Salutations

The Springer Opera House announced its 2009-2010 season last night. It's a pretty crowd pleasing season.

• Footloose
• Star-Spangled Girl
• Peter Pan
• Tuna Christmas
• Route 66
• Inherit the Wind
• Forever Patsy Cline
• Oklahoma
  
• The Complete History of America; Abridged

In the Children's Theater:

• Bambi
• Ramona Quimby
• James and the Giant Peach

A great season, yes? Tonight varied from past season announcement parties. Instead of the board of directors talking the night away, Springer Theater Academy students lead the evenings events. They opened the evening, introduced parts of the season, and talked about the impact that the Springer has had on their lives. It really was too cute to see little Dasha Nolan reading excerpts from senior essays. At the end of the evening, 100 Springer Theater Academy students stood on the stage and performed "Salutations."

What is "Salutations", you ask? "Salutations" is our way of honoring the past, acknowledging the present, and saluting the future. We stand on the shoulders of many who have gone before us and we know that if we do our work well, others will follow. The actual action of "Salutations" is a difficult thing to explain. You kinda have to see it. However, let me assure you that it is a powerful sight. And it is even more powerful to actually do it. I have to admit, I got a small surge of energy as I was going though the motions of "Salutations."


As a graduate of the Springer Theater Academy, I can tell you the difference between stage right and stage left. I can explain the difference between projecting your voice and yelling and demonstrate both. I can use voice inflection with the best of them and demonstrate body isolations. I can stilt-walk and improvise. But these are not the most important lessons that I learned, nor are they the most important lessons that Ron Anderson wanted students to learn when he first established the Springer Theater Academy over 12 years ago. Confidence, discipline, and focus are the lessons that that Mr. Ron imparts to hundreds of children every year. I have seen, and personally experienced, the impact that the Springer has on the community of Columbus, Georgia. The Springer provides a safe-haven for children to learn and grow, as individuals and as artists. The Springer provides the community not only with quality entertainment, but it provides educational opportunities for students in and around the Muscogee County school district. "Life Skills through Stage Skills." The Springer isn't training 700 more actors for Broadway. Instead, it is teaching kids skills that are invaluable for any career, be it doctor, lawyer, accountant, pastor, etc.

I am better person because of the Springer and the community of people that the Springer embodies. I understand and appreciate the history that is the Springer; the people that have gone before me, those that are experiencing it with me now, and those that are yet to come. I love the Springer Opera House for what it is and what it strives to be.

Arts Education

Part of my job at the Springer is serving as editor of "The Callboard." "The Callboard" is a news publication that we are working on getting out to the high schools here in the Columbus area. Our goal is to becomes the information hub for high schools in the southeast. However, we are starting out pretty small. In each issue we will highlight at least one school and have a calender of all upcoming productions from each school. Also, we will include a list of suggested books and movies, advice from the professionals at the Springer, letters to the editor, etc. We are very excited about this venture and what it can become.

One of the stories that I have been working on for our first issue has to do with obstacles within the schools, especially when it comes to the theater departments. All schools have obstacles of some kind, some more than others, and it seems that the Arts programs suffer the most. In an interesting conversation with a South Columbus teacher, the educator remarked that it was often her class that kids were pulled in order to prepare them for the graduation exam that is required to exit high school. I think that there are several interesting ideas behind this comment. One being the fact that it is necessary to prepare these kids specifically for the graduation test. Another being that these students are pulled from arts classes. Theatre, band, visual art, etc. I am going to have to address these issues separately. I am going to start with the latter.

According to school boards and administrations across the country, theater, visual arts, band, and other Art forms have no place in the public school forum. These classes are the first to have their budgets cut and the first departments to be cut out altogether. In fact, the arts are sooner dropped than any athletic program. Why is it that these classes are considered expendable? A child’s education consists of subjects such as math, science, English, and social sciences, as well as other subjects. There are no options given to students as to whether or not they want to take these courses. However when it comes to the arts, these courses are seen as electives and may be taken or not taken depending on the child. Why is it that we believe that math, science, history, etc, should be required and the arts can be pushed to the wayside?

