Play's Wake Monday Morning Musings

The play is done.

For me, there is not a new one coming, at least for awhile.

I am left with the accounting reality, made even more intense because of the time of year it is.

Not having been in a musical since 2001, and never having performed one on the Ritz stage, I was struck by the number of people who assisted at all levels.  There was a lot of people on stage acting, but that was only the tip of those involved.  We had Director with two Assistant Directors, a Choral Director, a Music Director, lighting and sound people, a band of fifteen or more, a choreographer, a costumer, and many more. It was an awesome effort, involving many, many people.

One of the great things about these huge musical productions is that we have multiple family members involved.  Children and parents, cousins and friends, newcomers and veterans - just an incredible range of people.  There a variety of religions and ethnicities, diverse political opinions and cultural interests.  But everyone is working together to achieve a common goal - to entertain hundreds and a have a blast while doing it.

I want to thank all those who took the time to show me friendship and kindness in the show.  KImberly Beck, it was a great pleasure to finally perform with you and Emily on the WACT stage.  Taylor Hereford, our marvelous Music Man, you are a great talent and a generous and kind person.  Brittany Peacock, it was wonderful to get to know you and my other stage daughters better, including Emily Beck, Mallan Gill, Amara Grace Jeffords and Taylor Mulkey.  It was a blast being able to talk to so many others, including Tom Etheridge, Brenda Luke and my stage "wife", Nikki Spivey.

It's going to be difficult not being in the next one.  There were many of my friends whom I was hoping to work with again  I encouraged them to try out, and then I let them down by failing to get cast.  It was the first time I'd fallen short in some thirty years, and the very first time I failed at the community theatre level (the other three failures were at theatres that were more professional or semi-professional).  I will miss the most the opportunity to act onstage with my good friend, Anita Lynn.  She had been in two other plays where I was not able to try out, so I thought we were finally in sync, but alas, that was not the case.

Theatre has been vital in my life in helping me get through the long tax season, helping me face spending so much time doing something that is well, something I do to keep the lights on.  The May play is especially important as it helps give me light at the end of the tunnel.

But I have other interests to keep me spinning ahead, and a wonderful, loving family.  And even if I can't be onstage with them, I have looking  forward to seeing so many of my friends from the viewpoint of an audience member.

And we can't forget - March Madness!  Go Wolverines and Spartans!

Better start filling out my bracket now!

I Went a Wednesday Wandering

It's a whole week of themeless madness!

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Benjamin's play/skit last night was AWESOME!  He did a great job of a scene where it was just he and a girl, and he came across as charming but awkward and shy dater.  He showed to me that special spark that makes one an entertainer.  He delivered his lines clearly and realistically.

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Rarely am I as stunned by election results as I was last night.  The final polls showed Hillary Clinton winning Michigan by double digits.  Instead, Bernie Sanders won!  The media kept thinking that Hillary would pull it out, but Bernie got double the percentage of the African-American vote that he was getting in the South, and it made the difference in the end.

This helps ensure that Bernie will be able to go until the end, planting the seed for Progressive victories in the future.

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On the other side, the vast majority of Republican voters have decided they want an a...hole for President, either the bigoted, narcissistic fascist Trump or the nasty Christian Dominionist Cruz.  Rubio is now a real nowhere man, and Kasich may be the last great hope to prevent the Republican Party's complete destruction.  He has to win Ohio, or Trump wins the nomination.  O Republicans! Ye know not what you do!

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Speaking of which, so there is no confusion, I am not now nor have I ever been, a Clintonista.  I have always thought they were a bit smarmy, and more than a tad too corporate.  But no one needs to operate under the delusion that I would ever vote for any of the Republican candidates over Hillary Clinton.  She may be far from perfect, but she is a hundred-fold better than any candidate on the Republican side.  It's not even close.

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Tax season drones on, the corporate deadlines hanging over me and my colleagues. Getting past it may only be a psychological barrier, and not that meaningful in relation to the stress, but I will be grateful when that deadline is over, anyways.

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I used to hate zucchini.  Now Alison has used them for a substitute for pasta, spiralizing the zucchini and seasoning it just right.  It really tastes better than regular pasta.  Surprise!

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I wasn't sure that I could hold my weight down during this intensive play period, coming home so late after The Music Man, and usually ravenous after being onstage.  But so far, so good - actually even going down a bit!  Maybe at tomorrow's biometric screening, they won't use the "O" word (Obese).


And now, I must go a-wandering in the land of tax returns and windowless attics.

T. M .strait

My Six Stage Daughters

Pictured from left to right: Taylor Mulkey, Emily Beck, Tom Strait, Brittany Peacock, Mallan Gill and Amara Grace Jeffords.


Yes, Yes, Yes.  I have been blessed in life with my three sons: Greg, Doug & Benjamin.  

But, alas, I have no daughters.

Well, theatre has helped make up for that!  In the last three plays I've been in, I've had SIX daughters!  - double my number of sons!

