The Imagination Blog

The King and I is off with a big bang!  More than 124 people auditioned for our fifty some roles- what a huge group of talent to choose from.  It took us a full week of call backs to be sure we gave everyone a fair chance to show us their talent- and of course to match the talented actors in groupings that made sense- be it families, lovers, etc.

A huge thank you to our dedicated staff who made this all run smoothly.  We have an amazing cast and an amazing support staff- it looks to be a fabulous show.  Be sure and check out our first photos of some of the children with Anna by clicking on the King and I icon on our homepage.

This week the focus has been on the classroom scenes, and we are starting to work on creating characters.  Our wives have learned to “stop drop and bow” as soon as the King enters in the ancient way of Siam- to quote the script “crouching like toad”.  Ouch those knees!.  The support staff learned something this week too- ladies in hoop skirts take up twice as much room on stage as actors in regular clothing. We spent last evening redesigning portions of the set to make sure we can handle quick exits in large costumes.

And speaking of children..I began work with the Royal Prince and Princesses last evening- and all were asked to be able to describe their character in three words:  an adjective (who I am) an adverb (how I do things) and a verb (what I want).  Then they wrote a journal entry as their character, telling what they think about the new teacher Mrs. Anna.  The results were awesome! One young actor wrote the following as his character:

“I feel so honored to be chosen by Father to be tutored by Mrs. Anna.  Even though my father the King is a little scary to me, I hope to become one of his favorite childrenby honoring him and doing well with this tutor.  I also hope to impress Mrs. Anna and become one of her most excellent pupils.  My mother said this is a rare opportunity, so I will try to take advantage of this as much as possible.”

and another creative young talent wrote:

“I am excited and determined to be a good student and to take advantage of the opportunity I have been given.  Also, hopefully to get noticed by the King and Mrs. Anna.”

Fabulous character development!  These kids are learning to create a real personality on stage and bring this character to life.

I’ll close this post with a smile… and a testimony to the power of technology.  Our youth actors were assigned the task of researching Thai culture and choosing a Thai name for their character as homework.  By the end of the evening several of them had already found a name; using their down time to search the internet with an iPhone.  Cool!

Cory Wilkerson, director

As I write this blog entry, the cast and crew of The Boys Next Door have just completed one week of performances.  We are gearing up for our last four shows later this week.  I have been fortunate to play the part of “Arnold” in this production. 

I titled this entry Connections because it is my best attempt to summarize this great experience.  You see, because this is my first time on Hershey Area Playhouse’s stage, I had no idea what to expect when I auditioned for this play.  Needless to say, the connections I have made with the people involved with this show have been wonderful.  Helpful, passionate, and creative are just a few of the words to describe these folks.

I’ve also enjoyed connecting with my character and, in turn, connecting with the other characters on stage.  Some of the actors in this play portray people that we may, for whatever reason, have a difficult time connecting to in real life.  Catching a small glimpse of what life is like for others, helps us all grow.  Plus for me, it’s an incredible experience to feel such dynamics from the other actors on stage.  And, I REPEAT, my fellow cast members have a fantastic sense of energy. 

One final layer of connections with this production involves the audience.   Wow.  The audiences who have come to see the show have been amazing.  Thank you for allowing us to connect to you and letting yourselves connect to us.  The experience has been tremendous.

For me, playing a role in The Boys Next Door has been an opportunity to make a lot of connections on different levels.  And, for this, I’m grateful.

John Mohn, Jr.

