Despite the sweltering weather, this was a productive and thoughtful session focusing on the creative process and new drafts for the show. 

As participants gathered, conversations centered around the extreme summer heat, illness, healthcare, and store markups. In this session, the ensemble revisited the conflict from the last session. One participant reflected on the disagreement, expressing that she felt attacked for sharing her opinion. She apologized for walking away from the discussion and affirmed that she wanted to remain part of the ensemble. Other ensemble members offered their support, sparking a conversation about how meaningful art invites differing perspectives and the importance of critique during the creative process. 

The ensemble reviewed the process for selecting pieces for the summer production and revisited the community guidelines. Members discussed ways to help newer participants better understand the program, including by watching recordings of previous productions. 

Later in the evening, the ensemble completed a workbook exercise designed to generate ideas connected to the theme of love and compassion. The ensemble discussed the many ways love can be expressed. One ensemble member emphasized the importance of terms of endearment,

“We don’t get love and interaction in here.”

The exercise inspired several share-outs as participants began developing new pieces. One participant shared a powerful poem, saying,

“Love is one word with a million adjectives.”

Another participant introduced an idea inspired by her grandparents, observing,

“With time, patience can grow.”

One member shared her excitement about a piece she wants to write starring two other ensemble members. During one lighthearted exchange, an actor joked,

“Are you sure you want me to friend? You know how I friend.”

The writer jokingly replied,

“You’re gonna friend how I write you to friend.”

The evening concluded with a game of Picnic before the ensemble gathered for the ring. The group parted ways with renewed inspiration and excitement to continue building the show.