October 2, 2006
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The Daily News
"You might see this as the glass half-full."--Honda commercial.1 Sometimes I just get so proud of people I really don't know what to say.2 After all the back and forth with trying to keep the Drama Workshop going, and thinking it was impossible for it to ever come back, a group of students at YB said no. They have gathered the tribes and are now in the process of keeping it going on their own by putting together a series of student-directed one-acts. Leading the charge are Trinh, Jenny, Suny, Cam, Connie, and Ellen, six of our most distinguished members of the Workshop. They are talking to everyone about how to go about it, but are working, planning and hoping that they can pull off the ultimate miracle, and the ultimate tribute to everyone who ever lived and breathed in that Theatre.
4 To the Daily News audience, this is a time to sit and smile! They have spent the past week meeting, planning, gathering support from other teachers who also were touched and moved by our productions, and so far, they've made some amazing inroads.
5 They have been asking me questions about how to set up auditions, how to approach directing, how to organize something as complex as a school play, but they are also asking others how to gather school and community support. There's a LOT involved, but they are moving forward with amazing confidence and with a clear mission.
6 They have chosen some amazing plays on their own already. I'm really curious to see where this goes. I did warn them that something like this could be a lot harder than they think, since every minor element of a production involves process, but they keep meeting and anticipating things that might get in their way.
7 So hats off to those students. It's nice to see young people showing such incredible character. So far they've approached the new music instructor, Mr. Paul Zawilski, who is interested in offering time to supervise and oversee the auditions, Blanca Espinoza for information about approaching the School Site Council, Mr. Rocha just because you always throw Mr. Rocha in any time there's movement on that campus, Tracy Wolcott, just because she's the best there is, and many more.
8 As the guy who founded the Workshop, and as a spokesperson for everyone else who ever spent time making wonderful memories, I officially proclaim that this is a day to celebrate. What an honor for all of us to see this spirited group of students pressing, pushing, and believing in miracles!
9 It might be because they've watched miracles happen in that Theatre every single year, since its beginnings. The place always had that sort of magic.10 Well, it's looking like we might all be enjoying yet another miracle before this year finally comes to an end.
11 So from the very heart of this old brown shoe, I wish the students the very best, and hope I will be sitting in the audience watching as the tradition continues, and we get to watch perhaps the biggest miracle yet.
12 Break-a-leg.
13 Moving on: I'm sorry to see Jason Schmidt might have played his last game as a Giant. He was on the news tonight and was genuinely touched about what he called the greatest time of his life.
14 Barry Bonds made his move by packing all his stuff and disappearing without a trace yesterday, clearing out his entire wall from his penthouse at Pac Bell/SBC/ATT Park. I'd love to say I was thinking a lot about it, but nope.
15 I just won't go there.
16 And moving on: "We need to continue to get better."--Alex Smith, following yesterday's 41-0 drubbing of the 49ers at the hands of Kansas City. Uh...continue?
17 And moving on: The Raiders. Oy.
18 "You might see this as the glass half-empty."--Honda commercial
19 Well, it's only one week. But the character of Mr. Bonds was clearly mirrored by the character of his fellow players this past three weeks. The 49ers just got outclassed by a team that was trained and ready to play in the NFL. The Raiders started out like a house on fire, and proceeded to burn down.
20 But I watched a group of students who never gave up hope out there doing eveything they could to win this past week. And that makes me see the glass half full, and filling up quicker and quicker. Soon it will be brimming with the love and insanity of pure hope.
21 So we should just bring this DN around to its own beginning, and leave on a positive note.
22 Because sometimes all of us need to look to young people for character lessons.
23 Thank you guys for taking the torch and for keeping that flame burning.
24 You give all of us hope, despite our so-called real heroes.
25 This morning, you are my heroes.
26 March on.
27 Peace.
~H~
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