GREASE!

We are half way through the run of our musical for this year at Jersey Village High School. As the director I get to do a lot of wonderful things, artistically speaking, and as a teacher I get to work with lots of wonderful young talent. The coolest part is, that we never know who will actually pursuer this field as a career and maybe one day become a household name. I often tell my students that we competed against Renee Zellweger in the One-Act Play competition during her high school years & still have the flier listing all the students' names, including hers. Joseph Kahn is a product of our program, prior to my arrival, and still visits, generously offering his wisdom in the business as a film & video director. Who knew back then what they would become...and maybe one of the kids in these pictures will be next.

As a photographer I get to shoot productions, honing my skills and providing free head shots & portfolio images for my students. I can tell you, after shooting theatrical production for years, that shooting weddings is no more challenging, maybe even easier, than live theatre! Speaking of weddings, I will be shooting two next month, among my scheduled sessions & look forward to the awesome fall weather for the location wedding, as well as the night shoot for the local wedding. Our next production at JVHS? To Kill A Mockingbird. Stay tuned to my blog for images from both! Enjoy these shots & leave a note to let me know you were here :)

Actors Head Shots...

I always feel funny at work when I say to my students: "Who needs their head shot?" As a theatre teacher, director, and photographer I find myself saying variations of that a lot. Here are a few of the head shots I did for our upcoming production, Grease. Many of these young people are backstage running crew, not actors, but we shoot them all ;)  After we open this week I'll have some fun shots of the show!

Play rehearsals & Texas Wildfires

It's September. That means school (I teach), play rehearsals, and tight schedules. This year it also means another month of droughts, high temperatures, and costly wild fires in Texas. Across the state thousands of acres have been lost, homes burned, and lives taken. It will take years for our economy to get back where it was, which was not that great to begin with.

Meanwhile we get up every day, participating in our daily routines like nothing is going on...until we get that call to come help a loved one move their precious keepsakes before the fires reach them. We step outside to get the mail, or walk the dog, and there is an extra cloud in the air, a cloud that defies the natural order of things because it's red and smelly. It fills our lungs, activates our allergy issues, and keeps kids inside during recess.

This year we are producing Grease. Always a huge hit, and hopefully a good money-maker. The kids are great, talented, & fun to be with. They are also very compassionate and have been so sweet with their text messages of concern and understanding when my priorities shift away from them and onto my family during dad's need for help to escaper these fires.

For me the call came during rehearsal at work last week. Dad was told there was a voluntary evacuation & I ended rehearsals a bit early to head home, drop the boy at grandma's then drive north to help dad. The fire was maintained at a safe distance from him this last week, but still looms & slowly inching its way closer. So now we are continuing to pack & move more each day hoping that it's all for nothing. Too many people have not had that time. They have been told to get out immediately, not saving a thing, and watching as their homes burned to the ground. We count our blessing, pray for those less fortunate, and try to let others know what life in Texas is like this year.