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Camp Now Open…Season II

July 16, 2009. Late starting this journal…then it became obvious that there are so many “unique” things to Camp Sunshine II that it might warrant recording…We’ll see. Entire cast back except for Laura Young out having babies and Jess Lotz…haven’t heard from her a long time. I feel badly that she wasn’t cast in Into the Woods… I’m sure she’s rethinking her decision…oh well…I have a sneaking suspicion that Miss Stephens can find her way around the dances without being stepped upon. A weird thing…last night I played a gig in Belleville…a convention…300 ladies and me… one of which actually WAS a former Miss Arkansas Beauty Contestant. For once I didn’t plug my upcoming plays.

No need hiding the fact…this one has me worried…not the cast, but the staging...just two bunk beds for set pieces… the Pittsfield stage such a dinky little thing.. going totally Karaoke (although I think that’s gonna be an amazingly good idea).. So far no cast member has contacted me to say he or she has to miss a rehearsal..Thank God with only 4 rehearsals..or is it five? This morning when I woke up in Belleview I went to the breakfast area …we were at “Our Lady of the Snows,”…. A spooky place for a Presbyterian boy… and when I went in to grab a muffin and coffee to have with my morning devotion, I was mobbed. Half flattering, but mostly hilarious…all the ladies were gathered for breakfast after their four-day conference and each wanted to talk about last night’s performance. Cut to the chase: I had to go out into the “Meditation Garden” to get a little peace before lighting into Metro East rush hour traffic. I opened my devotion…Camp Sunshine much on my mind… and the theme was “Be not afraid.” I don’t know whether God was speaking to my anxieties about the play or the Metro East traffic, but it was clear he was speaking to me. Got in the Honda to pull out and a little old gal pulled up on her motorized scooter, asking to buy a CD from me. “Uh…I don’t really have any CD’s of me.” She frowned, “I have a brother who’s crippled and can’t get out of the house. You really should have CD’s for people like him.” Can you spell G-U-I-L-T?

Going over to Pittsfield next week to gauge the actual smallness of the stage…dear Lord… Be Not Afraid, Ken. And of course the cast assumes I have this all thought out. I’m glad they don’t know any better.

Rick called today to invite the cast to nosh and relax a bit in the skeleton of his new home while we’re in Pike. Hope we can work something out.

Outstanding coverage in both the J’ville and P’field papers this morning….Sweet! Pittsfield took their first four reservations as soon as the church opened this morning. Sweeter! Lord….I know… Be Not Afraid..

July 18, 2009. Saturday. Okay, I’m prejudiced. I hate talent contests. They promote the very attitude I’ve tried to fight all my life in education…comparing of the arts…turning them into a spectator sport instead of a celebration of the unique talents given to everyone. I see no biblical precedent for putting kids up on a stage and having them judged publicly. And it’s even worse when it’s badly handled… Some of our loved ones took the stage for the Cass County Idol last night in Virginia…Michael & Hope plus a buddy named Phillip and some others. When I left after three hours, my back unable to watch Michael compete in the final round (judged by the amount of money the audience would pay…wow!..a true judge of talent!)…I had had it. Poor Hope fluttered a bit in her accapella round and the clueless judges took this as a fault in her singing. She was out. Phillip fell in round two. Michael was hanging in their for the final five when I left. Three local radio personalities, none of whom were performers, tried to imitate the American Idol judges while the MC did his level best to make all humiliation public, calling the contestants onstage so we could see the disappointment of the losers, then purposely dragging out the agony..and the audience, hyped up on dreams of demolition derby and professional wrestling, hooted and hollered and ate it up. Dear God, it was America at its worst. Laura, Hope and I took a nice little walk through the scenic Virginia park after her fate was announced, meanwhile, Roger had driven to Virginia for a final-round event that didn’t happen. He didn’t mind..it was good to see everyone again. But dear God, we can be so very stupid at times. Like I said after my last talent contest, this is my last talent contest. Maybe I’m the stupid one.