I believe that Arts Education is vital to a well rounded education because of what the arts encourage and provide in a child’s life. As a student of music and theatre, I appreciate what the arts have done for me as a person. The arts provided a healthy and safe environment for me to grow as not only an actor and musician, but as a person. I learned how to speak in front of people of all ages with ease and comfort; I learned how to experiment with various methods of presentation without fear of failing; I became comfortable making bold choices; and I was afforded opportunities to learn how to lead and follow effectively in a group. I speak from experience when I say that children who experience the arts are better equipped to become the future leaders that our communities and our world so desperately need. Team work, discipline, commitment, and confidence are all a part of an arts education and are qualities that I do not think we can afford to exclude from any child’s educational experience.

Dispatches from (A)mended America

Saturday night I was a part of an interview process for a creative media piece called "Dispatches from (A)mended America." I will let you make your own judgment based on their own description of themselves.

DISPATCHES FROM (A)MENDED AMERICA

Background: In the 24 hours following the historic 11PM announcement of Barack Obama's landslide victory on November 4th, I saw a euphoria I had never witnessed before. People were beaming, dancing in the streets, congratulating me, making quiet yet meaningful eye contact with me. Even I -- who was more than skeptical about the likelihood that America would ever send an African American to the White House as late as November 3rd -- even I called my father in tears, held my wife in my arms. "It happened," I said. "We made it happen." "We did it" seemed to be the day's subtext, even among those who didn't vote for Obama. I felt it too. However, I also felt something that lurked behind the euphoria and the historic implications of the election: Now that we've elected a black man as President for the first time, what do we do now? What happens next? Is "the race question" answered? And what are we going to do with all of this hope and optimism and new found civility in American public life? I am curious if other people are having the same feelings of anxiety, confusion, anticipation, and yes, hope that I am. I want to find out how this election has affected the lives of individual Americans. I want to hear the personal stories of Americans as we head into this truly New Age, an age defined, for now, only by its potential.

In the month leading up to the Presidential Inauguration, I will be traveling throughout America with my friend and colleague Brandt Adams to interview Americans about this watershed event. The guiding questions will be: What does the election of America's first African American President mean to you? Has this changed your life and if so, how? Has this changed America? What do we do now? We feel we can best investigate these questions by soliciting real Americans' own stories of the 2008 presidential election through their eyes and in their own words. What are their hopes for the President elected on hope? What suggestions can they give to an Obama administration that would keep them engaged in the governance of our country?

The interviews, which will hopefully be digitally recorded either on audio or video, will form the basis of a documentary theatre piece called DISPATCHES FROM (A)MENDED AMERICA. Brandt and I, two displaced sons of the South, will begin traveling on December 28th along the same routes used by The Freedom Riders in 1960 and then make our way from Mississippi, North toward Chicago, retracing The Great Migration of African Americans from 1910-1940. Finally, we'll make our way eastward through Philadelphia, finally landing in Washington DC on January 19th in time for the Presidential Inaugural Ceremony. We plan to interview people in Farmville, Virginia, home to one of the school districts included in the original five cases comprising Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka; Greensboro, site of the first civil rights sit-in at Woolworth's; and Oxford, Mississippi, where James Meredith integrated the University of Mississippi in 1962. The fact that Brandt is a 25-year-old white man born and raised in Virginia and I am a 42-year-old black man raised in Virginia only serves to amplify the resonance of this project to us both personally and politically.

You'll be able to keep track of our travels on our blog, www.dispatchesfromamendedamerica.blogspot.com, where we plan to upload excerpts of some of our interviews and our thoughts on the journey.

The election of Barack Obama has initiated a time of both euphoria and fear. Euphoria at the prospect of America finally living up to the promise of the Declaration of Independence; fear at the immense challenges that lay ahead for our country and our new leader. Halfway between Euphoria and Fear -- what better place to create a piece of theatre?

I have to admit, I was a bit wary going into this interview. I had been asked to do this interview and I wanted to be a part of this project, mainly because I really do think it is a fabulous idea and I am super excited to see where it goes. However, I was aware of the possibility that the guys conducting the interviews already knew a little bit about me because of the connections that we have. Now, let me go ahead and state for the record, that I am not by any means ashamed of what I believe. However, because I tend to be more conservative and am a registered Republican, I was a little scared that I was going to be turned into the angry, white conservative lady that hates black people and "clings to her guns and religion." I know that I am not that, but I also know how these types of things tend to go. I was pleasantly surprised to find my experience to be quite the opposite. I was treated with the utmost respect and was questioned without my feeling that there were ulterior motives. In fact, I really like Godfrey and Brandt. They are pretty neat guys.

