Category: Uncategorized
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For Posterity and for My Team
Below is the speech I wrote for the acceptance of the Outstanding Program of the Year Award for Theatre Unlimited: Greetings, everyone! I’m delighted to stand before you as the Director of Theatre Productions for Theatre Unlimited. Joining me are Whitney, our esteemed Music Director, and Justine, our very talented first-time Stage Manager who’s proven…
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Solar Eclipse, 2024: Unearthly Beauty
At the height of the eclipse yesterday the birds grew quiet and the coyotes began to call to one another. The muted light and the cooling temperatures prompted the nightly routines of the animal world as though the moon was playing a joke on the creatures below. Nocturnal nature squinted their eyes open and stretched…
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Passion is Born, Not Borrowed
I’ve never thought of myself as an advocate for anything. To me, the word itself conjures images of cantankerous people wheeling and dealing in backrooms to pump themselves up while deflating other people. I’m not sure why I have this general opinion of the word, but it’s worth mentioning here because someone introduced me as…
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Living in the Opposites
“Whatever you decide is your motivation in the scene, the opposite of that is also true and should be in it.” –Michael Shurtleff A couple nights ago I watched the film The King’s Speech. In it, there’s a scene where Colin Firth, playing King George VI, steps up to the microphone to deliver the speech…
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To Love and To Lasso
“Your job as actors is to understand the size of what you say, to understand what’s beneath the word.” –Stella Adler, The Art of Acting As human beings moseying across the landscape of our day-to-day lives, our thoughts prompt our words (whether we’re actively cognizant of this order of things or not). We think a…
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The Resilience of Actors
I sat next to a young man who was trying not to cry as tears ran down his face. He began, “I don’t do well with change.” “I know this is a difficult moment,” I said. “Change can be hard.” “But people tell me it’s good.” “It can be both,” I replied. “First it’s hard,…
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Don’t Be a Bully
“We’re a team, right?” All the actors responded in unison, “Yes.” “That means when we come to the theatre we all share the same objectives, right?” “Yes,” again their voices swelled in a chorus or boldness and certainty. “With that in mind,” I continued, “imagine my surprise when I heard there has been some bullying…
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Flawed Diamonds Still Shine
“I made a mistake.” “That’s okay, Miss Jill. This is rehearsal. It’s a great place to make mistakes!” All of the actors on stage agreed in a chorus of support. “Thank you for your graciousness,” I smiled. “Let’s move on!” Before this month, it had been a while since I last blocked a play. Blocking,…
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Creagious January
The sky has been white for nearly a week. Maybe more than a week. How could I possibly remember how long this singular day has gone on and on? The only differentiations I’ve noted are that the dome above grows brighter for a few hours and then it grows dark again. Oh, and sometimes it…
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Sonnet: By Flesh and By Bone
In shadows cast ‘gainst flickering wallsI see projected tales of love undone.A once-shared journey, now on yester scrawledAs fleeting moments fade like setting sun. ‘Neathe popping flames reduced to embers’ endUnfettered words from bold to muted dim.A hush, a gasp now slide to flattened wend–Retired ashes hum in silent hymn. No stalwart breath can soothe…
Necessary Whispers 