Taylor Mulkey plays Zaneeta in The Music Man, the slightly defiant one who is hip and up to date with 1912 culture.  She is a junior at Pierce County High School.

Emily Beck played Anne Frank in The Diary of Anne Frank.  She is the daughter of my good friend, Kimberly Beck, and I have watched her grow in the theatre since she was a wee one.  If you missed this great show, there may be more opportunities to see it in the near future.  Stay tuned!

Brittany Peacock played my daughter in Dearly Beloved.  She is a very gifted young actress, whose facial expressions and reactions are extraordinary.

Mallan Gill plays my second daughter, Gracie Shinn, in The Music Man.  She is enthusiastic and very responsive, very impressive in her part.

Amara Grace Jeffords played Margot in The Diary of Anne Frank.  She is another who I have had the pleasure of watching grow up and mature into a great actress.  She was at my church, Grace Episcopal, and had been prominent at the Flying Dragon, the wonderful children's theatre founded by her parents.

Not pictured is Elizabeth Beck, Kimberly's older daughter (just a month younger than Benjamin).  She also played Margot on a second run of The diary of Anne Frank.  Elizabeth, like her sister, I have had the pleasure of watching grow in the theatre.  She is also a fine dancer and a basketball player.


The Music Man starts Thursday, March 3rd, and runs through Sunday, March 13th.  Make me and my "daughters" happy and come out and see it!
Oh, yeah. Benjamin is in it too!

Cruel Intentions Monday Musings

How is this cruel?  Other than the usual I-have-go-to-work blues?

It's cruel to me because I'm about to list comments that would ALL generate response if I put them individually on social media rather than post them here.  It's like I'm deliberately putting myself in a vacuum. Oh, well.  No plan is perfect.


The Oscars

Since the DVR, I have learned to speed watch the show, so there may be some things I missed.  Chris Rock was a great host, and his commentary was spot on, and did not go over the top.  Lady Gaga's rendition of her nominated song was a show highlight.  The In Memoriam segment is always overwhelming - you don't realize how many we've lost until they run through it.

A number of films came up winners, with Mad Max winning the most, thanks to the technical craft awards.  I highly enjoyed Leonardo DiCapria's speech for his Best Actor win.  I don't mind them using their speeches to make a political statement, especially when it's for something as incredibly important as recognizing global warming.  We're running out of time, folks.  Whatever can be done to focus our attention, I'm all for.

Spotlight may be a good movie, it may even be a great one.  But it's most definitely NOT a ripping good yarn.  It's something that could easily be seen from the home, and the kind of movie that is often made directly for HBO. For my money, Star Wars: The Force Awakens is the best picture of the year.  It wasn't even nominated.

Politics

Yep.  No doubt about it.  Bernie got his ass handed to him in South Carolina.  The worst part of it is he has been unable to add significant numbers of African-American voters to his coalition.  I think he could gain them in time, but I'm not sure there is enough time.  Certainly not by Super Tuesday.

But this is a marathon and not a sprint.  Clinton is not always an effective campaigner, particularly when she's in front.  And I feel Bernie's message is too vital not to take all the way to the convention.

So, yes, absolutely.  I'm still feeling the Bern.

There's not enough time this morning to say all the disgusting things I'm feeling about Trump.  I just wish my Republican friends who know enough to be reviled by him will stay firm and prevail against unleashing this monster upon us all.

The Music Man

This is the beginning of Hell Week, where there are long rehearsals and then performances every night through Saturday topped with a Sunday matinee.  This is on top of a hellacious work week, with a slew of tax deadlines to cope with.  It will make one question one's sanity is choosing to do theatre.

But sometimes, when I'm front of an audience, and I can feel them respond and react, it makes it all worthwhile.  I love applause and appreciation, and that sure don't happen in accounting.

And it's going to be a delight to be onstage again with my son, Benjamin.  He has multiple characters, solo singing lines, and an incredible dance scene.  Me?  I try to be funny and not trip too badly over the furniture.

Until next time,

T. M. Strait

Backstage The Music Man Cross the Crick at the Ritz!

One week to go!

The backstage cramming and concentration has already begun!  Nikki Spivey, who is fortunate or unfortunate enough to play my wife, Eulalie Mackacknie Shinn, counts the pages until she goes back onstage.  

Kimberly Beck leads the way across River City's romantic footbridge.

Professor Harold Hill, played by Taylor Hereford, stands on the footbridge waiting for his new sweetheart.  He only looks tall because of the size of the bridge.  He's not really tall.  You would know that if you saw the way I towered over the bridge.  Then you would know for sure who was tall and who wasn't.  So now you'll just have to see the show to know.

Who's that kid dancing the Shipoopi?  Why, that's the BenJerMan hisself! You'll have to come to the show to catch this triple threat!

We interrupt this rehearsal for a brief "Funky Chicken".