In a sporting event, there are winners & losers. There's 1st place, then everyone else. The ones who win the trophies, and the runners-up... I think as Americans we are drawn to that idea. Someone we can root for and cheer on - someone we can empathize with when they lose and celebrate with when they win. That's the draw to sports and the ability to pick a specific team to live & die with, either because of family tradition, franchise history, geographic location, or the color of their jerseys, is also enticing. As a die hard Red Wings fan (yeah, I said it!), I know that even if I don't watch every game, I have a stake in the outcome. I have a team. I am part of a group. As a "Red Wings Fan", I know who my allies are and who my enemies are (some folks take this literally!).
As an understudy, I stepped into a role for 3 performances. The other 3 actors on stage with me had been through 26 performances already, with Erin Noel Grennan playing the role (wonderfully!). They had a rhythm, an understanding of the pace & each other's energy. I, of course, did my best to fit in to what they'd already established, but simply by being me and not Erin, they naturally had adjustments to make. But everyone wanted me to succeed! The audience still wanted to see a great show, the crew wanted me to do well, the other actors were counting on my to be where I was supposed to be and say what I was supposed to say (and their supportive energy was clear in the put-in rehearsal we did and in the backstage camaraderie).
In Improv, the number one rule is "Yes, and..." - there's no denial, no room for refusal, no loser. Will American culture ever embrace this type of entertainment over the clear cut: us VS them of sporting events? I'm not sure...but I think if a few more folks had the positive, win-win experience of viewing live theatre, they might find they enjoy it. (And know that they can like both sports AND art - see how everyone keeps winning?!?!)
The Jeff Awards are tonight and some folks will see the 'winners' of awards as just that - "winners". But will the other nominees be "losers"? Will the wonderful actors and directors and designers and producers who are not invited tonight be "losers"? No. They worked with passion and determination to create art - where everyone wins.