Elizabeth Dallas Vela

1.  Have you ever had a transcendent experience?  If so, what happened? 


I've had several. Some have been conversations with God when I'd actually hear his voice in my head. Once I was driving on the freeway and I heard a voice that spoke clearly, saying "Turn around and look behind you." Saved me from an accident.




2.  If you had to pick one sense and lose all others, what would it be?


Vision. But I would really miss my sense of touch (hugs)and hearing (I love you's, Christmas carols, my children singing, compliments, babie's sounds...)




3.  What is your favorite attribute in a person?


Fairness. I can't tell you how many times in my life I've been completely obsessed about something that was unfair, and tried without success to get the person to right his wrong. 




4.  Describe your happiest accident.


My son. 




5.  If you had to choose one personal object to leave behind when you are gone, what would it be? 


My silverware. It represents something I thought I'd be when I grew up (elegant). The time for elegance is long past.  It would be a beautiful reminder of shared holidays for my kids. 

Shelly Watson-Hild

1.  Have you ever had a transcendent experience?  If so, what happened?

I don’t even know what that is! If it’s an “outer body” or “religious epiphany” type thing, it hasn’t happened as of yet but I’m certainly open to it!

2.  If you had to pick one sense and lose all others, what would it be?

Sound. I need to hear and be heard!

3.  What is your favorite attribute in a person?

Hands down integrity.

4.  Describe your happiest accident.

I had a dream I was pregnant, took 3 tests they came out negative, but I was still convinced I’d be a mother some how. The next day I got a call from the NE Boston Terrier Rescue saying they had a baby girl for me to adopt. It was not planned but I knew it was meant to be! 

5.  If you had to choose one personal object to leave behind when you are gone, what would it be?

My wedding ring. I won’t need it after I’m gone because my husband lives in my soul forever. It would be a reminder to those who are convinced there is no one out there for them. There is. Be open to love just don’t expect it.

Luke Leonard

1.  Have you ever had a transcendent experience?  

Today.  


If so, what happened?  


I adopted an alter ego.

2.  If you had to pick one sense and lose all others, what would it be?

The Sixth Sense.

3.  What is your favorite attribute in a person?  

Discipline.

4.  Describe your happiest accident.  

Having a splinter go under my thumbnail all the way up to my knuckle while "bear crawling" over a telephone pole during a football drill.  My thumb got infected and the knuckle swelled with puss.  For months I would sterilize a needle by burning the tip with a match, then poke a hole in my skin to push all of the puss out.  Eventually, tiny splinters began to surface.  It was quite fascinating and entertaining.

Honestly, I don't know.  I love happy accidents and look for them when making theatre.  (The answers to these questions will surely change.)  I experience and keep an eye out for happy accidents all of the time.

Maybe my happiest accident to date was attending the MFA Directing program at the University of Texas at Austin.  I applied on a whim thinking for sure they wouldn't accept me since they only take one or two directors per year, so I feel it was sort of accidental.  It turned out to be an experience that surpassed my expectations and fulfilled some wild dreams.

5.  If you had to choose one personal object to leave behind when you are gone, what would it be?  

Option 1) An archive of my work.  Option 2) My boots.  My daughter keeps saying that she wants a pair.  Option 3) A necklace my mother gave to me that reads, "Be the change you want to see in the world."  Option 4) A seed to plant from the more than 400 year old majestic oak tree that my great-grandfather used to climb when he was a boy.

Jacob Rogers

1.  Have you ever had a transcendent experience?  If so, what happened?


A recent transcendent experience? Well, my grandmother Leota just survived an unexpected and 10 day tie-up in her bowels. Being that she is 93, we (the family) were told many things... including not to expect much. She's not at home & still recovering; I'm very happy she's still with us.




2.  If you had to pick one sense and lose all others, what would it be?


The sense of sight. It provides a lot of info the way current events, and something about those we're sharing them with...




3.  What is your favorite attribute in a person?


Fearlessness is a good attribute. Explains for some the tendency to take risks & make sacrifices (or so I'm told).




4.  Describe your happiest accident.


Well, there was a "happy accident" for me in high school. Driving an old car I had to a friend's house one night, then backing into another person's car while trying to park with a fogged rear windshield. The driver of the car was upset at first; but we settled the damage and have been good friends ever since.