I was heavily questioned about my faith. Not in an ugly way, but in a sincerely curious manner. I believe that the best kind of journalist knows how to ask the right questions and then let the interviewee just talk. Brandt and Godfrey are very good at this.

Audio clips will be up soon and I will be following the blog on a daily basis to keep up with these guys. You can follow too with the link above.

I am still formulating thoughts on my experience with "Dispatches from (A)mended America." I will write again soon when I have more structured thoughts and comments. For now, I wanted to share the fact that I was a part of this project and make others aware of the journey that two random guys are making in an effort to make a difference. Rock on.

My Job

I enjoy my job a great deal. Actually, I really love my job. My job centers around children and education, but I also get to work behind the scenes or in the spotlight with the various productions that the Springer puts on. I am going to talk about both parts of my job, but today I am going to focus on one aspect of it.

I am doing my "day job" in the Academy office, but I am also working on "A Tuna Christmas" in Foley Hall. For those of you who do not know much about this show, Ron Anderson and Paul Pierce play about twelve characters a piece, men and women, adults and children. It is pretty darn funny. There are three stage hands back stage. I am one of them and Kern C. and Ben R. finish out the team. We have the most fun with the show when Ron and Paul are having a good time. I can't explain the feeling that I get when Ron or Paul walk off stage laughing to themselves about what happened on stage, the audience's reaction to what happened on stage, or both. The fact that they enjoy their job makes me enjoy mine so much more.

I found the same to be true when I was working on "Father of the Bride." Ron Anderson directed the show and his obvious enjoyment of the show and the people in the show made the experience all the richer.

I have been a part of Springer productions for the past ten years and I have always felt safe, loved, and cared for. Paul has a saying that I love to hear; "The first time you're here, you're a guest. The second time, you're family." How true that is.

Inspiration

As I walked into work this afternoon, I walked past the scene shop. A bevy of noises were coming from the room that holds a large part of the Peter Pan set. Hammers, saws, drills, and oldies music spilled over into the green room. I smiled as I continued my way up the stairs, but paused when I looked back over my shoulder and saw Paul Pierce, the Artistic Director, bent over a set piece, hammer in hand. It was a deja vu for me. One of my most vivid memories of Paul is from 2002. We were in the middle of our production of Annie, which was my first main stage production at the Springer. Something had fallen off a set piece moments before the curtain went up. Next thing I know, Paul, in his tux, is standing in a chair, nail in mouth, hammer in hand, fixing the set. I remember being somewhat intimidated by Paul at the time and seeing him do what any stage manager, scene shop dude, or technician would do, made me that much more in awe of him, but brought him more down to the level of human being for me. It was just as normal to him to fix the set as it was and is to work on the budget, plan the next season, and sell big ideas to major companies. What a wonderful example of work ethic and humility.

This is one of the reasons that I love theatre so much. We all work together to make sure the job gets done. From the Artistic Director working in the scene shop to the Lighting Designer also designing sound and sending a tour out, we all do what it takes to make it perfectly wonderful for our audience. It wouldn't be possible without every team member.

Speaking of wonderful shows, Peter Pan opens the day after Thanksgiving and runs through December 23. Call the Box Office for tickets! 706.327.3688

Goodnight, Moon.

Thursday morning, Mr. Ron took Kern and I to Atlanta to see "Goodnight, Moon" at the Alliance Theatre. I wasn't sure what to expect not having read the script, however I was ready for pretty much anything.

It is always interesting to me to see how other people approach children's theatre. There isn't necessarily a right or wrong way, in my opinion. There are general guidelines that most choose to go by, but the parameters are broad.

This Thursday morning at the Alliance Theatre seemed much like a Thursday morning at the Springer. Buses were pulling up, children were piling out, and teachers were counting and recounting heads. Mr. Ron remarked with a laugh that kids in Atlanta look a lot like kids in Columbus. He is a clever, clever man. But, I digress.

We took our seats several minutes before the show and my attention went, once again, to the children in the audience. They were excited and fidgety. As soon as the house lights went down, so did the chatter and you could hear the "Ooos" and "Ahhs" as the drop revealed a starry night and a man in a night cap, partially hidden by some "clouds". This was the piano player. The curtain speech was a recorded voice, which in my opinion is an unwise decision in children's theare. An actual person should, in my opinion, come out and give the curtain speech, giving the children someone to focus on. This allows for a thorough explanation of what is expected of the audience. Considering the age of the children in the audience, it was quite possible that many, if not most, had never been to the theatre before.

