For the first time in many years, I’m looking forward to enjoying to the fullest my favorite season of the year. I’m beginning to become a bit impatient with the 80-degree temps that have followed us into mid-September, but I have plenty of time to wait.
Beginning back in 1997, each fall would coincide with the beginning of the school year, which meant lots of photo opportunities for the newspaper, but that also meant very few nights at home. During those years I was doing my best to cover boys and girls sports for different combinations of Lake Benton, Lincoln HI and RTR, so there was an opportunity to go to a game most nights. Mix that in with other school events as well as city council and school board meetings and it would seem I’d be home long enough to shower and sleep. It was fun while it lasted, but since I was run out of the newspaper business I’ve finally been looking forward to a fall and winter that affords me a bit more time to lollygag.
I still fill up my evenings about four months each year with Opera House obligations, but would be lost if I were ever forced to give that up. This fall I get a bonus in that I get to spend those evenings with my wife Kathy, who is part of the cast of “Delval Divas.”
The cast consists of six “divas,” and I get to spend about six weeks pretending to boss them around. Of course they allow me to feel like I’m in charge for the most part, but I really have no recourse if they decide not to take my direction. It’s not all that different from being married. I get to make the decisions they allow me to make.
Kathy Wilmes of Tyler plays the part of Stella Wild, a former Wall Street wizard; Teresa Schreurs of Tyler returns as Rosemary Adams, who single-handedly brought down several financial institutions; Becky Clipper of Tyler is back on our stage as Linda Robertson, who skimmed money from HMOs; Opera House veteran Sara Vogt of Tyler plays the part of Beth Ziegler, serving time for technology crimes; Beth Reams of Brookings, SD joins us as Sharon Watson, accused of murder; and Kim Wylie of Brookings, SD plays the prison guard, Lucille. Beth and Kim are appearing for the first time on our stage.
I always enjoy summer musicals probably in part because of the feeling of satisfaction when I complete something of such enormous proportions with my sanity intact. That is somewhat tempered by the fact that it is hard to say if any of us really know the state of our own sanity. That is probably better judged by those around me.
The fall play, however, is different in many ways. The most notable is a small cast lends itself to a camaraderie that you don’t get with a cast of 40. More often than not cast members remain friends for many years. Of course there is also less stress with no music or choreography to direct.
This play is relatively new compared to most we’ve done in the past. Four women are sent “up the river” for a variety of white collar crimes. The women are all chronically rich and by lining the warden’s pockets, as well as the prison guard, they end up living a very cushy existence at the Delaware Valley Correctional facility. Manicures, pedicures, massages, catered food, and satellite TV are some of the many perks these convicts have procured. Life is good until they learn that one of the four is being released and will be replaced by a woman accused of murder one. Come see the play. It is a hoot. Opening night is October 2 with shows on October 3, 4, 9, 10 and 11.
Until then, I’ll be enjoying the act of pretending I’m bossing around six women. That is, if they continue to allow me to pretend…
Top Ten Comments You Don’t Want To Hear From Your Cast…
10. “When do we get our first paychecks?”
9. “How about THIS Mr. Big Shot Director…I’ll look over my lines on page 23 when we get home tonight. As a matter of fact I can take care of that while you are out in the garage setting up your cot.”
8. “I’ll just come out and say it. My doctor says I have H1N1.”
7. “What? You want more emotion? Come here you Bob Fosse wannabe, we’ll give you more emotion.”
6. “Hey there Tubby, why is the candy dish always empty?”
5. “Yeah, we’ve been talking and we’ve decided we’re going to be using real alcohol on stage.”
4. “Whatever! Diverticulitis, Diverticulosis, what’s the difference?”
3. “Oh, by the way Mark, we voted on it and we’ve decided to let you go.”
2. “I hate my picture…you’ll just have to redo the posters, newsletters and advertising.”
