On with the Show Illustrating the Learning Group philosophy of having fun while learning, our December 2005 program meeting featured a dramatic reading of the Barry Oshry play What a Way to Make a Living, produced by Barry with a cast and crew of ODLG members. For a synopsis, see the playbill. For more information on the program team, see the program brochure. The program giveaway, the Power + Systems "Power Lab" DVD was won by cast member Amelia Levy! Following the play, Barry facilitated discussion on what we had learned from it. he asked those attending to consider which level - top, middle, bottom - has presented the most challenges. We formed three small groups accordingly and discussed how the play shed light on those challenges. To see and participate in the follow up discussion via our blog "Question of the Month," click here. The program provided an stimulating and entertaining way "see systems dramatically" and  to observe how organizational development practitioners promote change. We watched the members of  organization as it struggles to create partnership up, down, and across organization lines - a spectacle that struck very familiar chords. Our cast included members Barbara Bates, who directed; Elin Anna Bjarnadottir, who played three roles - worker, middle, top; Grant Keith, also appearing the roles of worker, middle, and top; Amelia Levy, yet another “triple star” of worker, middle, and top; Anne Litwin, who did various off-stage voices and sound effects; Mimi McGrath, starring as the "Angel" Laurie; Beth Schirick, who is handled special effects and who was also our location liaison at Babson College; and Joe Turner, who played the star middle in Act II and also a top.  Our cast have all promised to retain their Learning Group membership even after they achieve Broadway or Hollywood careers. So that those attending could  "know them before they were famous," we featuredg interviews with them in our newsletter and have compiled those articles here.  - - - Barbara Bates, an independent consultant, was a member of our November 2002 “Storytelling as an Organizational Tool” program. She was the winner of our March program giveaway, posting a report on our blog on Alan Weiss’ presentation at the IMCNE Consultants Conference. She has also posted her thoughts on her participation in this endeavor. Q. Tell us something about yourself. A. I focus my consulting practice on facilitating change, governance and leadership development, and coaching people through conflict transformation. I particularly enjoy building individuals' capacity to handle conflict and change in start-ups, non-profits, and congregations. I also love leading guided nature walks for children and adults at Habitat, the Mass Audubon Society sanctuary in Belmont. Q. Why did you decide to take part in this program? A. To have fun! I fondly remember the fun I had acting, directing, and creating elaborate make-up in high school and college productions.  Also, since I've read his books, I have always wanted to meet Barry Oshry. We use a version of his Power and Systems simulation in the three-day "Building Healthy Congregations" workshop I co-facilitate, and it is very well received. Someday I'd love to attend Barry's "Power Lab," because everyone I know who has attended it calls it the most powerful transformational experience they have ever had - a bit intimidating, but I'm still eager to do it. [Note: The Learning Group Library has all of Barry’s books, as well as the Power Lab DVD. The Power Lab DVD will also be the giveaway at the December 12 program.] Q. What are you are learning from it? A. I've re-learned important things: how easy it is to bring out the best in people, how creativity can pop up in the least likely places if the space is provided - that sort of thing. As the director of this production, it has been interesting to see the cast, who mostly are new to the theater, develop and come together as a team. My style as director has been more like coaching. I create opportunities for the cast to have fun while they try out various styles of acting. For example, I've asked people to say a particular line five different ways. This stretches them and helps us find the delivery style most natural for them. Most of the actors play three parts: top, middle, and bottom roles in the organization; this means they have a considerable range of emotions and thoughts to explore. I've learned that I really enjoy seeing each actor grow into his or her parts. Q. Why do you think people should come to this program?   A. One reason is to see how people seem to fall into negative stereotypes of their power roles without realizing it.  Another is to learn how to escape the negative stereotype of one's role once one has fallen prey to it.  