MN Theatre Conference today

A Saturday with other teachers/theatre directors at the Arts High School today (Nieland was sick so I went up with Cassman).

Highlight was David's Mann's show about being a HS director at Holy Angels and seeing a student "organic" show by juniors about Joseph Cornell and his boxes, along with a bit of ballroom dancing with Lisa Weaver, who wondered again why no students were signed up for the Conservatory if JM had such a great theatre program. . .

Last night saw Ibsen's "When We Dead Awaken" at the Commonweal - v. nice show. I'll gladly share my views with you. . .

Oh, and consider coming to Lanesboro on September 12 and 19th -- something exciting for me here in Lanesboro! Okay, here's another hint.

Now I'll go up and take a peek on my bedroom wall at my wedding photo, and right next to it, my prom photo with Sara in 1988. Happy Prom!!

Theatre JM

Theatre Awards Night: May 19th. Everyone is invited, seniors are in charge, dessert is on me and Cassman! Dress to the nines!

And, shameless request to boost PageRank, link up this blog on your own websites!

and. . .scene!

Ah, enjoyful. You are beautiful!!

Not only artistically fruitful, but 800 seats sold too, a new record.

What a wonderful show; I'm blessed to share my passion and joy with so many creative and gifted people willing to work so hard. Thank you.

Seniors -- keep in touch. Check the blog next April to see how the production is shaping up, and if you're in town (especially Saturday night) we'll make a reunion of it during strike and have that be an annual tradition.

Underclassmen: I'm more excited today about next year's show than ever. I'm quite serious when saying that if we can make RAGS work (which we did and we should not ever underestimate), imagine what we can do with a "standard" musical. Keep the fire burning.

Speaking of which, we have two specific opportunities for actor growth:

1. Commonweal Theatre Conservatory: two weeks on site in beautiful Lanesboro working with professional actors. Starts in mid-July and only costs $150. Pretty amazing opportunity.

2. Guthrie Summer Conference: at the new Guthrie (it will only be one month old), you have workshops with the best directors and actors in the nation -- no kidding. Add in the hotel, free tickets, great food, 300 theatre freaks, and Ms. Nieland and you're bound to have an amazing time. August 10-13, just $100.

This will be the final post for RAGS; next I'll be posting about my summer graduate program, which looks extraordinarily rigorous from the recently arrived syllabus. Feel free to use this space to offer final comments/post-mortem about the show.

Eric