Involvement in community theater is something that has been on the periphery of my desires for many years, but one that I neglected to pursue until about eight years ago with my first appearance with Hershey Area Playhouse in Bye Bye Birdie.  I’ve since performed in a number of productions with The Playhouse, Theatre Harrisburg and Lebanon Community Theater.  I’m currently in rehearsal with The Playhouse in a production entitled The Boys Next Door.  The story centers around four developmentally challenged men who live in a care center and their rapidly burning out overseer.  My role in this particular vehicle is a minor one, that of a state senator heading a subcommittee whose purpose it is to determine whether continuing social security benefits for one of the residents is warranted.  The process of pursuing a role, auditioning, rehearsing, and performing is in my opinion in many ways a microcosm of the total life experience.  It contains the elements of desire, preparation, rejection, acceptance, adulation, enlightenment, competition, frustration, pressure, community and satisfaction.  Everyone desires to have a leading role, of course, and it has been my good fortune to experience that on several occasions.  Talent aside, there are factors that limit one’s suitability for particular roles, such as age, gender, physique, appropriate pairing with other actors, etc.  In every case, bringing a production from the first read through, hundreds of hours of rehearsal, opening night and the final performance has been very positive for me, regardless of what role I am assigned.  I am particularly thrilled to have a small part in this production.  

The Boys Next Door is a play that touches me in a personal way, as I feel it will anyone who has had occasion to interact with anyone who is developmentally challenged.  In my case, I had a second cousin, now deceased, who developed normally until the age of four or five years when an illness and subsequent high fever halted his intellectual growth.  He was drafted during WWII and the army kept him for about 90 days or whatever length of time it took for them to determine that he was just not capable of military service.  Although I’m sure the experience was frightening for him, it turned out to his benefit as he was given veterans’ preference in hiring for a civil service job at the now defunct Olmstead Air Force Base.  When asked what he did for a living, he would proudly respond, “I am an unskilled laborer.”  His secure employment resulted in a marriage to an opportunistic woman who took command of his life and his paycheck.  She died young and he lived with his mother until her death.  After his retirement, he came to work for me in my antique business.  My mother became his overseer at that point and I provided a place for him to live in one of my properties.  Interacting with Mac on a daily basis frequently brought to mind the well known phrase, “There but for the grace of God……..”My wife, Lois, and I participate in a ministry for developmentally challenged adults in our church.  I see them in the very talented cast of The Boys Next Door.  I hope that you will choose to join us as we present this magnificently written story.

Harry Menear

As you may have noticed I haven’t put a post onto this blog for quite a while. Not for lack of interest, but more due to a lack of time. But I’ll try to make up for it now. Andy Ladd, the character I played in “Love Letters” talks at one point about all of the letters he’s required to write to family and friends while away at school. He explains how he once skipped a weekly letter to his parents, and was then forced “to write my parents three pages to make up for the week I missed.” Though I’m not required to “make up for the week I missed”, I’d like to do it anyway.

THE SHOW

The show was great. I mean, I’ve very proud of the production we staged. I hope people liked it because we sure did. It was a fun show to be in. It didn’t hurt that my wife is great, and funny, and beautiful. We laughed a lot back stage. And found the humor in each others gaffs. I, for example, did the entire first act one night with my fly open. (Normally I’d charge extra for that, but I decided to let it go just this once!) Terry, for reasons we are still unsure of, decided to skip half a page of the show one night. As you know, we held our scripts, so as soon as the words she was speaking became different from those I was following on the page, I began to panic. I started to sweat because I had no idea where we were in the show. Then out of my peripheral vision my eye caught a word she was saying on the next page, and I was able to “catch up” before it was my turn to speak. They really need to make an “actor grade” anti-perspirant!

THANK YOU’S

I can’t thank everyone enough for the way they welcomed Terry and I to the Playhouse family. Paul Thompson, the Chairman of the Playhouse, and Tony Pingitore, the Vice-Chairman, literally met us at the door when we arrived for our first rehearsal. That was really cool of them. We really appreciated it. I should add that it was our pleasure to meet them that night, and to get to know them throughout the production.

Stuart Landon, our Director, is simply wise beyond his years. For the past two decades “Love Letters” has been staged like a portrait. Two actors sitting side-by-side. Static. Stuart, for the first time ever, looked at “Love Letters” and instead of seeing a portrait he saw a dance. He managed to create a flowing, moving production, that seemed to connect with people in a way they hadn’t imagined. Many people came up to me after the show and told me that they simply loved the direction of the show. Many had seen it before, and were sort of embarrassed to suggest that they had previously thought “Love Letters” was “boring”. This time around, they said it “had life” and it really spoke to them. That’s all Stuart’s doing.