The play is an excellent opportunity to learn how to see power systems at work. - - - Elin Anna Bjarnadottir, who has a coaching practice, is a member of our Coordinating Committee and formerly lead our Jobs Group. She co-facilitated the section on finding a job at our January 2006 “Careers and Work in OD” program. Q. Tell us something about yourself. A. I have been a Learning Group member since 2002. I was born and raised in Reykjavik, Iceland. After completing high school and working for a year in the city, I decided I needed some adventure. So I spent a year in Helsingborg, Sweden, where I took college courses. I returned to Reykjavik to complete my degree in business and accounting at the University of Iceland. There I met my husband, Erlendur. In 1991, my husband and I moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico, to attend graduate school. After two years of hard work, I received my MBA from the University of New Mexico. Life and work then took us to the Boston area, where I remain today. I currently divide my time between running my own business as a coach and volunteering at a center for abused women and children. Q. Why did you decide to take part in this program? A. I thought it would be great opportunity to learn and to have fun. Q. What are you are learning from it? A. I am getting hands-on learning about organizations and systems thinking. It is also good to have fun with other members. Q. Why do you think people should come to this program? A. The play illustrates the disconnect between people and organizations. This is something that we all have experienced, and when you see right in front of you it you understand it even more. Plus it will be fun! - - - A long-time member, Grant Keith has been on many previous program teams and has presented for our Jobs Group. Q. Tell us something about yourself. A. I have been in HR and OD for many years and currently work as a Human Resources Generalist at MetLife. Q. Why did you decide to take part in this program? A. It was a great opportunity to experience at first hand how the technique of theater can promote learning on OD. It is powerful methodology that can show people and organizations the issues that confront them. Q. What are you are learning from it? A. I am learning about myself as well as about OD. The experience is almost “Zen-like” in that I understand things from my personal point of view and also from the point of view of the actor that I represent. Since I appear in three different roles, that adds to multiple perspectives. When you are able to perceived different points of view, you become more effective. You can “step back” and see the system, which leads to a new view. Q. Why do you think people should come to this program? A. It will be a very entertaining way to learn about OD. In addition, people should be able to appreciate how they themselves can use theatre as method to bring out organizational issues. We did it; so can you.   - - - Amelia Levy joined the Learning Group last year, and this her first time on a program team Q. Tell us something about yourself. A. My interest in organizational development started already in my Bachelor’s studies in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. I decided to expand my knowledge in this area by pursuing an M.Sc Thesis in Organizational Development at the Technion—Israel Institute of Technology. My thesis research was about the influence of social networks on employee turnover. I also conducted a research at Berlitz-Haifa about the influence of social networks on hiring processes and work satisfaction. Today, I am a Project Management Analyst for PerotSystems, always applying the OD principles in my day-to-day work. Q. Why did you decide to take part in this program? A. I learned from a seminar conducted by Bruce Katcher and Harvey Wigder that a play could be a powerful OD tool. My motivation to participate in the show was the unique opportunity to experience, from a presenter perspective, the play as a powerful OD tool and the ability to share the experience with the group. Q. What are you are learning from it? A. I learned that there are so many different ways in which one can interpret a role and that effective communication is vital for producing a successful play. We made a lot of progress once we sat down and discussed how we viewed our own roles. The discussion not only assured that the team was (literally and figuratively) on the same page, but also provided me with guidance in developing my characters in sync with the cast. There is nothing more productive and rewarding than great teamwork! Q. Why do you think people should come to this program? A. There are many reasons for people to attend this program. First of all, the audience will have the opportunity to experience Barry Oshry's play and learn how to deal with conflicts among different layers of an organization. Second, the audience will be able to experience the play as a powerful OD training tool. Third, the audience will be able to join business and pleasure:  we will definitely not only learn but also have fun! - - - Anne Litwin is President of Anne Litwin & Associates, which provides consulting, coaching and facilitation. Anne co-facilitated the section on “Should I Be an OD Consultant” at our January 2006 “Careers and Work” meeting. She was an editor of and contributor to Managing in the Age of Change, which is available in our Library. Q. Tell us something about yourself. A. I have been an internal and external trainer and consultant for more than 25 years in a wide variety of organizations in the United States, Europe, India, Africa, Canada, Mexico, China, Singapore and Malaysia. I was for seven years the CEO of a family-owned retail business and have served as Chair of the Board of Directors of the NTL Institute. Q. Why did you decide to take part in this program? A. I had known about Barry Oshry’s play but never had a chance to see it. This opportunity gave me a chance to get involved and appreciate it first-hand. Q. What are you are learning from it? A. I am seeing how people perform in different roles. Most of the cast are playing more than one part, and it is interesting to see how they change as they assume a top, middle or bottom place in the organization. Q. Why do you think people should come to this program? A. The program will give a dynamic illustration of Barry’s theories in a way that anyone can relate to and learn from. It will be a very though-provoking and stimulating experience – and a lot of fun.   - - - Mimi McGrath has been a member since 2004 and is Senior Organizational Effectiveness at Harvard Pilgrim Health Care. She has been a program facilitator, location liaison, and Jobs Group presenter. Mimi has also posted some thoughts on this endeavor on our blog. Q. Tell us something about yourself. A. Over the past ten years, I have had various positions in OD, HR, and management development. I am married with two children and live in Milton. I enjoy tennis and golf.   Q. Why did you join this program team? A. I love the theater. I have been on the board of directors of a theatrical group and have a subscription to Trinity Repertory Theater in Providence. So this opportunity allowed me to connect both my vocational and my avocational interests, OD and dramatics. Q. What are you learning from the experience? A. One learning is that there is no one right to do anything – there are a thousand different ways. In addition, I am applying my OD skills to understand the emotions of the character that I am playing and thus to portray them. For example, although my character is an “angel,” she is capable of being angry. Another way to put it is that emotional intelligence is an OD issue. Q. Why did you think people will want to attend this program! A. First, it will be a lot of fun. But it also deals with issues in organizations that everyone faces, whether they an OD practitioners or not. Of course, OD people will recognize these very readily but everyone can relate to the situations presented.   - - - Joe Turner is Principal of Turner Consulting, which helps organization align the completion of critical project with business success. Joe joined the Learning Group last year and led our March 2005 program on "Project Management: Why It Needs OD Support," as well as a follow-up seminar. He has been a mentor in our Mentoring Program, won our Member Recognition Award and was interviewed in our August 2006 newsletter. Joe has often been referred to as the "Apostle of OD" to the local project management community. Q. Tell us something about yourself. A. I made the transition from internal to consulting over fifteen years ago. After a while, I decided to focus my practice on project management and business development and planning; I regard this decision to specialize in what I know best as responsible for the success of my business. I do a lot of pro bono work and am also a professional photographer. Q. Why did you join this program team?   A. First, because I thought it would be fun. Also, I liked the idea of working with other Learning Group members and with Barry Oshry. And I welcomed the opportunity to get a better understanding of Barry's ideas. Q. What are you learning from the experience?   A. It has been a been great experience in teamwork and in leadership. As to the latter, director Barbara Bates has done a great job of coaching and encouraging us. I have also learned more 'OD" from being in the play. In particular, I have seen how organizational change can't be imposed from outside: people have to take responsibility for making it happen. Q. Why did you think people will want to attend this program! A. Because it will be fun!  And they can see their fellow members "make fools of themselves". But they will also be able to learn about organizations and organizational change.  - - - The role of drama in ODLG history The use of drama in the interest of OD learning has been made in previous meetings and will further explored next year. In fact, this was our second play as the basis of a program. The first was written by former member Grant Harris for our July 2000 "Process Consultation Meeting" and no doubt remains as the greatest drama ever written on that topic. This very famous meeting included the play with discussion between the acts, plus four interactive breakout groups and a debrief session! Our June 2005 "Case Studies" program began with a dramatic vignette, prepared by members of our first Consulting Alliance team, illustrating their case. This proved so popular that we will doing it again in our March 2007 "Case Studies II" program, in the case presented by none other than Anne Litwin of our December 2006 cast. Of course there have been other dramatic happenings, intentional and unintentional, in the course of Learning Group programs. We will be reviewing these  (perhaps with some theatricality) at our January 2008 "Tenth Anniversary" program, and we invite those who have memories, thoughts, or suggestions on the theme of theater and ODLG to post these on our blog.