November 22, 2006
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Robert Altman, 1925-20061 So…Robert Altman walks into a bar…
2 Amazing film director. So it goes. So it goes.
3 Well, I’ve been a fly on a drape at the YB Theatre lately. I’ve gone down and watched the Show develop. I’m astounded at the work the students have donewith very little adult help.
4 When I really analyze it, this is the first all-student directed Show in the school’s history.
5 Last night I was invited to assist in breaking the performance proper into its processes and procedures.
6 I never realized that I did all THAT.
7 Anyway, we met at the school and Tracy Wolcott was kind enough to let the students use her room for rehearsal. had the pleasure of watching Misty and Jamie reprise a wonderful play called Bedtime, a one-act we did several years back with Maggie and Nancy.
8 They are bringing Bedtime back, and it’s sweeter than ever. The acting was just wonderful, and it was a kick hearing all those sweet lines again, and then watching this crew of amazing student directors meeting and discussing it artistically.
9 They want to kick ass. May I say that again? They want to kick ass.
10 Last week they just wanted to get the Show to the stage. Now they are working and huddling and totally planning on taking no prisoners.
11 They’ve been planning, organizing, arguing, respecting, and really, loving working together on one of the greatest challenges of all time with regards to the Workshop. Bottom line: they all want it to work. They want the Drama Workshop. They’re making an excellent case for keeping it.
12 My analysis: they will, and it will kick ass, and it will be a defining moment, and quite possibly, a statement to any of us who ever gave up on anything. These guys have given it everything they have, and are now reaching to the stars for a Show that has become more than a Show, and I am absolutely in awe of how hard and sincere they have been working.
13 The Show is called Behind Closed Doors, a bit of an Oooh-la-la title. They have chosen some wonderful plays to perform. Last night they were up until at least 10:30 planning the sound design. I was in on that session, and these guys each had a legal pad, and each director had an entire page filled from top to bottom.
14 They open this a week from tomorrow. They’re getting way excited. We all sat in Nhat’s car in the parking lot adjacent to the Starbucks up by my school, and listened to over 50 songs and sound effects, and they meticulously planned out the sound design. Nhat has helped immeasurably, and has emerged as a very talented sound designer.
15 Their ideas flew every which way, bouncing off windows and doors, and circulating all through the night. “They ” included Cam, Suny, Nhat, Trinh, and from a cell, Sarah, all just talking, planning, and wanting the very best for the Show. All student directors. All working on a miracle that even I gave up on. They didn’t want the Workshop to die. They are my heroes. They are my personal warriors. And now, officially, in my eyes, they are artists in the truest sense of the word. This could be the most meaningful Show ever, because they did this. They did this, and I’m so proud of them that words escape me.
16 They are fine-tuning, and this Show may just be a huge surprise. These students are artists of the highest degree, and it is simply amazing thinking that they will open in a week.
17 Just…stay tuned. This could really rock.
18 Anyway, that’s about it for Thanksgiving Eve. I’m gonna go now, because I have to get up early to have a minimum day.
19 I also have a turkey to stuff.
20 I stick my neck out for nobody.
21 And I do, my friend, have a saloon to run.
22. So let’s get it started.
23 Have a wonderful Thanksgiving everybody, and then come out and support the Show.
24 And PK, stand by…
25 Peace.~H~
stay tuned…
