emerged as my favorite which was an episode
as my favorite which was an episode
as my favorite which was an episode called idiot box and this episode was of
called idiot box and this episode was of
called idiot box and this episode was of course as the title suggests about
course as the title suggests about
course as the title suggests about something seemingly very simple and
something seemingly very simple and
something seemingly very simple and insignificant which is a cardboard box
insignificant which is a cardboard box
insignificant which is a cardboard box but in this episode what happens is
but in this episode what happens is
but in this episode what happens is spongebob and his best friend Patrick
spongebob and his best friend Patrick
spongebob and his best friend Patrick receive a box which is there to deliver
receive a box which is there to deliver
receive a box which is there to deliver flat-screen television to them and with
flat-screen television to them and with
flat-screen television to them and with a typical kind of SpongeBob Ian twist of
a typical kind of SpongeBob Ian twist of
a typical kind of SpongeBob Ian twist of logic they decide that what they
logic they decide that what they
logic they decide that what they actually want to do is throw out the TV
actually want to do is throw out the TV
actually want to do is throw out the TV and keep the box to play in and one of
and keep the box to play in and one of
and keep the box to play in and one of SpongeBob’s unique forms of genius I
SpongeBob’s unique forms of genius I
SpongeBob’s unique forms of genius I think is his ability to see the box as
think is his ability to see the box as
think is his ability to see the box as if for the first time
if for the first time
if for the first time he’s able to look at it not as for how
he’s able to look at it not as for how
he’s able to look at it not as for how it’s used but for its intrinsic
it’s used but for its intrinsic
it’s used but for its intrinsic qualities so he shows Patrick that they
qualities so he shows Patrick that they
qualities so he shows Patrick that they can get in the box and with might have
can get in the box and with might have
can get in the box and with might have seen that before and with nothing but
seen that before and with nothing but
seen that before and with nothing but their imagination much as we might get
their imagination much as we might get
their imagination much as we might get into a black box theater they’re able to
into a black box theater they’re able to
into a black box theater they’re able to imagine that they’re mountain climbers
imagine that they’re mountain climbers
imagine that they’re mountain climbers or they can launch a space shuttle or
or they can launch a space shuttle or
or they can launch a space shuttle or the box might also be a shape for
the box might also be a shape for
the box might also be a shape for playing a great game of hide-and-seek or
playing a great game of hide-and-seek or
playing a great game of hide-and-seek or the box could become a radio that emits
the box could become a radio that emits
the box could become a radio that emits music or the box could be a plank that a
music or the box could be a plank that a
music or the box could be a plank that a pirate walks on and spongebob knows that
pirate walks on and spongebob knows that
pirate walks on and spongebob knows that the box is not one of these things it’s
the box is not one of these things it’s
the box is not one of these things it’s all of these things all at once and he
all of these things all at once and he
all of these things all at once and he is able through that kind of vision to
is able through that kind of vision to
is able through that kind of vision to outweigh I missed a slide here that’s
outweigh I missed a slide here that’s
outweigh I missed a slide here that’s right that’s all of these things he’s
right that’s all of these things he’s
right that’s all of these things he’s able to put forth a vision of and this
able to put forth a vision of and this
able to put forth a vision of and this is funny not either/or but yes and so
is funny not either/or but yes and so
is funny not either/or but yes and so when I watched this episode it
when I watched this episode it
when I watched this episode it immediately reminded me of a couple of
immediately reminded me of a couple of
immediately reminded me of a couple of things back in the day the first was a
things back in the day the first was a
things back in the day the first was a movie called the gods must be crazy
movie called the gods must be crazy
movie called the gods must be crazy which perhaps you’ve seen it’s in this
which perhaps you’ve seen it’s in this
which perhaps you’ve seen it’s in this story a coke bottle falls out of the sky
story a coke bottle falls out of the sky
story a coke bottle falls out of the sky it’s thrown out of an airplane and it
it’s thrown out of an airplane and it
it’s thrown out of an airplane and it happens to land intact in the hands of a
happens to land intact in the hands of a
happens to land intact in the hands of a tribe of Bushmen who have never seen a
tribe of Bushmen who have never seen a
tribe of Bushmen who have never seen a coke bottle before and just like
coke bottle before and just like
coke bottle before and just like spongebob with these kind of very
spongebob with these kind of very
spongebob with these kind of very childlike eyes full of wonder they feel
childlike eyes full of wonder they feel
childlike eyes full of wonder they feel that the coke bottle is the most
that the coke bottle is the most
that the coke bottle is the most beautiful and mysterious thing they’ve
beautiful and mysterious thing they’ve