Encouraging words from Brad and Cathy this morning in response to my “Make it Work” email: (Make it Work)... was already in my thoughts as a plan of attack !! Actually...... can't wait..... love these challenges of different venues.. I think it helps bring the show back to life. Brad

I feel like a kid in front of a candy store waiting for the door to open!!  I love this show!! Kathy

Monday, July 20, 2009. Was to take our committee of four to New Salem last night to watch Heritage and make our plans for restaging our show…and, as often happens, the committee of four became a part of one. The play itself last night didn’t take much mind to follow so I tried to mentally block us onto the beautiful outdoor stage. Met with the Theatre manager briefly and in a five minute conversation was reminded of how much work it is to move a play’s venue.. Dear Lord, give me the mind to get all this done…twice. 10:30 a.m. God gave me a nice gift this morning. Frankly, the world seemed to crash in last night as the concerns of both theatres hit in a single evening, but this morning I was to rehearse with a group for whom I’d written a show…a small show…about their company. I’ve worked with this group for many years, writing their annual show and rehearsing their non-actors. This year they wanted something more meaningful and today I drove to their boardroom for a run-through. It was wonderful…just wonderful…we were nearly all in tears at the show’s climax. God knew I need this… if you are faithful in the small things…

11 a.m. Just got a call from Saint Janet, God love her, who’s been digging through the Theatre Guild office piles to try to find costume and prop bits…most of which we would forget about it were it not for her being on top of this. I often live in fear of forgetting things, but Janet eases my mind. A Saint.

Tuesday, July 21, 2009. Picked up Travis this a.m. and headed to Pittsfield to see what God hath wrought. He’s wrought us a stage that’s even smaller than I’d imagined. Glad Travis was there. Maybe he can help me make the point to the cast of just how “intimate” a setting we’ll have in the land of white-tailed deer and pickup trucks. Rev. Michael apologized for the cramped surroundings, but it’s not his fault and we’ll make it work…our mantra: Make It Work! Travis seems to be on top of his plans…hope that holds true for everyone. Ran into Carrie yesterday as I came out of rehearsal for another play. She works for the company doing the show. Got a much-needed hug. Sometimes that’s all it takes.

July 23, 2009. Thursday. Sort of a pre-rehearsal warm-up in my back yard tonight as pieces of the Camp Sunshine and Workin’ It Out casts met for a very sandy volleyball tournament. One hopes the dancing is better. Michael, Jess, Trav, Logan, and over a dozen others are still back there picking sand out of their tutus.

July 25, 2009. Saturday. And tomorrow we go at it again. It’s a common occurrence to close a show with the cast saying, “Oh, we must do this again!” The adrenalin and joy of the moment….but in nearly all cases when an opportunity actually presents itself the same cast members have lost their enthusiasm. From what I’ve been able to glean, that’s not been the case with Camp Sunshine. I guess we’ll see tomorrow night as we grace Faith with our presence. This one will be a bit rougher, a bit more anxious, and perhaps a bit more exciting considering the small amount of rehearsal time. And I find myself in my usual position of “Why did I start this?” as the problems begin to mount up…the challenges, rather. Preparing for shows long-distance is not comfortable…relying upon others to do the things I usually do myself brings anxiety. And all the time God says…Trust…trust…trust. It’s hard. I’m trying. I will.

At 2:30 this afternoon my new Lincoln play is going onstage at the Old State Capitol and for the second time I’ve not been able to see the show..In fact, I’ve never seen it. While I blissfully play a bride down MacMurray’s aisle, Mrs. Lincoln will be sulking in her Springfield bedroom. She’s miffed that I haven’t been able to come see her performance after two runs. Maybe it’ll come out on DVD. She can’t understand why I can’t drive 30 miles to see my own play. I asked her to call the bride and explain it.

Here We Go…..A Leap of “Faith” Sunday, July 26, 2009. And so tonight we begin at Faith Lutheran. I wish I could travel ahead a bit in time and read tomorrow’s journal entry. It’s an anxiety, but not like beginning a new show… the pressure of a short rehearsal schedule…the joy of returning to a show we love… some other anxious folks tonight no doubt. Excited Facebook messages from Laura and Hannah this morning. This morning’s minister did me a favor and preached his usual dull sermon, allowing me time to think of tonight’s rehearsal. I’ve been hoping/praying all week that I’d not receive a single “can’t make it that night” for rehearsals and so far I’ve heard nothing. Of course, from half the cast I’ve heard nothing anyway.. Okay..stop worrying… trust…and read the script again over lunch. 12:15 p.m. Ah well, the phone calls started just before noon… Do you have my….? Was I supposed to get….? Does Janet have my…? At least we’re all realizing the rehearsals begin tonight.