Also, like bosses or coaches, directors have different techniques for bringing the most out of their employees, athletes, or actors. Stuart’s technique is kindness and respect. He said he enjoyed collaborating. In my past experience that usually meant, yes, tell me what you think, I’ll listen, smile, and then disregard what you said. In every instance that we brought an idea to Stuart, I felt he was really listening. Some of our suggestions were better than others, but still, regardless of the quality of our suggestions, he still listened. And often, to my surprise, he took an idea and incorporated it. This spirit of collaboration made the entire process enjoyable. To come to the theater and feel like I didn’t have to leave my creativity at the door was a great pleasure.

If you are an actor and have the chance to work with Stuart I strongly suggest you jump at the chance.Thank you Stuart.

Derek Dunham is technically the “Marketing Director” of the theater. He is definitely that. But I can’t think of an title that truly captures the amount of work that he put into this production. He gave more of his time than I thought possible. For example, one afternoon Terry and I were invited to be on the WITF radio to talk about the show. We weren’t going to be able to do it because we could get a sitter. But Derek said he’d handle it. He took time off of work and met us at the station. He sat with our son for an hour while we were on air. This he did because he’s a great guy and good friend. But also because he knew it was important for the Playhouse to get the exposure it would garner from being on the radio that day. This from a volunteer.

I told Derek that this level of attention is what Terry and I used to pay a manager 15% of our income for. I also told him that it would only be fair to pay him the 15% that would normally go to a manager. So Derek will be getting a check for 15% of our salary from “Love Letters”. (That check and 5 cents will get you a nickel!)

Thank you Derek.

There were two of us in the cast, but we couldn’t possibly do the show without the people who VOLUNTEERED to be on the crew. They were there every night. Their commitment to the show was unmatched, and we can’t thank them enough. But I’ll try.

Thank you to Mark Cuddy (Producer), Susie Gruber (Set Designer/Costumer), Amy Schedler (Asst. Set Designer), Linda Knapp (Props), Aileen Hower (Makeup/Hair), Jayme Paluskievicz(Stage Manager), Tim Banis (Sound Designer), Dillon Lewis (Lighting), Theresa and Pete Ridge (Lighting Design), Samantha Bates (Asst. Stage Manager), Marley Amstutz (House Manager), Karen Dundore-Gulotta (Wardrobe), Michael Feldser (Photographer), our Ushers, Box Office Staff, and Concession Stand volunteers, and everyone on the Board of the Hershey Area Playhouse.

It was more fun than a barrel of monkeys. (And when you think about it, is there really any place you’d rather be than trapped in a wooden drum with a bunch of rabid simians?)

THE AUDIENCES

Terry and I were having fun rehearsing the show. We really enjoyed to coming to the theater and working. But when we took to the stage the first night, and heard the laughter from the audience, we felt like we were in a different world. It was magical. There is nothing like live theater. Actually, if I’m completely fair, live theater can be as painful as gum surgery. I’ve performed in plays that had more people on the stage than in the audience. That hurts. But every night we performed at the Playhouse we had an audience that was right there with us - sharing in the experience of the moment.

For everyone who came to the show, for those who wrote about it in the press, for those who brought a friend along or encouraged a co-worker to come and see the show, we thank you. Personally, for giving us your support. But also for supporting the arts in our community.

I truly think the Playhouse has only just begun. Mark my words, with your support, the Hershey Area Playhouse will soon be the cultural center of our community.

THANKS AGAIN TO EVERYONE!

Brian Baker & Terry Farrell

A while back while my wife was cleaning out some closet she found a box of letters I sent her while I was on a Navy cruise in the Mediterranean. It was pre-internet; telephone communication was by trans-Atlantic cable and expensive, so letters and the more modern technology, cassette tape recording, were the only way to keep in touch. My writing was not very profound, but it awakened the feelings of separation I had and the longing to know how life fared for my bride across the ocean. Our separation was only a few months, but I wonder what I might have said in letters over a longer time span.