beautiful and mysterious thing they’ve ever seen and because it fell out of the
ever seen and because it fell out of the
ever seen and because it fell out of the sky they determined that the gods must
sky they determined that the gods must
sky they determined that the gods must have given it to them as a gift
have given it to them as a gift
have given it to them as a gift they don’t know what its purpose is so
they don’t know what its purpose is so
they don’t know what its purpose is so they go about a series of explorations
they go about a series of explorations
they go about a series of explorations where they eventually figure out that
where they eventually figure out that
where they eventually figure out that they can use the bottle to play games or
they can use the bottle to play games or
they can use the bottle to play games or they can cure snake skin or they can
they can cure snake skin or they can
they can cure snake skin or they can even like in this blow into it to make
even like in this blow into it to make
even like in this blow into it to make music and they conclude that a coke
music and they conclude that a coke
music and they conclude that a coke bottle is actually the most
bottle is actually the most
bottle is actually the most extraordinarily useful thing that the
extraordinarily useful thing that the
extraordinarily useful thing that the gods have ever bestowed on mankind and
also back in the day when I was watching
also back in the day when I was watching this episode it cost me to remember
this episode it cost me to remember
this episode it cost me to remember something from my childhood which I
something from my childhood which I
something from my childhood which I hadn’t thought about in a long time and
hadn’t thought about in a long time and
hadn’t thought about in a long time and it was one day when I was in grade
it was one day when I was in grade
it was one day when I was in grade school my teacher came in and brought
school my teacher came in and brought
school my teacher came in and brought five pennies and said to the classroom
five pennies and said to the classroom
five pennies and said to the classroom look at these pennies as if they’re
look at these pennies as if they’re
look at these pennies as if they’re artifacts from an ancient civilization
artifacts from an ancient civilization
artifacts from an ancient civilization and try to look at them with new eyes
and try to look at them with new eyes
and try to look at them with new eyes and tell me what can you deduce about
and tell me what can you deduce about
and tell me what can you deduce about the civilization from these artifacts
the civilization from these artifacts
the civilization from these artifacts and one kid said well the civilization
and one kid said well the civilization
and one kid said well the civilization had five cents and another kid said I
had five cents and another kid said I
had five cents and another kid said I think the civilization had a president
think the civilization had a president
think the civilization had a president that also was Lincoln and and I remember
that also was Lincoln and and I remember
that also was Lincoln and and I remember precisely the moment and it was really a
precisely the moment and it was really a
precisely the moment and it was really a moment where I felt that I saw these
moment where I felt that I saw these
moment where I felt that I saw these pennies as if for the first time and I I
pennies as if for the first time and I I
pennies as if for the first time and I I was so clear about it that I shouted out
was so clear about it that I shouted out
was so clear about it that I shouted out this is God this is what God looks like
this is God this is what God looks like
this is God this is what God looks like and everyone kind of laughed at me but I
and everyone kind of laughed at me but I
and everyone kind of laughed at me but I knew because I had seen the words In God
knew because I had seen the words In God
knew because I had seen the words In God We Trust right above this being that
We Trust right above this being that
We Trust right above this being that this in fact must be God so that’s yeah
this in fact must be God so that’s yeah
this in fact must be God so that’s yeah that’s something spongebob gets
that’s something spongebob gets
that’s something spongebob gets instinctively which is how to define
instinctively which is how to define
instinctively which is how to define something not only by
something not only by
something not only by how it’s used but by what it is combined
how it’s used but by what it is combined
how it’s used but by what it is combined with and in the episode of idiot box he
with and in the episode of idiot box he
with and in the episode of idiot box he explores this again not only various
explores this again not only various
explores this again not only various uses for the box but what happens if we
uses for the box but what happens if we
uses for the box but what happens if we put the box with something else so the
put the box with something else so the
put the box with something else so the identity of the box shifts when it’s
identity of the box shifts when it’s
identity of the box shifts when it’s combined with the wheel of a ship a
combined with the wheel of a ship a
combined with the wheel of a ship a ship’s wheel or whatever that would be
ship’s wheel or whatever that would be
ship’s wheel or whatever that would be called I don’t know if it has a name or
called I don’t know if it has a name or
called I don’t know if it has a name or perhaps when it’s combined with a second
perhaps when it’s combined with a second
perhaps when it’s combined with a second box that’s together in a boxing ring
box that’s together in a boxing ring
