December 9, 2006

  • The Daily News

    Special Edition!!!!

    TONIGHT AT 8!!! YB DRAMA WORKSHOP!!!

    BRING A MILLION FRIENDS!!!!!

    A Note to the Cast and Crew:

    25 years ago I brought a small group of students out to the YB stage and did a Christmas scene for a talent show on the YB stage. I wrote a scene in which Santa’s elves went on strike, and replaced Santa with a robot who mal-functioned. Chris Thompson played Santa Claus. Chris was around 6′ 2″, was skinny, and black. The scene was classy, funny, and brought down the house. The MC said, “Ladies and Gentlemen, the YB Drama Workshop!” and people hooted and hollered.

    Shortly thereafter, we did a mysterious play called Silents, a tribute to silent films, and it was artisitic, different, and soon, the YB community started to understand that this group was clever, artististic, and committed to doing experimental, vibrant Theatre.

    25 years later, the YB Drama Workshop has survived over eight principals, ten assistant principals, various challenges, and has always emerged with the same feeling: bringing more than “just another high school play” to the stage.

    It’s become a tradition the first two weekends in December to look to the roof of the YB Theatre and see the flag flying, indicating that, as in Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre over 4oo years ago, a production would be performed this night.

    The flag should be flying over the Theatre tonight. Earlier this year, when I moved into my new realm as Activities Director at EVHS, I tried to put the Drama Workshop into the hands of some awesome people, the Pigeon Players, and their artistic directors, former YB Drama Workshop director Evelyn Huynh, and Angie Higgins, who just finished a stint this summer directing Taming of the Shrew for Shady Shakespeare in Los Altos’ Sanborn Park. It was set up that the Pigeon Players, knowing exactly what the Drama Workshop was about, would keep that quality and that lovely tradition going.

    Unfortunately, things didn’t work out. The Administration at YB threw a few roadblocks their way, and soon it all crumbled. I personally told the students that sadly, this long tradition crossing over six generations of graduates would be ending, probably forever. I accepted that I had done all I could, and told the students that sometimes those things happen in life.

    Well, five students, Sarah Mae Brooks, Cam Bui, Trinh Le, Ellen Nguyen, and Suny Um decided they were not going to let the Workshop die. They went to several teachers for help, approached the School Site Council, and came away with $500 in GATE money!

    They soon asked current music instructor at YB, Paul Zawilski, if he would be their advisor. He said yes, and with the help of him and Tracy Wolcott, they began a show. They didn’t really have a “home” because those teachers had other things to do also.

    They contacted me and asked if I could help advise, so we did a lot of cell phones back and forth. At one point, Ellen was on a cell, as was I, and the others were somewhere, and we talked with the two cell phones on speaker. They said, “Hi Charlie!!!” and I just laughed, because it was very much like Chalrie’s Angels, and I quickly responded, “Hi, Angels!!!”

    And that was how I felt, that these students fought after even I had given up, and never lost hope that they could get a Fall show together, and to save the YB Drama Workshop.

    The result is the show that closes tonight, Behind Closed Doors. These students have gone to Hell and back to make this show something really special, and it has been met with raving reviews from both staff and students. It wasn’t always easy; there were times when they would get so frustrated and exhausted that I thought their ears might fall off.

    But they never gave up, and Behind Closed Doors is one of the greatest gifts I have ever received. I absolutely love the show, and I love these students for keeping the flame going. I thank Mr. Zawilski and especially Tracy Wolcott for all the support. Mr. Rocha and Mr. Cruz deserve a nod for allowing them to do this as well.

    To the Cast, Crew, and entire Company of Behind Closed Doors, I thank you from the bottom of my heart, and I want everybody reading this to change your plans tonight and come out and support this lovely, lovely show.

    Thank you, thank you, and thank you.

    I’m beginning to believe in Angels.

    Take it home tonight. We all love you.

    Peace,

    ~H~