Angelica Babiera | Arts Editor
Featured image: Adam Corrigan Holowitz shares his thoughts on how to make it big in theatre: with drive, passion, and trusting in the journey. | Courtesy of Michael Coghlan via Flickr
“In terms of making theatre, for me the reason I do it is it connects me to the collective wisdom of humanity. When I work on a play I hear the voices of my ancestors. Theatre gives me the comfort, hope and knowledge that I need to live a balanced life in this world. Theatre is a spiritual practice for me,” says Adam Corrigan Holowitz, a third-year Theatre student at York.
Holowitz’s drive and passion contributes and connects back to the pride of York. He’s one of the talented students that makes York a creative, intuitive, and beautiful place for students.
Holowitz began his theatre career and journey at three years old, as his father was the composer for a production called “The Wind in the WIllows” at the Grand Theatre in London, Ontario. From the beginning, he has always had a knack for the profession.
“What fascinated me about theatre when I was very young was that in one room, on one stage, so many worlds could be created from one play to the next,” says Holowitz.
“As I grew up, I saw as much theatre as I possibly could. Perhaps surprisingly, I know some people who work in theatre who don’t actually see that much theatre. I have never been one of those people; I relish the experience of watching theatre. I find it is one of the main ways I learn about my craft. I think my desire to be the spectator at the theatre has led me towards dramaturgy, directing, and writing. I like being part of the creation of the work, and I like being the eye seeing the work develop.”
In the seventh grade, Holowitz was involved in a variety of independent theatre projects in the London area, where he received an early theatre education from the actors he worked with. In the ninth grade, with some support of his theatre mentors, he found a theatre company in London, AlvegoRoot Theatre, which focuses on developing plays about the local area. Ever since this, he has been working on developing plays of his own.
On top of this, York’s Theatre program has helped him enhance and improve his craft. Its resources and size has given him the platform to create innovative plays, while simultaneously giving him the knowledge necessary for handling the responsibilities that an artist, storyteller, and theatre-maker must follow.
“Not a lot of undergraduate programs offer the variety in areas that York does. From acting, production, design, playwriting, dramaturgy, or devised theatre, the options mean that there is a place for a diverse group of Theatre students with distinct skills and interests,” says Holowitz.
“For me, it has been the ideal place to train, because I have been able to train in dramaturgy and devised theatre. New play dramaturgy is my passion—I describe it as the practice of working alongside the playwright in the development of their work. I have been able to learn from exception Professors like Judith Rudakoff, who teach Playwriting and New Play Dramaturgy.”
Holowitz’s experience and education in theatre gives him the confidence to make plays that are both enjoyable and informative. He shares just how to make it in the world of theatre: “trust in the journey. Theatre is an unpredictable world, and if you have a fixed idea of where you are going to go and what you are going to do, then working in theatre will be hard and not that fun.
“If you embrace the unpredictable with a good sense of humour, if you love the work you are doing—whatever that may be—and most importantly, believe in the creation of theatre, then you are set for success.”
