Canopy’s clients have come to know our team as gifted consultants, facilitators, and strategists with rich experience in mission-driven organizations. But every one of us has taken a unique pathway into our current career, and we consider those unexpected backgrounds our superpowers.
Lauren David (our Project Manager) and I began working at Canopy at the same time, and our past lives as theater professionals were among the first things we bonded over. Lauren was formerly a stage manager in Chicago, and I taught theater arts in a public school system. I’ve been in the Zoo and Aquarium field for nearly 20 years now. Believe it or not, life in theater is much like life in zoos, aquariums, gardens, and other cultural institutions: This line of work draws people who are singularly passionate about their craft, creative, collaborative, and community-oriented. Those of us who’ve spent time on stage or in the wings know that performing arts skills serve us well no matter where life takes us.
Here are six lessons from our past theater lives that we implement daily in our work at Canopy:
A shared vision is essential, and collaboration is key to realizing this vision.
To work in theater is to share a vision with a team of people who invent, innovate, and collaborate to make it a reality. Every production, no matter how large or small (budget or no budget!), requires an all-hands-on-deck mentality from day one of rehearsals through closing night. The influential theater director Konstantin Stanislavski is credited with saying, “There are no small parts, only small actors.”
Similarly, in the strategic planning process, every person on the team has an important role to play and well-defined roles provide clarity of purpose. At Canopy, we’ve worked on hundreds of planning engagements: The most successful ones always have an engaged team, a shared excitement over the vision they’re working toward, and a collaborative spirit about putting in the necessary work to achieve the best final product possible.
Elise, Canopy’s Director of Engagement, pictured left (circa 2010): “I worked with a science theater company from Canada for several years at the National Zoo, and Mariee (pictured right) and I wrote an original musical for our ZooLights.”
Preparation allows for improvisation.
Much like working with a living collection, one of the most thrilling aspects of working in theater is that anything can — and does! — happen. A project and a play are managed similarly: staged in acts, with dozens of details to track and coordinate. We spend a lot of time preparing for each project so if something goes “off-script,” we can live in the moment and improvise easily.
As Canopy’s Project Manager, Lauren has a 40,000-foot view of each project and knows every detail intimately — an incredible skill that she honed by working in stage management. On average, she manages about 25 projects at a time, orchestrating the logistical components of each. She calls the cues for Canopy, weaving myriad calendars, meetings, travel plans, and deadlines so that everything moves smoothly.
Canopy’s Strategic Planning process includes four phases, each building upon the next to culminate in a final product. Our well-established process allows for freedom and creativity — we know the marks we need to hit, but we customize them for each client. As Canopy’s Director of Engagement, I plan each workshop and meeting in detail — and then enjoy watching the unexpected unfold as I respond to the needs of the group and follow their inspiration. I have a Plan A and a Plan B…and sometimes even a Plan C…but always with the finale in mind.
“Those who have learned to collaborate and improvise have prevailed.” – Charles Darwin
Lauren, Canopy’s Project Manager, in her Stage Management days (circa 2014)
“Yes, and…” Anything is possible.
Speaking of improvisation, we embrace the “Yes, and…” mantra of improvisational theater in our work, which encourages a collaborative and supportive environment. “Yes, and…” is a powerful tool that signals to our clients and each other that we are actively listening, responding to all ideas or possibilities, and giving space to build upon them. Even when making difficult decisions, “Yes, and…” is a positive affirmation that we hear and value your input.
“I believe in serendipity, but I also believe there are times when you have to be the one who lines up everything so it can fall into place.” – Susan Stroman
There is so much joy in discovery.
Live theater is ever-changing, and the joy of continuous discovery is enthralling for everyone involved — from the cast and crew to the audience.
At Canopy, we delight in discovery with our clients. From embarking on new projects together, to finding the lightbulb aha!-moment solutions to challenges, we approach our work with creativity and the joy of allowing ourselves to be surprised along the way. We find that the best work comes from unexpected places. As a facilitator, I strive to bring playfulness and laughter to all my workshops, knowing the joy I find in my work influences my clients’ experiences. (Per our company values: We take our work seriously, but not ourselves!)
Trust and a sense of belonging are necessary.
The theater is a powerful communal experience, created anew with every cast, every rehearsal, and every performance. Those lucky enough to have a theater community often consider it their chosen family; this is a safe, welcoming space for people to be their authentic and vulnerable selves.
Lauren and I were drawn to Canopy because of a similar sense of community and belonging. Our team values authenticity, kindness, and respect. We champion diversity, value each individual for who they are, and work to make sure our clients feel safe, seen, heard, and respected. We care about each other, building trusting relationships so our team members, clients, and communities can thrive.
The show must go on…
Once we pass the project off to you for the ‘opening night’ launch, know that the Canopy team will continue cheering you on from the audience. Each project is one piece of a greater mission-driven body of work, contributing to the impact we want to make in this field and the future we want to build.
Interested in our Strategic Planning services? Start a conversation here.
— Elise Bernardoni, Director of Engagement (with support from Lauren David, Project Manager)