box that’s together in a boxing ring you know because boxes box okay
you know because boxes box okay
you know because boxes box okay imagine this this is this is SpongeBob
imagine this this is this is SpongeBob
imagine this this is this is SpongeBob Ian humor so imagine if you’re in a
Ian humor so imagine if you’re in a
Ian humor so imagine if you’re in a white room and you’re with a box and
white room and you’re with a box and
white room and you’re with a box and then there suddenly appears to you a
then there suddenly appears to you a
then there suddenly appears to you a classic bust that just comes on the box
classic bust that just comes on the box
classic bust that just comes on the box or maybe something like a black set of
or maybe something like a black set of
or maybe something like a black set of wings and you’re suddenly able to see
wings and you’re suddenly able to see
wings and you’re suddenly able to see the box not just in greater definition
the box not just in greater definition
the box not just in greater definition because those two things juxtaposed each
because those two things juxtaposed each
because those two things juxtaposed each other and each defines the other more
other and each defines the other more
other and each defines the other more greatly but what you’re also able to see
greatly but what you’re also able to see
greatly but what you’re also able to see is something brand-new which is one
is something brand-new which is one
is something brand-new which is one newly created thing made from two
newly created thing made from two
newly created thing made from two disparate objects in this case a flying
disparate objects in this case a flying
disparate objects in this case a flying box
box
box um okay where the heck am I who knows oh
um okay where the heck am I who knows oh
um okay where the heck am I who knows oh yeah
yeah
yeah so when I went to Los Angeles I met with
so when I went to Los Angeles I met with
so when I went to Los Angeles I met with the creators of Spongebob who were
the creators of Spongebob who were
the creators of Spongebob who were incredibly helpful and one of them said
incredibly helpful and one of them said
incredibly helpful and one of them said to me we worship at the altar of Dada
to me we worship at the altar of Dada
to me we worship at the altar of Dada and another said everything in is is an
and another said everything in is is an
and another said everything in is is an homage to The Surreal which made great
homage to The Surreal which made great
homage to The Surreal which made great sense to me because in surrealism you’re
sense to me because in surrealism you’re
sense to me because in surrealism you’re looking at a lot of familiar objects
looking at a lot of familiar objects
looking at a lot of familiar objects that are being put together in
that are being put together in
that are being put together in unfamiliar ways and it made sense to me
unfamiliar ways and it made sense to me
unfamiliar ways and it made sense to me that this would be the world
that this would be the world
that this would be the world in with in which spongebob lives you
in with in which spongebob lives you
in with in which spongebob lives you know he’s a sponge who lives in a
know he’s a sponge who lives in a
know he’s a sponge who lives in a pineapple who has a pet snail named Gary
pineapple who has a pet snail named Gary
pineapple who has a pet snail named Gary who meows
who meows
who meows um just as you know the basic exam all
um just as you know the basic exam all
um just as you know the basic exam all of these of how these things go together
of these of how these things go together
of these of how these things go together so here I am one day at the oriental
so here I am one day at the oriental
so here I am one day at the oriental theater in Chicago where we’re going to
theater in Chicago where we’re going to
theater in Chicago where we’re going to do the first production of spongebob and
do the first production of spongebob and
do the first production of spongebob and I started thinking well if a box is not
I started thinking well if a box is not
I started thinking well if a box is not only a box how is a theater not only a
only a box how is a theater not only a
only a box how is a theater not only a theater and if spongebob could take a
theater and if spongebob could take a
theater and if spongebob could take a box and throw out the TV and put
box and throw out the TV and put
box and throw out the TV and put something else in it how could I take
something else in it how could I take
something else in it how could I take the theater and throw out the musical
the theater and throw out the musical
the theater and throw out the musical and put something else in it or many
and put something else in it or many
and put something else in it or many things in it which is why I started
things in it which is why I started
things in it which is why I started conceiving of the musical not as a
conceiving of the musical not as a
conceiving of the musical not as a musical but as a rock concert or and a
musical but as a rock concert or and a
musical but as a rock concert or and a party and a runway show yeah and an
party and a runway show yeah and an
party and a runway show yeah and an aquarium and a carnival and not just as
aquarium and a carnival and not just as
aquarium and a carnival and not just as one of these things in the space but all
one of these things in the space but all
one of these things in the space but all of them all together and all at once my
of them all together and all at once my
of them all together and all at once my favorite play I’ve ever directed is a
favorite play I’ve ever directed is a
favorite play I’ve ever directed is a play by William Saroyan called in the
