March 15, 2007
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The Daily News
1 A very happy birthday wish to our own Shawna Fleming, who turns 21 today. Something like that. We love you man!2 Yesterday I got a phone message from the classic YB guru Mr. Paz Rocha. He is preparing a wonderful surprise in a few weeks and I went over to YB to talk with him about it.3 He wasn't in, so I wandered into the good ol' Theatre. The door was wide open and it felt wonderful walking in. Ah, the good ol' Theatre.
4 Nobody was in there, so I went back into the piano lab, which is exactly as it ever was.
5 Students were rehearsing for Bullshot Crummond. Cam was there and I was amazed at how really good she has become as a director. It felt so nice to see another Drama production in the works. GREAT cast, very funny and talented, and they were working out some of the stage combat bits. Some very fun ideas and stunts, and lots of laughterr going on.
6 Seeing students working in the lab and laughing as all of us have laughed was quite sweet. There was a lot of history behind those laughs. Same laughs, different people, but really, lots of us who laughed in that same room, in that same building.
7 The students had some hilarious accents going on.
8 Sidebar: right when I wrote the word "accents" Jay Leno SAID the word "accents".
9 The only reason I mention that is that this DN originally began as a piece on synchronicity because I got two back-to-back e-mails from people from the distant past last night, and I had just thought of both of them, even mentioning one of them earlier in the evening. Totally unrelated people from two entirely different generations of Drama people.
10 The piece I originally had written was all about synchronicity, but I canned it because most people aren't that fascinated by it. More air being poured out of a Dixie cup.
11 Moving off: Off the sidebar that is. I'm going back to where I was when I was interrupted by yet another coincidence. Where were we? Oh yeah, same laughs, different people, but really, lots of us who laughed in that same room, in that same building.
12 It doesn't matter if you graduated in 1982 or if you will be graduating in 2007, that same room, that same building has had laughs and great joy from years and years of Drama Workshop productions. It's the room where Under-the-Clock took place, along with many, many years of laughter, tears, joy, and the excitement that happens moments before major productions.
13 Midway through watching Cam directing so beautifully, I looked over to her and asked if the students were signing up for classes. She said they were right now. I then asked if they offered Drama next year.
How backstage looked once, long ago...
14 The answer hit me like a truck.15 No. They are offering Dance, but not Drama.
16 Those of you in the know must realize what that answer means.
17 My heart dropped as I watched the students rolling around like puppies, laughing and enjoying the same laughter that has been the very heartbeat of that building. I enjoyed the banter, the lines, the accents, the seriousness and the frivolity.18 It was just wonderful watching a show being put together by students, and watching how much Cam has grown as a director. She knew right when to praise someone, right when to stop and laugh, and when to step in and stage things. The students know how to run the program, and it was really fun.
19 I stayed a bit longer and then bade them all a friendly good-bye. It felt so great.
20 I got back out to the stage and a parent meeting was being set up. The girl setting it up came up to me with the wireless mic.
21 "Can you help me? I can never get this thing to work!"
22 I just smiled. "Sure." I pushed a few hero buttons and soon it popped on loud and clear. She thanked me, and I went out to the TOOOOOONDRA, drove around to my old portable and turned to leave. The sun was setting behind me, a beautiful sunset.
23 They aren't offering Drama next year.
24 I went through the old familiar parking lot. It felt grand.
25 I drove back up Lucretia Avenue up towards Tully, past the apartments and all, just as the sun dipped behind me. It felt all so warm and familiar. I went over the hill, merged onto 101 and headed home, as I had done a million times before.
26 I'm looking forward to the Show.
27 I guess that's about all.
28 I'm just looking forward to the Show.
29 Peace.
~H~
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