5.  If you had to choose one personal object to leave behind when you are gone, what would it be?


Perhaps such a personal object would be a letter or a postcard to a certain someone. Not sure which communication or important person just now, but exchanges like that have always intrigued me.

Karie Hunt

1. Have you ever had a transcendent experience? If so, what happened?

I don't know that I have. I look forward to one in the future!


2. If you had to pick one sense and lose all others, what would it be?

Sight. As much as I like to communicate with my voice, I take in so much information with my eyes. I would have a hard time going from being able to see all the amazing things in this world, to not being able to see anything. Communication, of course, would be a lot harder, but I feel confident that I could learn new ways to communicate. Losing my sight, I wouldn't even know where to begin getting past that.


3. What is your favorite attribute in a person?

Warmth. Warmth relaxes me and makes me feel like everything is going to be ok. I find real warmth in a person is something that is hard for people to fake. Anyone can be funny and charming, but not everyone can make you feel at home just being around them.


4. Describe your happiest accident.

I would have to say running into my now fiance, Louis, at a mutual friends party. There are so many small decisions that led to that night and moment, and my life is forever changed. It's more complete now.


5. If you had to choose one personal object to leave behind when you are gone, what would it be?

My teddy bear Cookie. It's one of the few constant items I have had with me my whole life, and I like to think it represents my personality: fun loving and always there if you need a hug. She is a little worn in, but all those wears are from times she was hugged and loved. All my wrinkles come from happy memories.

Andrea Miller Rhodes

1. Have you ever had a transcendent experience? If so, what happened?

When I met my husband Michael there was a complete rush of knowing. Earlier that night I was driving to the wedding where we met, alone, picturing what it would be like. Heading there I had a clear, connected vision of meeting someone, extending my hand to introduce myself and him saying in return..."Hello, I'm Michael."


2. If you had to pick one sense and lose all others, what would it be?

Sight


3. What is your favorite attribute in a person?

Sense of humor


4. Describe your happiest accident.

Discovering a little town called Tivoli.


5. If you had to choose one personal object to leave behind when you are gone, what would it be?

My 'second' wedding ring, I bought it in Ireland a few years ago. A beautiful Celtic design symbolizing an eternal bond...and a connection to our 'second' country. Our story.

J. Keith Van Straaten

1. Have you ever had a transcendent experience?  If so, what happened?


I take transcendant to mean that the feeling I had rose above (transcended!) the mere reality of the circumstances. By that brilliant definition, I have indeed, usually when listening to live music and/or making sweet love. 


2. If you had to pick one sense and lose all others, what would it be?


How could anyone choose anything other than smell? You can get through the world without smell, and in fact i'd venture to guess make a tidy profit off your disability too (freak shows, crime scenes, cleanup sites, etc). Losing any other sense would be cause for a major adaptation of lifestyle. Smell is mostly a luxury, save for the occasional detection of gas leaks and/or fresh donuts.


3. What is your favorite attribute in a person?


Willingness. Not to be confused for wilfullness. Or for Williamsburg.


4. Describe your happiest accident.


Dunno if it qualifies as an accident per se, but the choice of where to go to college has had a monumental effect on the rest of my life. What at the time seemed like an easy decision (especially since I was only admitted into one school) continues to show itself to be one of the most significant forks in the road of my life. It's almost not fair that such a crucial choice is left to a dopey 17-year-old.


5. If you had to choose one personal object to leave behind when you are gone, what would it be?


My computer. It's not that great, but it contains so much info about where i've been, who I interact with, and what I created. Plus, there's porn.

Stewart Skura

1.  Have you ever had a transcendent experience?  If so, what happened?

i No nO wOt Dis mEens.


2.  If you had to pick one sense and lose all others, what would it be?

DAYfuNeTELEe SMeL BCUz mY nnOS eES DEe pARt Of meE DaT I LvOe BEcuZZ i No hOo U R wIT mY NoSS. I No WEn U r neeR mE.

3.  What is your favorite attribute in a person?

WeL I WoOde saY iF u R NisE tO doGs. Dis MEEns u R niSe.


4.  Describe your happiest accident.

WoN TImE i FinD sUm PooP in De yaaRd enD I koOd RRroll aRownD Een itt aNd smElLedde Nise foaR De QeueeNe.

5.  If you had to choose one personal object to leave behind when you are gone, what would it be?

I nO No.  I TiNK mY rOPE bEcuZ i LvOE eet anD Eet Is fUN. I LvOe eet soo MUcch. I LVoE u to.

