SCT RECOMMENDS: FUN STUFF FOR YOUR FAMILY

We're sharing what members from the SCT community are enjoying, watching, reading, or listening to during this time! First up is Brodrick Ryans, SCT's Education Coordinator and a 2020 Emerging Leader with Theatre for Young Audiences USA (TYA/USA). He's also a bunch of other cool things, which you can learn about below, along with his recommendations on how to keep creativity alive in your home.

​Hi, tell us about yourself.

I am the Education Coordinator at SCT and a 2020 Emerging Leader with Theatre for Young Audiences USA (TYA/USA). I am also a freelance artist, educator, and podcaster. I am originally from Alabama, and yes I am a huge Alabama football fan… ROLL TIDE!

My career in theatre started because of my older brother. We are a very sports-oriented family and we both played basketball. Going into 9th grade I think he noticed that I was feeling out of place and encouraged me to take a theatre class with him and his friends. For me, that was the true start, which is why I’m a huge advocate of theatre education in schools. ​

What has inspired you lately that you'd like to recommend to SCT families?

Well, I would love to say check out my podcast TIMEOUT w/ Brodrick *wink, wink*… but I would seriously recommend the book and play A Kids Play About Racism and A Kids Book About Racism. Both are great resources for the entire family on how to explain what is going on during the current social climate in America, and SCT develop the curriculum Active Audience Guide. 

For parents, I would recommend the podcast Nice White Parents, which provides great insight to the American school system and the disconnect between ideals and reality.

How have you been staying creative during this time? ​​

​​​I have been pretty busy during this time working on two major projects that have been really important for me personally and professionally - A Kids Play About Racism and Voices of Change: A Virtual Play Reading Event. 

​Voices of Change was a partnership with Kaiser Permanente and TYA/USA to provide virtual readings of three Idris Goodwin plays. There were over 300 participants and a panel discussion about the importance of each work. This was the first time that I worked as a producer while providing educational input. I created the post-show exercise for students and collaborated with Thriving Schools national partners—including a colleague from Portland, OR—to make Voices of Change a success. I could talk about this project all day!

What do you miss most about live theatre?

The audience interactions and audible responses! There’s something so rewarding about watching and hearing an audience enjoy and respond to a great piece of theatrical work. Maybe we should write a show called The Year Theatre Took A Break? It would be a comedic tragedy.