Tonight, Barbara and I saw Brian Baker and Terry Farrell in Love Letters as they portrayed Andrew and Melissa over 50 years of their lives as told through a series of letters to each other. It occurred to me that, like Andrew, I have always expressed my feelings better in writing than in person. I suppose the modern emoticon is technology’s answer to those who don’t have time to find the right words in the urgent immediacy of emails and text messages

But Love Letters is more than the longitudinal correspondence of childhood friends. Andrew and Melissa complement each other by their differences. She is the emotional fire he can not get elsewhere in his otherwise highly successful life; he is the grounding she has never had to keep her flame contained where it can produce light and warmth instead of destruction. One could read the script and get the idea, but Terry and Brian put flesh on the characters’ bones.

How many of us have wished for the opportunity to “do over” some time of our lives? Several times in the show, I saw that look on the characters’ faces – “if I had only…” That’s the beauty of theater – the intimate emotional sharing between the actors and the audience. And at Hershey Area Playhouse, the intimacy is almost palpable.

Don’t miss this production. And when you get home afterwards, take out that old Parker and write to someone – in a letter.

All the best,

John Messmer

Being involved in community theatre for a little over three years, I am continually amazed at lessons learned by bringing a group of “strangers” together 4-6 weeks prior to am production and observing the process of multiple personalities and people becoming one team as the week of production approaches.

I have read the posts by Brian and Stuart and I am personally touched by the imagination, creativity of both but, more importantly, the passion of the focus of all the players and support staff in producing a great performance.

As a former senior corporate executive, there is so much to be learned by this process. I only wish that the business world which always talks about teamwork would send representatives to view this process. There are no guidebooks, policies, chains of command … there is simply a total commitment from all participants produce an excellent product! Excellence happens because of passion and commitment of all the players on the team on stage or backstage.

In advance, after watching a rehearsal last week, I’d like to congratulate the entire “Love Letters” team for what I’m sure will be a fabulous performance.

BREAK A LEG!

Putting on a play is a lot like building a house. The script is the blueprint, the author is the architect, and the director is the homeowner - the chief decision maker. The actors, I think, are the interior designers - trying to add some color to the place.

So if doing a play is like building a house, then “Tech Week” is the moment when the electricians, the plumbers, the carpenters, and the roofers all show up at the same time. That is what we are facing over the next few days.

Tech Week usually takes place the week prior to a show’s opening night. It’s the time when all the technical elements of a show are brought to life. The lighting designer hangs and sets the lights. All of the props are incorporated into the production. Costume designs are finalized, and all sound effects and cues are set. For the actors Tech Week is all about starting and stopping - moving from one cue to the next and back again.

Some actors dread Tech Week. I happen to love it. It’s exciting. It’s the moment when all  of the creative forces are teeming, and, well, “team-ing”. I love seeing people working together. It’s inspiring. And it’s really nice to feel the sense of community that comes at this time in the process.

Often, decisions regarding the technical aspects of the show are made by the director and/or producer in conjunction with the designer. The actors are usually out of the loop. So frequently during Tech Week we, the actors, are seeing things for the first time.

Music, for example, is one of the elements that is incorporated during Tech Week. Music is an element that we often take for granted. We really shouldn’t. Music has the power to set the mood for the whole show. And often that mood is set before the actors reach the stage. So if the wrong mood is set, the actors can wind up swimming up stream in an effort to undo the mood that has already been set. Think of the music from, say, “The Three Stooges” shorts (“Three Blind Mice”, remember?). Well that sets the tone. It’s says “Get ready to laugh!” A funeral march would, of course, say something different.

ADDENDUM : I didn’t have time to finish this post before I had to leave for rehearsal. So the rest of this post comes after Day 1 of Tech Week.