And the Number One Comment You Don’t Want To Hear From Your Cast:1. “I’m sure I told you at tryouts that I wouldn’t be able to make opening night…”
Beginning back in 1997, each fall would coincide with the beginning of the school year, which meant lots of photo opportunities for the newspaper, but that also meant very few nights at home. During those years I was doing my best to cover boys and girls sports for different combinations of Lake Benton, Lincoln HI and RTR, so there was an opportunity to go to a game most nights. Mix that in with other school events as well as city council and school board meetings and it would seem I’d be home long enough to shower and sleep. It was fun while it lasted, but since I was run out of the newspaper business I’ve finally been looking forward to a fall and winter that affords me a bit more time to lollygag.
I still fill up my evenings about four months each year with Opera House obligations, but would be lost if I were ever forced to give that up. This fall I get a bonus in that I get to spend those evenings with my wife Kathy, who is part of the cast of “Delval Divas.”
The cast consists of six “divas,” and I get to spend about six weeks pretending to boss them around. Of course they allow me to feel like I’m in charge for the most part, but I really have no recourse if they decide not to take my direction. It’s not all that different from being married. I get to make the decisions they allow me to make.
Kathy Wilmes of Tyler plays the part of Stella Wild, a former Wall Street wizard; Teresa Schreurs of Tyler returns as Rosemary Adams, who single-handedly brought down several financial institutions; Becky Clipper of Tyler is back on our stage as Linda Robertson, who skimmed money from HMOs; Opera House veteran Sara Vogt of Tyler plays the part of Beth Ziegler, serving time for technology crimes; Beth Reams of Brookings, SD joins us as Sharon Watson, accused of murder; and Kim Wylie of Brookings, SD plays the prison guard, Lucille. Beth and Kim are appearing for the first time on our stage.
I always enjoy summer musicals probably in part because of the feeling of satisfaction when I complete something of such enormous proportions with my sanity intact. That is somewhat tempered by the fact that it is hard to say if any of us really know the state of our own sanity. That is probably better judged by those around me.
The fall play, however, is different in many ways. The most notable is a small cast lends itself to a camaraderie that you don’t get with a cast of 40. More often than not cast members remain friends for many years. Of course there is also less stress with no music or choreography to direct.
This play is relatively new compared to most we’ve done in the past. Four women are sent “up the river” for a variety of white collar crimes. The women are all chronically rich and by lining the warden’s pockets, as well as the prison guard, they end up living a very cushy existence at the Delaware Valley Correctional facility. Manicures, pedicures, massages, catered food, and satellite TV are some of the many perks these convicts have procured. Life is good until they learn that one of the four is being released and will be replaced by a woman accused of murder one. Come see the play. It is a hoot. Opening night is October 2 with shows on October 3, 4, 9, 10 and 11.
Until then, I’ll be enjoying the act of pretending I’m bossing around six women. That is, if they continue to allow me to pretend…
Top Ten Comments You Don’t Want To Hear From Your Cast…
10. “When do we get our first paychecks?”
9. “How about THIS Mr. Big Shot Director…I’ll look over my lines on page 23 when we get home tonight. As a matter of fact I can take care of that while you are out in the garage setting up your cot.”
8. “I’ll just come out and say it. My doctor says I have H1N1.”
7. “What? You want more emotion? Come here you Bob Fosse wannabe, we’ll give you more emotion.”
6. “Hey there Tubby, why is the candy dish always empty?”
5. “Yeah, we’ve been talking and we’ve decided we’re going to be using real alcohol on stage.”
4. “Whatever! Diverticulitis, Diverticulosis, what’s the difference?”
3. “Oh, by the way Mark, we voted on it and we’ve decided to let you go.”
2. “I hate my picture…you’ll just have to redo the posters, newsletters and advertising.”
And the Number One Comment You Don’t Want To Hear From Your Cast:1. “I’m sure I told you at tryouts that I wouldn’t be able to make opening night…”
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sounds like a great show!
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