The house lights dimmed once more and the starry night went away, revealing in it's place the great green room. I was more than a little awe struck at the exactness of the set. It was as if the picture in the book had come to life. The characters were charming, the music bright and inviting, and the special effects were just the icing on the cake.

The Bunny, in particular, had a stage presence that grabbed the kids attention. The mouse did little to nothing for me, while the Old Lady-who-whispered-hush had a voice that made me melt. Her rendition of "Goodnight, Moon" had me in tears. (Shocking, I know.) The Tooth Fairy, Larry, made an appearance and the actor playing this character was just great. His deadpan humor and exceptional comedic timing helped to move the show along and secure him a place of admiration in my heart. He was fantastic.

The special effects are something worth talking about. From the lamp that moved to the clock with eyes to the covers on the bed moving to the end of the bed to the fireplace decorations that came alive to the doll house, the cow that jumped over the moon, the bears in the picture and the man on the moon, the effects were phenomenal.

There was only one moment in the show where they lost not only the kids, but me as well. The mouse had a ballad and for whatever reason, be it her or the song, the kids began to fidget and squirm...and so did I.

Overall, a wonderful experience. There is still time to see this show, as it runs through this weekend. Click here for more information.

Scrap Art Music

I have been meaning to write about this for a couple of days now, but things keep getting in the way. Like the election and voting and stuff. Anyway, my friend, Andy, works at the theater across the street from me and we were chatting Tuesday afternoon when he told me that he was loading in Scarp Arts Music. I knew I had friends going, but hadn't given any thought towards going myself. When Andy offered me his two comp tickets, I grabbed them. Who turns down free theatre?

I didn't look up the show until after I took the tickets, not that I wouldn't have taken the tickets anyway, but ya know...

Here's the description from the RiverCenter's website:

Self-described as “Music, Metal, Muscle and a Mini-skirt”, Scrap Arts Music is an engaging and inventive contemporary percussion ensemble that creates an outstanding music experience by combining instruments cleverly fashioned from industrial scraps with high energy choreography. Both visually and acoustically compelling, they create music that ranges from booming percussion to spellbinding soundscapes in a performance that is certain to grip audiences of all ages.

Fashioned from industrial scrap and offbeat materials ranging from accordion parts to artillery shells, Scrap Arts Music's one-of-a-kind instruments are as visually striking as their music is sonically riveting. Audiences from four continents have welcomed this electrifying quintet with unbridled enthusiasm, embracing their intoxicating mix of music, movement and spectacle. Transcending language, culture and age, Scrap Arts Music offers a highly physical, wildly theatrical and thoroughly entertaining taste of the musical vanguard.

Basically, it was Dave Holland and Stomp all mixed together. For those of you who don't know who Dave is, he is/was a local musician here in Columbus. He has moved to Atlanta since that is where most of his gigs are. Dave uses anything and everything to create a very unique orchestra of sorts. He can play anything and everything. His beats are jivin'. Yes, I did just say "his beats are jivin'." And yes, I just said it twice. But it's true. Ask anyone who knows him. And if you ever get the chance to meet Dave, you have got to see him dance. It's life changing, really. But, I digress. The point was to tell you about Scarp Arts Music.

There were four guys and one girl. I have to say, I was super impressed with the girl. She was just as good, if not better, than the guys. I guess the fact that I really only know guy drummers makes me a little bit awed by her.

All in all, a good experience. Having seen Stomp, this was kinda like a repeat or, as Anthony put it, the Green version of Stomp.

Thanks, Andy!

Children's Books

My co-worker, Kern, asked me a little while ago about my favorite children's books. I had to think about that for a minute. I have read a lot of children's books and I do have favorites, but they are pretty classic and not exactly what she was looking for.

My Grandmother used to read "Goodnight Moon" to me when I was little. I really love this one.


Curious George is another favorite. I don't know what it is about that little monkey that gets me so much, but he sure does get me. Ben Garcia has this little face that he makes that looks just like Curious George. So cute.

I am also a HUGE fan of anything by Beatrix Potter. Hunka-Munka was a personal favorite of mine, as well as my siblings. It was really just too much fun to say Hunka-Munka.

Also, a new favorite is Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse. I first heard of this when the Springer did the stage production two summers ago.