Andy Cooper-Leary

1.  Have you ever had a transcendent experience?  If so, what happened?


Yes...I can honestly say the when i was directing "Cabaret" for the Hackley School about 3 years ago....I was absolutely working beyond my given talents..the collaboration with my cast, designers, fellow directors was scarily good. I still get emotional thinking about it..I should have walked away from teaching/directing right there. It was 9 weeks of absolute artistic nirvana. 




2.  If you had to pick one sense and lose all others, what would it be?


Sight. Hands down no question.  You can communicate with sign language or read lips. I would eat and drink less. Too many sounds get on my nerves and touch..who needs pain? And please after living in New York for 15 years I would give smell away without hesitation. 


3.  What is your favorite attribute in a person?


Accessibilty. I hate interpersonal games and barriers despite playing and having many myself. 


4.  Describe your happiest accident.


My first conversation with my wife..I embarassed myself and offended her..but I got her attention! Thank you tequila! 


5.  If you had to choose one personal object to leave behind when you are gone, what would it be?


"Andrew's Skunk" a drawing made for me by noted children's author Jan Brett (family friend) when I was a baby. It's a family heirloom but it feels like something that will last forever. Besides many friends, family, and colleagues will tell you I enjoy making a stink. Thanks I'm here all week. 

el celso

1. Have you ever had a transcendent experience? [i.e., beyond the limits of ordinary and human knowledge] If so, what happened?


Aside from an alien abduction outside of Roswell back in the late 80s....I can't recall any transcendent experiences. Perhaps my memory of these events was erased now that I think about it.


2. If you had to pick one sense and lose all others, what would it be?

A sixth sense would be nice but also kinda creepy.... I guess I'll stick with my eyesight and definitely wouldn't mind losing my sense of smell in NYC - especially during the summer months...


3. What is your favorite attribute in a person?

A good sense of humor can go a looooong way!


4. Describe your happiest accident.

When I proposed to my wife on the roof of the MET. I wasn't planning on it and it was really more of a hypothetical question for me...then again it could have been all the whiskey.


5. If you had to choose one personal object to leave behind when you are gone, what would it be?

I hope to leave many behind but if I had to choose just one it would have to be a work of art that is so beautiful or amazing that it has a life of its own and manages to transcend time...well, at least for a couple of hundred of years :)

Keely Williams

1. Have you ever had a transcendent experience? If so, what happened?

I think that is depends on what you mean by a transcendent experience, but either way the answer if yes. If you mean an encounter with a transcendent being then I have had a few, most notably with the ghost lady that lives in my apartment. She likes to wander by the door of our wreck room at night in her long white gown. It sounds stereotypical but I'm not the only one who has seen her...always in exactly the same spot. We think she is the lady that lived there before us, who apparently lived in that apartment for all 90+ years of her life. Makes sense I guess, I mean where else would she go?

If you mean "beyond the limit of ordinary experience" I like to flatter myself that I have had a few of those moments on stage. Where I, however briefly, got so far into the head of a character that I completely lost myself. I would consider that transcendent.


2. If you had to pick one sense and lose all others, what would it be?

My sense of touch, no contest. There is something so powerful, even healing, about the sense of touch, I think it would be a lonely sad world without it.


3. What is your favorite attribute in a person?

Sense of humor. I think it is sooo important that people not take themselves or life too seriously. If you can make me laugh, and make me think while you are doing it then I am all yours.


4. Describe your happiest accident.

That would have to be the day I met my fiance. I was supposed to hang out with his sister and she got sick, so we went back to her apartment and I ended up spending the evening with him and his friend. In fact we ended up spending the rest of that week together and I haven't been able to shake him since. =)


5. If you had to choose one personal object to leave behind when you are gone, what would it be?

I have to say this was the hardest question for me to answer, but one object keeps coming to mind and that is my feather pillow that I slept with as a child. My grandfather gave it to me when I was 5 or 6. There was nothing special about it really, just a musty old feather pillow that he kept in a back bedroom, the kind they don't make any more because of the dander. I was very warn and the sharp shafts of the feathers used to find there way through the casing and stab me in the face. But there was something about the smell of it that was so comforting to me.

