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 :)

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.

When actors shoot rockets...

My son goes to work with me three mornings a week. While waiting for class to start he will always grab his rockets & run out on stage looking for my students to play with him. They willingly & politely participate hoping the bell will ring soon so they can get out of it.

Then there are those days when I think they are having more fun than David! They often get quite a workout before the day has even begun, regardless of who is the instigator!

Then there is that lovely part of the game where every actor really lives: the death scene. After a few games with my actors David is now running around yelling "DIE! DIE!" while they dramatically & emotionally die a thousand deaths as they pay homage to Hamlet and others.

 That's right, everyone is open game in this hunt. Friends turn on each other when the rockets are in their hands!

 And just adding as an after topic, WHEN did my son go from a size 8 to a 10??? I had to go get him new shoes because none of his fit all of the sudden! He chose these red Vans. None other would compare. He even wore them out of the store. I guess they make him faster when he's running away from a rocket!