HAIRSPRAY and JUSTICE

Sometimes, I think that I write these entries into the blog and no one reads them. It's one of the reasons that my writing has really slowed down this past year. Thursday night, however, someone told me something that reminded me that people do read the blog even if I don't know it. So, I'll try to do better and write more often...

HAIRSPRAY is closing today and it will be very sad. We've had a great run of the show and the crowds couldn't have been better or more receptive to the show. Some have asked why we didn't to the show as an opening musical - longer run, more opportunities to see it. First of all, I think part of the success is the partnership with Midland College Music and Drama - the 12 college kids in the orchestra and the 14 college kids in the choir performing have added so much to the show (and that wouldn't have happened on the opening musical). In addition, the Yucca Theatre has been a great venue for the show (and the opening musical would have been in Davis Theatre I), and some of our actors might not have participated with January rehearsals and six weeks of performances. It will be sad to see the show end today - but I'm sure that feeling will wear off when we're 2 hours into strike!

We opened the 2010 McLaren winner THERE'S NO JUSTICE JUST COURT COSTS last night. The cast and crew have worked very hard to get the show ready for opening weekend, and I know that they're ready for an audience. For the third time in my 15 years in Midland, I've had to remove an actor from the show during technical rehearsals - in this case, the actor was trying but he simply could not learn the lines and it was holding the show back. We replaced him on Tuesday night before we opened, and it's been an uphill challenge for the director (Gene Houk) and the incoming actor (Carl Moore). However, I must give full credit to the actor who was asked to step aside - he did it with grace and understanding. Working with volunteers is an important part of our work in community theatre, and it's never easy to make this kind of decision. We all hope it works out for the best.