Patricia Skura

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Linda Sadowski

1.  Have you ever had a transcendent experience? If so, what happened?

Have I ever had a transcendent experience? Well, maybe this might pass as one. I've always been fascinated with the paranormal and I'm a bit of a skeptic. One night I was invited to a seance at a friends' house. This was complete with a so-called medium. I say so-called because there she is moaning , groaning and swaying back and forth sounding and looking like she was having a really good time all by herself. I was really having a hard time trying to keep it together and not be rolling on the floor in uncontrollable laughter. I decided to stare at this large painting on the wall across from me in order to tune this fake out. The painting was branches with birds perched on them. As I was staring the painting changed, it became a bay window with blinds open and I could see a spot light shining down from a telephone pole. I'm thinking to myself, “holy shit”, I blinked a few times and the birds and branches were back. After everyone left I told her what I saw., she said, “Oh my god, that was a big window with blinds and I would sit on the sofa waiting for Joe to come home I could see his car because the street lamp would shine on my driveway. We built on a room for my son on the other side of the painting.

2. If you had to pick one sense and lose all others, what would it be?

If I had to pick one sense it would be touch. I would really only lose taste and smell if I choose touch. I would still be able to see with my fingers, memories and imagination. I would still be able to hear through braille, sense when I read I see and hear a movie in my head. I would still be able to hear or sense music through it's vibrations. I don't think I'd like to live in a world where I couldn't feel the warmth of the sun on my face, the warm gentle touch of another person and the cool liquid velvety feel of water flowing over my hand.

3. What is your favorite attribute in a person?

This is hard, two come to mind immediately honesty and humor. We have to be honest enough to know we are not perfect and see the humor in our imperfections. I also think the ability or effort to see the good or positive hidden in people and things we don't understand. What would that be, compassionate – optimist?

4. Describe your happiest accident.

My happiest accident was Lindsay, my one and only baby girl. Lindsay almost wasn't. I had never been a fan of those drooling, snotty, vomity, poopy, needy and brutally honest things they call children. Plus they terrified me. I was 36 and the Dr. took me off the PILL because of my age and I was a smoker. I decided to get a tubal and made a Dr.s appointment. In the meantime I got this ungodly pain and ended up on the bathroom floor in a cold sweat. I told the Dr. about this, he examined me and said, “Something's brewing”. With that he gave me a script for a sonogram to check for cysts or tumors because of the pain I had and wanting a tubal. I go to the sonogram,bladder full, (FYI: I don't do well with any kind of bladder holding). The tech came in asked what I was there for and did the exam. She asked me again why I was there and said she'd be right back. I asked if I could pee she said no. In comes another tech with her. He repeats the exam and asks what I was here for, I tell him and ask if I can pee. He tells me the Dr. in charge of radiology has to examine me, but if I could pee only a little I could. I asked if he was crazy and his answer to both questions was no. The Dr. comes in does the exam and asks why I was there, I told him. Then he says to me “What would you do if I told you, that you have a beautiful little baby growing”? My answer was, “Well I guess I'm going to have to wait”. My description of children hasn't changed but, I couldn't live without them. Oh, I left out smelly and they don't terrify me any more.

5. If you had to choose one personal object to leave behind when you are gone, what would it be?

I honestly don't know. Maybe a ring a teacher gave me for working summer school with her. Every time I take it off Lindsay steals it.

Michael Rhodes

1. Have you ever had a transcendent experience? If so, what happened?

I was on stage in France performing "Waiting For Godot" in English for a French speaking crowd, 1991. Toward the beginning of Act II, the actor playing Vladimir and I (Estragon) were in the middle of a passage and I somehow so connected with a moment that I ... "pushed through the page" is the only way I can describe it. I was no longer on a stage, there was no audience, I was no longer reciting lines but for an instant I was completely in the moment of this completely foreign landscape, in some eerie semblance of Beckett's desolate vision. Of course, as soon as I had a realization of this experience it vanished instantly and I was back on a stage, shaken and struggling to pick up my cues. Truly incredible and it has never happened again.


2. If you had to pick one sense and lose all others, what would it be?

Humor.


3. What is your favorite attribute in a person?

Openness.


4. Describe your happiest accident.

Being talked into going to a wedding that I really didn't want to go to back in October of 1993. I was going to leave right after the ceremony but decided to have one beer for some reason. Hiding in a corner and nearly finished with that beer, this woman came up and asked if I was holding up that wall.