play by William Saroyan called in the
play by William Saroyan called in the time of you’re called the time of your
time of you’re called the time of your
time of you’re called the time of your life and in it he describes his work as
life and in it he describes his work as
life and in it he describes his work as a play a dream a poem a travesty a fable
a play a dream a poem a travesty a fable
a play a dream a poem a travesty a fable a symphony a parable a comedy a tragedy
a symphony a parable a comedy a tragedy
a symphony a parable a comedy a tragedy a farce a vaudeville I’m not going to
a farce a vaudeville I’m not going to
a farce a vaudeville I’m not going to read the whole thing because my
read the whole thing because my
read the whole thing because my countdown clock is going so you get the
countdown clock is going so you get the
countdown clock is going so you get the idea anything you like whatever you
idea anything you like whatever you
idea anything you like whatever you please and I believe any play any work
please and I believe any play any work
please and I believe any play any work of art should be several things all
of art should be several things all
of art should be several things all inseparable all making a hole so this
inseparable all making a hole so this
inseparable all making a hole so this celebration of multiplicity is what’s at
celebration of multiplicity is what’s at
celebration of multiplicity is what’s at the core of Spongebob and it applies not
the core of Spongebob and it applies not
the core of Spongebob and it applies not only to props and architecture but also
only to props and architecture but also
only to props and architecture but also to characters that are each kind of a
to characters that are each kind of a
to characters that are each kind of a unique collage concoction who somehow
unique collage concoction who somehow
unique collage concoction who somehow managed to form a unified
managed to form a unified
managed to form a unified whole that is an extreme case of bio
whole that is an extreme case of bio
whole that is an extreme case of bio diversity and it’s also why I chose when
diversity and it’s also why I chose when
diversity and it’s also why I chose when working on the show to not in list one
working on the show to not in list one
working on the show to not in list one composer to write the score but many
composer to write the score but many
composer to write the score but many thinking that each flavor that one
thinking that each flavor that one
thinking that each flavor that one contributed would be enhanced and
contributed would be enhanced and
contributed would be enhanced and strengthened by being next to another
strengthened by being next to another
strengthened by being next to another and yet somehow the whole score would be
and yet somehow the whole score would be
and yet somehow the whole score would be more varied and surprising and true to
more varied and surprising and true to
more varied and surprising and true to SpongeBob sensibility than any one of
SpongeBob sensibility than any one of
SpongeBob sensibility than any one of them could have achieved on their own so
them could have achieved on their own so
them could have achieved on their own so why does this matter why does any of
why does this matter why does any of
why does this matter why does any of this matter other than one show and you
this matter other than one show and you
this matter other than one show and you know one thought about the theater it
know one thought about the theater it
know one thought about the theater it matters to me because I believe that
matters to me because I believe that
matters to me because I believe that when I make something on stage I have
when I make something on stage I have
when I make something on stage I have the honor and the privilege and the
the honor and the privilege and the
the honor and the privilege and the opportunity of creating the world anew
opportunity of creating the world anew
opportunity of creating the world anew of imagining a universe that’s created
of imagining a universe that’s created
of imagining a universe that’s created from scratch and that thing can is this
from scratch and that thing can is this
from scratch and that thing can is this going oh there we go
going oh there we go
going oh there we go and that thing can look like anything we
and that thing can look like anything we
and that thing can look like anything we choose it can be a reflection of the
choose it can be a reflection of the
choose it can be a reflection of the world or criticism of it or a mash-up of
world or criticism of it or a mash-up of
world or criticism of it or a mash-up of it and I believe that well-made plays
it and I believe that well-made plays
it and I believe that well-made plays and formulaic musicals give us comfort
and formulaic musicals give us comfort
and formulaic musicals give us comfort because they resolve and they tell
because they resolve and they tell
because they resolve and they tell stories that make sense and they look
stories that make sense and they look
stories that make sense and they look like reality as we understand it but I
like reality as we understand it but I
like reality as we understand it but I believe that they don’t express what I
believe that they don’t express what I
believe that they don’t express what I would describe as kind of the full
would describe as kind of the full
would describe as kind of the full chaotic kaleidoscopic contradictory
chaotic kaleidoscopic contradictory
chaotic kaleidoscopic contradictory mashup mess that is life and that if I’m
mashup mess that is life and that if I’m
mashup mess that is life and that if I’m able to tell stories and create worlds