Monday, July 27, 2009. A night of mixed blessings. I guess that overall it was wonderful and a great start. Act I zipped…sparkled…then we were hit by a truck called Act II… one actor carrying a script onstage, many had forgotten the timing of their entrances, the order of scenes, and by the time we reached the end the train just ran out of steam…plus it was nearing 10:30 and we were all just tired. Much of the night was spent learning the new music cues and Roger had done a great job of providing what we needed…It’s just that after 10 p.m. the learning curve takes a sharp dive. But the main problem…the troublesome song I’ve given Barb to sing…it troubles her, it troubles me… I’d changed it so many times last season that it was tough to even find a clean copy of the final version. I drove home last night weighing the advantages of putting in a better number and incurring Barb’s wrath or fixing the present song. At least now…at 7:30 this Monday morning, I’m looking at a complete rewrite. Perhaps I can hire some hit man to deliver the news to Barb. I should have done this before we began. I knew it had to be done but I was just kidding myself. I guess I shouldn’t let one number color the evening. Most of the cast had prepared wonderfully for CS II. Hannah fit in like a slightly confused glove. Highlight of the night: watching her run around in a spastic circle while Logan was singing his Junk Food solo. All the rest of the cast were on their knees except for the soloist…and one confused little dancer who was wishing momentarily that she was back in Florida. 9:45 a.m. God love Barb..and I mean that. Just called her to tell her that I’d have a new song for her tonight…I hope I will…at least part of it’s on paper… Recording in Chatham at 1… leaving track with Roger to doctor…meeting with Barb at 5…rehearsal at 7… and somewhere in the midst of this, two radio interviews…Lord, take charge of this day. I’m flummoxed. 3:30 p.m. The dirty deed is done. Finished the song just before noon and at 1 p.m. we were in Troy’s S’field studio recording…just a scratch track…done in 40 minutes. Tomorrow he and Roger will add brass and frills. Stopped by Farmers Bank to give Barb a copy of the CD. She’d already had her lyrics highlighted and she said mostly memorized. Guerilla theatre. Gotta love it. Lord, please allow it…no..MAKE it go well tonight. Chatted with Travis, Hope, Roger and Barb today about last night’s rehearsal. All encouraged. I love you, Lord!

Tuesday, July 28, 2009. Another long rehearsal ended in the Faith parking lot last night…just a handful still hanging around…Charlie, Jess, Hope, & Laura. We chatted about the events of the evening..the debut of Barb’s new song..sweet… Hope’s bedtime outfit…perhaps too sweet…. A line change for the prudish… We were all tired but had trouble leaving.. such a convocation of friends is this Camp Sunshine experience. I drove home praying with a few stray tears in my eyes… banged out a little song when I arrived in Arenzville. Thank God for the gift of music. A good, good night onstage. Cathy and Brad continue to drive to the show with their preparation and professionalism and by last night there was nary a script onstage except for the new song for Barb. The dances are not only fitting onto the Barbie-Doll stage but many scenes actually look better scrunched up. Costumes for the first time tonight…sweet. Janet dropped in with a mysterious man with beepers, bleepers, and buzzers all over his belt…just to check on us. It’s good to have a mama. Charlie still struggling a bit with his lines but his absolute naturalness onstage overrides everything and the musical numbers have not lost a whit of magic. In fact, many scenes are better than last summer’s production..I’m glad the cast can see this happening…I hope they can. Thank you, Lord. This again is more than a play… Several years ago on this date, July 28, we were in preparation for Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. My Mom went in for a simple heart procedure and St. John’s and through some mishap, died. We moved up her funeral one day to accommodate the play. My aunt was not happy with this but the rest of us knew that Mom was a big fan of theatre…especially her oldest son’s. I can remember the entire cast coming to the visitation. ..without costuming. Mom would have loved Camp Sunshine. She not only appreciated good theatre but she hated religious hypocrisy…our main target. Missing Mom today.

