BWW Blog: Meggie Cansler - Inspire to Change the World

Transcendence Theatre Company is more than just a night at the theatre. Our Mission is "to create transcendent experiences that inspire others to go beyond the usual limits and change the world in extraordinary ways."

The world can be changed in a single moment, and our Transcendence Artists inspire and are inspired by so much in each moment of life.

Artist Meggie Cansler shares a little more about what has been happening with the cast of our current show, FANTASTICAL FAMILY NIGHT.

Read on...!

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My inner sense of wonder and play has been alive since the cast of FANTASTICAL FAMILY NIGHT arrived. This cast came in and entered my heart immediately.

In this world, you want to work with the "yes" people. "Team" has been a favorite Transcendence word inspired by Tony Gonzalez. He read us this definition and it has inspired us to reach beyond our comfort zones, our energy levels, and our mentalities of what we think is possible in such a short rehearsal period: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Team

Yes, Wikipedia!!

With that in mind, with all that has been going on in the world, our hearts are heavy. As a group, we meditated together, sat in silence together, and sent love out there as best as we could.

We staged "Home" (the Phillip Phillips song...not the musical theatre tunes from "Beauty and the Beast" or "The Wiz" - but extra credit for you musical theatre nerds out there!). Stephan Stubbins played his guitar with Kayley Anne Collins backing him up, and one by one, our cast is staged to pull their bandanas out to symbolize unity, strength in numbers, and the lyrics rang true in our hearts that day:

Settle down it will all be clear

Don't pay no mind to the demons

They fill you with fear

The trouble- it might drag you down

If you get lost, you can always be found

Just know you're not alone,

'Cause I'm gonna make this place your home

What a great message for the world today. Life is a precious gift. If we unite together we can make a change.

So often in musical theatre, I have felt that I am "just" singing and dancing; am I making a difference in the world at all? I was reminded by the lovely Alicia Albright and Cessalee Stovall in our circle up that we have the power within art to make the world a better place... We can use our voices and sing from our hearts, and hope that the world can hear the beautiful message that we are trying achieve with this show.

We can all change lives one moment at a time. A smile, a hug, a kind word. Spread LOVE. Spread KINDNESS. We are all in this human life together. There are ups and downs and things that don't always make sense, but if we can greet each day with positivity - if we are the change - this world will be a beautiful place.

One of our new performers, the lovely Tara Heal, discovers in our show that if she were brave, she "can be more than just poor little me". Joining her tribe, finding her courage, she can be a hero. We can all be heros. (If you haven't heard Lynne Shankel and David Goldsmith's "If I were Brave", YouTube it immediately. It's inspiring!)

Let's all be that brave! Let's make a difference. If you need to be inspired, come join us this weekend in Jack London State Historic Park. Our set is ready to take sail! We have built our ship, we have found our tribe, and we are ready to take you on an adventure with us to find our Call of the Wild! Don't miss this incredible cast and show! It's truly one of the most unique creations and collaborations I have seen! #team #bestlifeever #callofthewild #bethechange

We got this, TEAM! Or is it "I Got You" from "Bring it On"... better come out and see for yourself :)

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Meggie Cansler is a Resident Artist and Artistic Coordinator with Transcendence Theatre Company.

Transcendence Theatre Company's Broadway Under the Stars 2016 Season runs from June through September in Jack London State Historic Park in Glen Ellen, CA only 45 miles north of San Francisco in Wine Country. More information and tickets available online at BestNightEver.org or call 877-424-1414, Ext 1.