City Spotlights Staff Blog | Week 5 | Alexis Maxwell

By Alexis Maxwell, Acting Teaching Artist

Week 5! Can you believe it? We have one more week left of the program, and though this time is always a little bittersweet, it’s also been such an honor to witness all the growth so far! This week is always particularly challenging as we pivot from being outside and on the road everyday to diving in head first to Final Showcase, but this year the teens truly raised the bar for themselves. I’ve never seen such strong focus, vision, and determination as I have seen this year. Everyday, getting to come in and do this work is inspiring, but especially now as I watch people rise up into the leaders that City Spotlights allows them to become. 

This week, we not only pushed the teens’ creativity, but also their responsibility. In acting, my assistants and I helped them create a map of everything that needed to be completed before a 5pm deadline that same day, and not only did they complete all they set out to do, but they also were thinking ahead of how they wanted their show to look, and what pieces are needed to really amplify the message of their story. It makes me proud to know that I get to work with young people who really care about the work they present and are constantly raising the bar for themselves and each other. I knew from Week 1 that the teens I was working with this summer had a plan, and I’m so grateful that I have been able to help them bring that dream to life. However, I can’t take credit for the work they do. These teens have truly had a vision for what they wanted this story to be and worked to make it real. I just got to support them in that. Like a funky pair of glasses.

This time is always tough for me as a teaching artist because Week 5 is when the block known as Specialty ends, which means my time to shine is over. However, watching how the teens have stepped up in order to deliver something they are proud of, couldn’t make me happier to pass the baton. A moment I’m particularly proud of, is watching my students turn an improv exercise I brought in as a game and warm up, into what is now the intro of their show. This group never seizes to amaze me. Their dedication to their own work and their commitment to supporting each other’s ideas is something great to witness. This is truly a special cohort and I say this every year, but this show truly might be one of the best! Hope you make it out to see it!