Part of a cool email from Barb this morning: You can tell that
there are several people who are so much more comfortable in their
character's skin. The timing was just dead on in a couple of scenes. I know
you told us that at the beginning that the second time around some things
are even better. But I'll be honest, I didn't really believe you. But, oh ye
of little faith (maybe that should be, oh ME of little faith) seeing IS
believing! I told Cathy that I didn't know how she could be better that last
year, but she is. Same as Brad. I mean, how could Brad and Cathy be better?
They are Brad and Cathy! But they are even more amazing than they were.
Charlie and I both had tears out in the hall during Travis and Hope's "No
more tears". That song touches my soul. We were talking about how many times this last year that there were songs or lines from the show that have
ministered to us. He said that he starts many prayers with "Daddy". It is so
cool to be a part of something that goes beyond a character or a line in a
song and have it touch your lives. And the friendships! WOW! 5 p.m. Lunched with Travis today..we destroyed the Beardstown Oriental eatery. A good chat about the show…some about the performances but much about the personalities…and we gave thanks. Roger re-keyed Barb’s song for tonight then claims his Internet went down…so how could he email me to tell me that? (Forgot about the dreaded Blackberry) Played with my song for the cast today..maybe I won’t sing it..maybe it was just for me. We’ll see. Stamped out the stage positions on a pix of the Theatre in the Park stage. I’m anxious for the cast to learn them…but…first things first. So typical of this cast…When I arrived early to rehearsal last night six cast and crew were already there. They’d ask to come early to run songs with Roger. Tonight another small group have asked to come early to meet with Jess and brush up on the dances. No one in this group is satisfied with “good enough.” Praise God. They’ve taken my main job as director and I love it. And now….with storms ravaging Arenzville…Night Three.

Wednesday, July 29, 2009. We tripped in through the rain to Faith last night and most of the cast was there early enough to give Barb’s new number a run-through before 7. Still missing a cast member at 7 but she tumbled onto the stage in time for her first line. Another solid, solid night onstage. Barb not quite there on her new lines but her character was spot-on.. she’ll get it…she’ll get it. She doesn’t always believe me when I tell her she’s doing great, but she’ll get it..she’ll get it. Spirits high among the cast. We truly enjoy each other’s performances each evening. ..the sign of a good show, the sign of a loving cast. Tonight we do our last rehearsal in J’ville, pack out, and hit the road… Lord, be with us. As Brad led us in “Jesus Loves Me” last night, I knew that He’d be going along for the ride.

I’d talked myself out of singing the cast a song tonight, not wanting to keep them later…but I think I’ll rethink it.

Thursday, July 30, 2009. Our final rehearsal at Faith Lutheran was spectacular…even a little test audience as Autumn Brown graced us with her presence. She’s one of those infuriating audience members who covers her mouth and tries not to laugh, however. She loved it. And after a false start, Barb nailed the new number.. It’s going to play so much better than the rascal I’d given her last year. And I truly keep forgetting that Hannah is a new cast member. Last night in the darkened parking lot I gave her a hug and told her, “Now I’m convinced. You can do anything.” We honestly forget that she’s new to the show. Amazing. Logan’s “Mortimer” character made his first appearance last night…by-golly hilarious. Love that kid and his nervy imagination. I worry about sound at Pittsfield, about backstage logistics, about the hundred things I haven’t thought of. Lord, Lord…intercede..step in between us and what’s coming. And Roger’s little Hannah had a rough day yesterday…breathing problems, rushed to hospital..Lord, please heal her.

This show …so good last summer…is now better. I don’t know if the cast realizes this nor am I sure they always believe me when I tell them that… The ease, the naturalness, the timing… beautifully honed and sharpened in this second season. Now Lord, give us ease of travel and set up and good audiences. The stage is set. Decided to go ahead and sing the song for the cast before we made our load-out last night. I think it went well…perhaps a bit of a downer, but the shows in such good shape that we can afford to reflect.

My night ended in Brennan’s garage as he, Silas and I carried the Concord bunk into the garage. Hannah stopped to help and we waved her home. She took off and returned to Arenzville to tag 6000 photos on my Facebook page.

A nd now…across the river to the land of white-tailed deer, hunting lodges, hog confinement, Lincoln sites, camouflaged pickup trucks, and theatre!

Pittsfield Cross Roads Center Just stopped by banker Annie’s place of business to wrestle up some change for our ticket takers. What a joy to simply talk to that girl! Some people make you feel good by simply being in their presence.