Wow! The lights are up and set, and the show is really coming together. We were able to run all of the light cues for the whole show in the first day. We’ll spend the rest of the weekend working out any kinks, and getting everyone comfortable with their respective assignments. Costumes have been discussed, and will be finalized today. We’ll be attempting to run the entire show IN COSTUME today.

Costuming is an element that really effects how the actors feel about their character. Something as simple as the shoes you wear on stage can change a performance. Think about it this way. What would change if you had to leave the house for work tomorrow wearing cowboy boots? (Assuming, of course, you don’t already.) You’d probably walk differently. You’d be taller. People would see you differently. All these things effect an actors performance.

Working with costumes for the first time also effects a performance in more practical ways. I did a show once where I was wearing wool knicker and a wool vest, over a heavy cotton shirt. We’d rehearsed for month without costumes, but as soon as we ran the show, under hot lights, wearing clothes as breathable as a dry cleaning bag, I found myself nearly fainting by the end of the first Act.

I’m looking forward to the rest of this important week. Everyone is bringing their A Game. Each and every person working on this show has shown a level of commitment and professionalism that is unmatched. It’s been a pleasure to be a part of this. It’s been a ton of fun, and I think everyone is anxious for Opening Night. I can already tell that the show we will be presenting will be something special.

We asked John Mallonee to kick off our “Playhouse Tales” by telling the story of how he came to Hershey Area Playhouse. An excerpt from his tale was in the Winter 2009 issue of Bravo! The Magazine of Hershey Area Playhouse. His complete story is below – enjoy reading it, then share yours. Simply register, then click to add a comment, and let our community know how your journey led you to Hershey Area Playhouse.

My Playhouse Tale
By John Mallonee

I’d like to welcome all of you readers to a personal story about getting involved with the theatre. Hopefully this story shows that it’s possible to turn an interest into an avocation and that you don’t have to be a professional to be a performer.

First, let me introduce myself. My name is John Mallonee and I’ve lived in Hershey for the past 20 years. I grew up locally and became more of a fixture in Hershey after taking a summer job at Hersheypark during my college years. It was there that I met my lovely wife Kelly to whom I’ve been married for over 23 years now. I’m a member of the Hershey Lions Club and for the past two and a half years have been a member of the Hershey Area Playhouse family.

My journey into theatre was a long time coming as I temporarily became involved with the drama club in 9th grade. However, the acting bug didn’t find fertile soil and I wouldn’t be close to the stage for some time to come. My next opportunity to perform for an audience came years later in the strangest of places. While working in an office environment, my area started a tradition of having a Christmas Pageant each year.  We had portrayals of various classics including Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer, Frosty the Snowman, A Charlie Brown Christmas, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and many others. I found out how much of a ham I was as I played many characters in a small lunch room in front of coworkers and some of their children. I even took many turns as a director and producer and have been the holiday coordinator for many years now.

Fast forward to 2002 and an inspiration that got me started on the final stretch to an involvement in community theatre. My father, whom I love and admire, took on a few small roles in The Music Man with the Twin Valley Players. Watching my Dad and seeing my first Broadway show (Beauty and the Beast) really stirred the performing bug in me to the point where I decided to try out for a Hershey Area Playhouse musical.

It was 2004 and the summer show was to be The Wizard of Oz. Director and Hershey Area Playhouse founder Skip Becker had recently talked to our Lions Club about the Playhouse and I took the plunge and tried out. It was my first attempt to land a role in any show and I could tell that many others were regulars. I did the singing and dancing (or something resembling it) and finally did some improvisation for Skip. It went well enough that I got a call back the next day for the role of “The Tin Man”, and as I pictured an emerging dream coming true … I didn’t get the part.