able to tell stories and create worlds
able to tell stories and create worlds that express that full chaotic
that express that full chaotic
that express that full chaotic contradictory kaleidoscopic mashup that
contradictory kaleidoscopic mashup that
contradictory kaleidoscopic mashup that is life it’s an opportunity of proposing
is life it’s an opportunity of proposing
is life it’s an opportunity of proposing the world
the world
the world I knew a way of being in the world and
I knew a way of being in the world and
I knew a way of being in the world and of encouraging our audiences helping
of encouraging our audiences helping
of encouraging our audiences helping them and dare I say even training them
them and dare I say even training them
them and dare I say even training them to see to recognize and cherish the
to see to recognize and cherish the
to see to recognize and cherish the immense variety and diversity that
immense variety and diversity that
immense variety and diversity that exists in our world I’m almost done so
exists in our world I’m almost done so
exists in our world I’m almost done so alright so so here’s the thing
alright so so here’s the thing
alright so so here’s the thing Sponge Bob knows like the the poet
Sponge Bob knows like the the poet
Sponge Bob knows like the the poet Wallace Stevens in one of my favorite
Wallace Stevens in one of my favorite
Wallace Stevens in one of my favorite poems knows thirteen ways to look at a
poems knows thirteen ways to look at a
poems knows thirteen ways to look at a black bird that nothing is one thing and
black bird that nothing is one thing and
black bird that nothing is one thing and in you know applying labels to our
in you know applying labels to our
in you know applying labels to our selves we shrink our imaginations we
selves we shrink our imaginations we
selves we shrink our imaginations we limit our ability to love and as
limit our ability to love and as
limit our ability to love and as intersectionality that’s world that’s
intersectionality that’s world that’s
intersectionality that’s world that’s being bandied about these days in
being bandied about these days in
being bandied about these days in politics reminds me I’m not you know a
politics reminds me I’m not you know a
politics reminds me I’m not you know a woman or a Jewish person or a lesbian or
woman or a Jewish person or a lesbian or
woman or a Jewish person or a lesbian or a theatre director I’m all of these
a theatre director I’m all of these
a theatre director I’m all of these things and more as are you and as is the
things and more as are you and as is the
things and more as are you and as is the person sitting next to you and as is
person sitting next to you and as is
person sitting next to you and as is this theater so spongebob with the
this theater so spongebob with the
this theater so spongebob with the cardboard box reminded me of these three
cardboard box reminded me of these three
cardboard box reminded me of these three things to wrap up the first oh no I
things to wrap up the first oh no I
things to wrap up the first oh no I skipped this beautiful slide I made
skipped this beautiful slide I made
skipped this beautiful slide I made that’s the world with everything in it
that’s the world with everything in it
that’s the world with everything in it but that’s at the end he he reminded me
but that’s at the end he he reminded me
but that’s at the end he he reminded me to let go of the either/or to embrace
to let go of the either/or to embrace
to let go of the either/or to embrace the yes and he reminded me to see beyond
the yes and he reminded me to see beyond
the yes and he reminded me to see beyond the mano of monotheism and monotony and
the mano of monotheism and monotony and
the mano of monotheism and monotony and monarchy and go further into the multi
monarchy and go further into the multi
monarchy and go further into the multi of multifaceted multitudinous and above
of multifaceted multitudinous and above
of multifaceted multitudinous and above all reminded me that it is diversity
all reminded me that it is diversity
all reminded me that it is diversity above all else that gives the world our
above all else that gives the world our
above all else that gives the world our dimension
dimension
dimension it’s a worldview with a wide lens it’s a
it’s a worldview with a wide lens it’s a
it’s a worldview with a wide lens it’s a democratic view
democratic view
democratic view it tells stories about communities over
it tells stories about communities over
it tells stories about communities over individuals it embraces all viewpoints
individuals it embraces all viewpoints
individuals it embraces all viewpoints instead of there being one right way and
instead of there being one right way and
instead of there being one right way and it asks us to be in and experience the
it asks us to be in and experience the
it asks us to be in and experience the world as something in which you can play
world as something in which you can play
world as something in which you can play with and cherish and celebrate
with and cherish and celebrate
with and cherish and celebrate everything and everyone and that’s one
everything and everyone and that’s one
everything and everyone and that’s one of the things my hero has given me so
of the things my hero has given me so
of the things my hero has given me so far and I am honored and grateful to
far and I am honored and grateful to
far and I am honored and grateful to share his ideas his view through me with
share his ideas his view through me with
share his ideas his view through me with you thank you
you thank you
you thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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