Death Takes a Holiday

      Producing a show...it's like birthing a baby. Months of preparation, lots of labor, areas getting bigger than originally expected, etc.... the result is (hopefully) something beautiful, full of life, and the source of wonderful memories for the rest of our lives. I am blessed to have a great job teaching theatre to high school students. I am equally blessed to have fellow co-workers, friends, who help take the load off. Dan Kutsko is one such friend. He and another friend, Angela Kinman, help each season by directing shows so the students get more opportunities on & behind the stage. WE just opened Death Takes A Holiday, our third show this year. My job involves climbing tall ladders, building sets, hanging lights, coaching acting, sometimes directing, and so much more. In the end, when I sit in the audience and watch the current production I see that "so much more" part. I see all the work the students did, the support from the parents (thanks God for parents!) and the AMAZING creation of the performing arts. The fact that I can reach out & touch lives, not just as a teacher, but as a producer of the theatre, and the blessing of getting to see the joy in the hearts and minds of the patrons who come see our work is such a grand reward. There is no doubt in my mind that, as we work, Death does take a holiday. I see only Life!

 The view from the tech booth is always a great perspective. These crew members know the show well enough to sit & run lights & sound from computerized systems that take lots of training to master.

 Young women in beautiful gowns is always a grand thing to see! Such classic elegance.

 I loved this shot, but I hated that the stage lighting caused a bad blowout of his face, so I did the antiquing to help make it work.

 Many shows have choreography required for the production. We love giving this opportunity to the talented dancers we have in our program.

 Catching the dynamics between actors is an exciting thing to experience. When actors develop a bond that allows them to create one moment between two people so beautifully everyone gets blessed.

 This shot was taken during intermission. The actor was sitting by the lamp on the set behind closed curtains & I grabbed a shot, then as he realized the look I was going for he posed for another shot. This was that other shot, & love the look!

 Ahhhh.... me at work!

 Actors helping with the tech work...the best way to get versatile & insure a successful career in the theatre!

 I just had to play with the look she gave for the shot! Which do you prefer?

 This is going to be one my all time favorite moments! The director, Dan Kutsko, was helping the lead actor get dressed before the opening curtain.

 No show can open without the leadership of an amazing stage management team. The organization required to produce a show is demanding & these are two of the three students who made it work! The other is back in the tech booth while these two are backstage.