Sports in Theatre

Deborah Stein and Suli Holum share their inspirations behind creating The Wholehearted.

But maybe the reason I obsess over sports is because of how very different they are from what I have chosen to do. In sports, there’s the illusion of fairness and opportunity. Not so much with theater—Chekhov isn’t fair. The biz doesn’t always offer opportunities. Whereas in every sporting event the outcome isn’t decided, it’s still up in the air, it’s still up to the players. I’d like that to be true of every play. Maybe Othello will change his mind, maybe the cherry orchard won’t be sold. But he always goes through it, the tree always falls, I know the end.

Isn’t boxing just like writing a play? First, you have to train (the muscles in the gym if a boxer, the mind facing the screen if a writer). Then you have to fight! (What we in the Arts call “advocate”). You go out into the world/ring and advocate for your play, and hopefully find other advocates who will advocate your “advocation.” Next, whether you win (get a production) or lose (a reading, and another reading, and another reading), you must nurse your wounds and finally, learn from the experience in hopes that you will come out next time a stronger, smarter, more creative. . .fighter.