by Madeline Geier. Bluesky: @MadelinesOpinions.bsky.social IG: @MadelineRuthmary
SEATTLE, WA — While many participants have lauded last weekend’s “Intro to Boundaries” workshop, Gregory award-winning actor Jake Harris felt it lacked the industry’s usual open-mindedness.
“I don’t have any boundaries,” bragged Harris, winking at a passing college student. “Of course I expected consent stuff—I’m no creep—but my unconditional consent resulted in what I’d almost call 'discrimination' when we’d partner up. Saying yes to everything and improving all the possibilities is how I work. I do my best work when I can discover something new by taking a huge risk and completely surprising my scene partner. What’s so wrong about that?”
Beth Brooking, the intimacy director who facilitated the workshop, shared that the workshop’s mission was to provide the tools for navigating boundaries and building consent culture while staging scenes, with an opportunity to practice those skills.
“Previously, I’d’ve said every actor has boundaries,” disclosed Brooking while adjusting her “Got Consent?” pin. “No one should need to sacrifice bodily autonomy to act. Honoring boundaries leads to a more trusting, efficient process resulting in great staging, but actors are taught saying no makes them 'difficult to work with.' Usually, just one outlandish suggestion causes 'no boundaries' folks to realize they do have some boundaries."
"Jake saw this as a challenge and said he’d not only be okay with his eyeballs being touched, but to 'serve the play' he’d welcome scene partners pouring Tabasco in them as well.”
Kathleen Navarro, a copywriter exploring acting, partnered with Harris to practice navigating boundaries while devising a moment within a close relationship.
“He’s well-known, so I considered it a networking opportunity,” reasoned Navarro, stapling headshots to her three-credit resume. “He reminded me of my first community theatre director. Peer feedback described our hug as 'wide-ranging,' which I guess reflects the spontaneous additions.”
Harris viewed the feedback as appreciation for “the breadth of tactics” he utilized. He unfortunately couldn’t answer a follow-up because he had a casting/HR meeting he said was likely about adding to his contracts for The Rep’s 2025-26 Season.
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