5. If you had to choose one personal object to leave behind when you are gone, what would it be?

My mother's ring. I would leave it with a family member, to keep passing along as a keepsake of her memory, of what she meant to this family.

James Wallace

1. Have you ever had a transcendent experience? If so, what happened?

Many times. (If I'm defining "transcendent" correctly.) Mostly they have been encounters with what I can only describe as angels. There has been more than one occasion when I have been at a very low point and needed guidance or assurance. Each time I have left that encounter with a sense of peace that called (if only temporarily) the turmoil that I was in. Other times I have felt a physical presence that has physically moved me and prevented me from injury if not death.



2. If you had to pick one sense and lose all others, what would it be?

Smell.


3. What is your favorite attribute in a person?

Understanding.


4. Describe your happiest accident.

I was working at a theme park on what was supposed to be my day off. One of our performers didn't have her identification with her and needed to be signed in. I was the nearest supervisor on duty so I took up the task. I sensed a good vibe from the girl I was signing in and we struck up a conversation. That grew and we developed a good friendship and it continued to grow. That was probably about 10 years ago. It could be called fate or an accident. I happened to be working when I shouldn't have been and she happened to forget her ID. Had those two things not have happened we may have never started talking and not have made that initial connection. She and I probably changed the life of the other and I couldn't imagine having never met her. 


5. If you had to choose one personal object to leave behind when you are gone, what would it be?

My eyes. They've seen so much beauty and I hope in some "metaphysical" way that the good I've seen would be felt by another if they could see through my eyes.

Matthew Dallas Vela

1. Have you ever had a transcendent experience? If so, what happened?

Yes. I mixed ecstasy with hallucinogenic mushrooms. I went swimming and was convinced I was in the boardgame candyland. Does that count?


 2. If you had to pick one sense and lose all others, what would it be?

My hearing. If I could never dance to music again I wouldn't want to continue living.


3. What is your favorite attribute in a person?

Open-mindedness and willingness to learn


4. Describe your happiest accident.

I'm so stumped on this one. I guess I'd have to say going through what I went through a few years ago when I got fired from my job and moved to NYC. I learned more about myself and gained so much life experience in that time. So many good things wouldn't of happened if I hadn't of been fired.



5. If you had to choose one personal object to leave behind when you are gone, what would it be?

The only deeply personal object I own is my sibling silver ring. I believe it protects me and connects me to the most important person in my life.

Kristen Sheets

1. Have you ever had a transcendent experience? If so, what happened?


I'm not sure if this is exactly what you mean, but it's the one time I can say with certainty that God spoke to me: http://kscreativebliss.blogspot.com/2009/04/legend-of-sock-monkey.html.


2. If you had to pick one sense and lose all others, what would it be?

my sight


3. What is your favorite attribute in a person?

compassion


4. Describe your happiest accident.

Kate


5. If you had to choose one personal object to leave behind when you are gone, what would it be?

My portfolio five years from now

Jeremiah Kipp

     
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Greg Skura

1.  Have you ever had a transcendent experience?  If so, what happened?

Yes --  in Amsterdam (and no drugs were involved at all!), about five years ago.  I was walking with a friend across a bridge over a canal...and I had a sudden moment where everything, everything was totally clear and in sync -- the colors, the sounds, the smells, all came together in a crystallized moment in time, and I felt I was totally a part of it.  Everything "clicked"; nothing was wrong, all was beautiful and timeless.  Seriously.  And then I realized I was having the moment and poof!  It went away.  I'll never forget it.  

I've also experienced this feeling a handful of times immediately following a brilliant piece of theatre -- I've literally felt frozen, as if floating above my seat, unable and unwilling to move for a full minute or so.  I remember feeling this way after a production of Edward Albee's A Delicate Balance.  Also after a production of Eugene O'Neill's The Iceman Cometh.

2.  If you had to pick one sense and lose all others, what would it be?
 

I think I'd need to keep my sense of touch.  I think it'd be impossible to navigate the world without it.

3.  What is your favorite attribute in a person?
 

A capacity for being open.

4.  Describe your happiest accident.
 

Spilling a beer on my laptop.  It allowed me to leave the world of PC's and join the world of being a Mac owner.

5.  If you had to choose one personal object to leave behind when you are gone, what would it be?
 

My wedding ring -- it's a very powerful piece of jewelry and I would like for someone else to have it.