Well, although I had tried not to get my hopes up, I was nonetheless very disappointed. When 2005 rolled around, I took the plunge again with Oliver! and this time … I still didn’t get a part. So in 2006 when I tried out for Cinderella, I wasn’t expecting much. It seems that destiny intervened as this time I got “the call” and found that I had been cast as “The Herald” and my career had begun. It was one of the most exciting personal experiences I’ve ever had and it helped me to realize a thrill that stays with me to this day. A little over two years later, I’ve had the good fortune to act and sing in 5 productions at the Playhouse and look forward to many more.

Getting a breakthrough part in Cinderella gave me continued confidence and desire to try out for other parts. It didn’t take long when I saw one of my childhood favorites scheduled for the Fall of 2006: A Christmas Story. This is certainly an overall family favorite, but it was also a personal one for me. The heartwarming, comical nature of this piece of Americana struck me from the first time I saw the movie, and I knew that I just had to be part of Hershey Area Playhouse’s production.

During the volunteer appreciation event, I tracked down the director, Tom Curry. I knew that I would be out of town for the scheduled auditions, and Tom was gracious enough to give me a personal audition prior to departing. While I was out of town, I got the great news that I had been cast as “Ralph” who was the narrator of the show, and the mature persona of the younger “Ralphie.” It wasn’t until I got started with rehearsals that I realized how big a chunk I had bitten off, as there were very intricate and verbose lines for me to memorize. However, it was also then that I got to work with the wonderful cast and crew, both young and young at heart. I’ve formed some Playhouse friendships which I continue to maintain to this day.

A Christmas Story was to be the last show for Hershey Area Playhouse prior to the new and wonderful venue, as we performed at the old Mikasa store (now The Disney Store) at The Outlets at Hershey. With some loving care from the crew, we transformed the vacant store into the house on Cleveland Street. I relished every night and afternoon of being able to be such a big part of a production with such a great team. I love the feeling of being in our permanent home, but I still reminisce each time I stroll past those windows and think about the lights and the official Red Ryder 200-shot carbine action range model air rifle with a compass and this thing which tells time built right into the stock.

So, now you know a little more about me, but more importantly, I hope that I’ve shown that having a dream can be the first step to being a part of local theatre. Even if you don’t have a theatrical background, it’s never too late to take a chance.  I was a mature adult (okay, maybe not quite the right term) before I ever got started and my inspiration and father proved it even more so to me.  So, what are you doing hanging out in the shadows? The spotlight and audience is waiting…

It dawned on my while I was sitting on my couch last night, staring intensely at my new flat screen. Even though we didn’t have LOVE LETTERS rehearsal yesterday, I feel I learned something about directing in that moment. Well, really I REALIZED something about why I love directing. (Emphasis on the “I” and the “love”.) More specifically, of course, I realized why I am loving directing LOVE LETTERS.

Recently I started working at Arcus, a terrific company in Hummelstown. Here I will insert the much needed Arcus Marketing information, due to the fact that I work in Marketing at Arcus.  Ahem.

Arcus is a nationally-recognized staffing, recruiting and direct placement firm. Our team of recruiters is dedicated to helping you grow your business.

There. I’ve done my duty. And happy to do it, too! You see, it is important to give Arcus a nod because Doug Firestone, the CEO, has agreed to Arcus being a Sponsor of the show! (Insert wild applause here. Doug bows. Curtain closes.)

So, back to my life-altering epiphany. The Arcus Apprentices were interviewing me for their first project. Okay, they weren’t JUST interviewing ME. They were interviewing all Arcus employees but REGARDLESS… during MY interview they asked ME two fantastic, eye-opening questions. They also asked me what body part would I make bigger or smaller and why. After giggling, I responded, “I would want my eyes to be bigger so I could look like and anime character. You can really tell what they are thinking. Very expressive.” But that was not the question that opened my eyes, which are a fine size by the way. No, the questions in question were:

1) What are you most passionate about? “Hm,” I said. “What am I most passionate about, huh? I guess I would have to say communication.” (The Apprentices  smile politely.)