Another one that I fell in love with, although I was already in love with this one and I was just re-introduced to this one, is "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie" series. The Springer did "If you Give a Pig a Party" this past summer and it was just too cute!

Just a small reading list for the younger readers. SJC, take note, ok?

And so it goes

Leave it to Ron Anderson to make life a little more complicated than it already was. After leaving LaGrange College, changing my major thirty times (ok, it's only been six times, but still...), and falling in love with journalism and photography, I thought the whole theatre bug was out of my system. Even working at the Springer Opera House and doing Winnie the Pooh didn't make me second guess myself. However, Mr. Ron casting me in Father of the Bride and the process I have gone through with that production has made the wheels in my head start to turn. And I don't know how I feel about that.

In the long term plan that I have in my head, I see myself finishing school, moving to D.C. or somewhere similar and writing for a newspaper or freelancing and writing for several papers, being a photographer and going to crazy places to get the perfect shot, changing the world one picture and/or article at a time, and traveling a good deal. Theatre was not a part of this equation. And I didn't want it to be. I was burnt out and in need of something else. However, I find that this is a job that I enjoy immensely. I get paid to play, read, research, be someone else for a little while, and spend time with really interesting people. I get to be the diversion that people seek when the world goes to hell in a handbag. Because of my job in the theatre, I have a voice that people are listening to. I have the opportunity to impact communities, tell a story that has either never been told or has been forgotten, and relieve the stress that people are feeling in their everyday lives. I am a part of an industry that has survived wars, depressions, and economic recessions. I do like that.

I could be a writer and an actor and a photographer. Either way, I'll be poor. It's not like any of those professions are something that one chooses to do for the money. I could still work with children and be apart of the arts education movement that I am so passionate about. I could freelance and finish that book. I could take pictures on tour, do headshots and other various shoots. This could work. It really could.

Thanks a lot, Mr. Ron.

Opening Night

There is something about opening night that is nerve racking, exciting, and terrifying all at the same time. During our cast and crew meeting, our director told us that there are two things that actors think about right before they go on stage; "Is my zipper up?" and "What is my first line?". He's right. I checked my dress and kept repeating "Good Morning, Everybody!" over and over again.

Nerves didn't really hit me tonight. Rehearsals have been so productive and that provided a sense of security. That along with the fact that we have a fantastic team of actors on stage working together to pick each other up should we fall.

Today was a nice, relaxing day. A late morning rehearsal, lunch with Anthony, a trip to the GAP and an errand for Anthony, a trip to Barnes and Noble, back to the theatre for a radio spot (Listen to 95.3 in the morning from 6-8:35), and then we had our first show. Nothing strenuous. I was relaxed, focused, and ready to attack the show with vigor and gusto.

Great audience tonight. They seemed to love the show and we most definitely loved them. Being able to hear how an audience reacts to certain moments made the night fun for all involved.

If you want to read the article from the paper, click here.

The show runs through November 1st! Come see it!

"POOH" Closes

I played my last show for Winnie the Pooh last night. One part of me is sad, while the other is so very glad that I can now focus on just one show. The highlight of my night was the fact that Micah, Tricia, and Sara James Carver, along with Tricia's mom, Mrs. Darrah, all came to see the show.



I was more than thrilled to have them there and to be able to hang out with Micah, Tricia, and Baby Smith afterwards. Nights like last night are my favorite kind. Good friends, good food, and chocolate cake. Oh, and mixed tapes. Is there anything better?

Here's to closing a good show and opening another in 6 days. Cheers!

**Photos by Micah Carver via Mrs. Darrah's camera.

Father of the Bride

I'm sitting in rehearsal on a break and I wanted to let you all know that I am still alive. I know that you were all wondering. My blog posts are further apart and I haven't been seen for a few weeks. I've been living at the Springer. Or at least that is what it feels like. In truth, I have just been in rehearsal, going to school, and trying to squeeze in lunch with my mom, a phone call with my dad and siblings, and all my Young Life friends.

Rehearsals are going well. We blocked the show within the first two days. We have been working through since Thursday of last week, which is pretty good. Today, we are working the first act. Stop and start. Stop and start. Stop and start. I love this part because this is when we actually start to talk about the show and what we mean when we say so and so.

As we move further into this process, I will post part of the journal that I am keeping during rehearsal. (That's for you, Ansley!)