2) Describe yourself in one word. (I know, I know. This isn’t a question, per say, but I described it as such for simplicity’s sake.) I replied,”Wow! Er… Ah… Uhm… well… geez…” (The Apprentices stare blankly.) “Uuuuuh… Oh! Yes! I know! Collaboration. I mean, I am a collaborator!”

While I was playing my Wii last night, I realized I have thought about those two words before but never in such simple terms: I am wild about communication and collaboration. Those two little-ish words  is why I am having such a gosh darn great time directing Terry and Brian in LOVE LETTERS. They are superb collaborators and very talented communicators. The show is leaping off the page, off the stage. I could dare say the same thing about Derek and my entire production team. And I dare! Everyone involved with this already beautiful piece of theatre is devoted to creating something together (collaboration) that looks great, sounds great, and means something (communication).

“I am so proud of the show!” I thought. “LOVE LETTERS is gonna be great!” Then I rewarded myself with another round of Guitar Hero.

The pressure is starting to rise. As the month of January moves into its latter half, I realize we are now less than a month away from Opening Night. Yikes!

I can’t continue without acknowledging a huge boost we all received recently by way a wonderful article in The Sun. Aura Hill, a reporter from the paper, and Nathan Merkel, a photographer, came to the theater to interview us for what was supposed to be an “article” about the show. However, what was ultimately printed was more than I could have imagined - a full-page, color-photo montage of our rehearsal, and a half-page, beautifully written history of our production.

Terry and I saw the paper the night it came out. We stopped by a local convenience store to grab a copy. It was snowing and the temperature was in the teens, but I heroically ran into the store so that my wife could remain cozy, warm, and listening to Dave Matthews. When I returned to the car - my core body temperature in the single digits - we turned the overhead light on and flipped through the paper. When we saw the photos, we just sat there. “Wow!” was all we could say. It was beautiful. (Any Hollywood production would die for this kind of publicity.) It was so nice in fact, that I had to run back into the store to buy the remaining copies.

Nathan’s photos truly captured the feeling in theater that night. One photo in particular, taken from the control booth at the top of the theater, showed what a wonderful space we have at the Playhouse. It’s a modern facility, yet it is cozy and extremely intimate. The sight lines are wonderful - there truly is not a bad seat in the house.

It was getting late so Terry read me the accompanying article out loud as we drove home. After each paragraph I kept saying “Wow!” and she kept saying “Let me finish!” I let her finish.

Aura did a fantastic job of telling our story. It’s funny when you read about yourself because you know your own life story. When there are errors, you know it right away. (I once did an article with a major city newspaper only to find it peppered with errors. Errors which, I would later find out, were cut and pasted from an unofficial “fansite”.) But this article was perfect. To be honest, I had a feeling it would be. We were only few minutes into the interview and I could tell that Aura was really listening.  She asked thoughtful questions, and followed up our answers with new questions. She didn’t just run through a list. It also didn’t hurt that she was a very nice person. Terry and I just liked her from the start, and it was our pleasure to talk with her.

It’s probably clear that the article meant a lot to us - for many reasons. Sure, we need and appreciate all the attention we can get. We want people to come to the show. But the Playhouse is about more than that. It’s the community’s hub for the Arts. It’s inclusive. It’s there for everyone, and that message needs to get out.

In one of the photos in The Sun article, you see a group of folks standing on the stage having a discussion about the set design. There, in the middle of the pack, is a friend of ours, Amy. Several years ago, we met Amy through a business contact. Since then we’ve gotten to know her, but, again, our relationship was based on business. One day she told me that she was interested in doing something creative with her time, and she mentioned an interest in design. I suggested to her that she might consider volunteering to do set design somewhere. Ironically, it was a just a few weeks later that Terry and I got involved with “Love Letters”. I called her and said, “The time is now.” I told her about the show, and told her I’d be happy to give her name to the theater if they needed help. Weeks went by, and I hadn’t talk to her. But the night The Sun was at the theater, there was Amy, notebook in hand, emerging from a production meeting. Terry and I were thrilled to see her. She is now a part of the team, and to me, that’s what community theater is all about.