Opening Night..Pittsfield Friday, July 31, 2009. Met at ShopKo last evening, stuffed our various costumes and props into whatever car/truck/van was handy, and headed west across the Illinois River. I watched the cast’s faces as they entered the Crossroads… mostly surprised and delighted..after all, the place looks pretty with the gold chandeliers. The lines that we’d been stepping over all week at Faith Lutheran were now an 18 inch drop-off on each side of the stage…a line that couldn’t be crossed. But the stage itself seemed a bit deeper. I’m glad we got that close since our Faith measurement was done by Travis and I with the length of our shoes. Silas got onto the soundboard easily and by the time the evening was over, I think Brennan got the lights figured out. I don’t think Brennan got to see much of the show last night, his nose in the controls and his hands busy writing cues. God love those guys. And so we began.. Wow…the show looks so very good in this space. Very, very good… Actually, more focused than at Sophie Leschin. The cast somehow found their space, their entrances, their changing spots, their run-around throughways, and their show. It was quite wonderful and the group truly does have a “let’s make it work” attitude as opposed to the “oh my..it’s different..what will I do?” Sweet. And again, so many of the show’s performances have deepened since last year...we know our timing, we know how to sell a punch line, we know what’s funny and what’s poignant and we know how to push both to just the right spot. Few shows get to show this level of professionalism in a single run…it really takes two seasons to achieve this. This director is very, very happy. A happy pack-up at 9:45 and we were off…well, almost. Just as I was pulling into J’ville my cell rang. It was Grant. “Mr. Bradbury?” “Yeah?” “We’re in Winchester. I think we’re lost. How to we get to Jacksonville?” Carrie was driving! Carrie who drives to Pittsfield for church every Sunday! Carrie who goes to summer camp in Pike County! Carrie who spends half her life in Pittsfield. I dropped off Barb at ShopKo and hung around for the wayward van to arrive, driven by a red-faced Greening girl. We got home…safe and weary and ready for opening night.. God, you keep topping yourself.

3 p.m. Sitting here trying valiantly to sop up an errant oil spill in the makeup box, I thought about the path that Camp Sunshine has run. I thought about that crazy carload of singers that I packed into my Honda enroute to S’field and a recording session. I think we may have had Charlie strapped on top of the car. I thought of auditions and the actors who didn’t make the cut…some of obvious reasons because of age or personality or voice…but others who came very close to being in the cast but to whom we had to say thanks…it still makes me wince a bit when I run into these people. Remembering our nights around the piano on the Sophie Leschin stage… hidden frustration… but plenty of joy. Remembering how the cast stayed with me as we worked for timing even though at times I’m sure that they were inwardly saying, “So what’s wrong with the way we’re doing it?” Pool parties…. Saying hello to the orchestra as they sauntered in each night… Frankly wondering if this thing was going to play as we’d hoped… So..the oil spill is sopped up. It takes a lot of paper towels to suck up a half bottle of baby oil. And tonight……… tonight we do it again. I am a blessed man.

Opening Night… August 1, 2009. Saturday. When Charlie jumped off the stage after his curtain call, his head came within inches of the ceiling. That pretty much summed up our 2009 Opening. High-flying, energetic, more relaxed and professional than we’d ever seen the play. Oh sure, some opening jitters, some strange moments of timing, but yes, yes, yes. The audience who filed past us in the hallway of the Crossroads Center was ecstatic and effusive in their congratulations. Okay, one lady from the Nazarene church was miffed but she didn’t stick around that long. I continue to be amazed and I’ve seen it dozens of times…it’s often the elderly who “get it.” The joy of Christ. Who know God and haven’t learned “church” yet. Love it. I was reminded of the angry lady who wrote me after our first production of Jesus Christ Superstar, complaining that we’d played Mary Magdalene as a prostitute…well, duh. The Pittsfield venue gave us some great opportunities to do things a bit differently…a bit better. Everyone adapted…no complaints. Hope, Hannah, and Laura started off our evening with their gorgeously-honed trio in the dark Crossroads gym…the perfect start to this holy experience. And the night was not without its . . . uh… moments… Grant finding some very strange notes in his duet with Jess… entrances in new spots… the dancers delightfully using the space in front of the stage… But my goodness…the cast hit it scene after wonderful scene… A joy to me…Jess Lotz and friend drove across the river to see the show. I’d felt badly for her all summer, wondering if she regretted not choosing to do the show again, opting instead for Into the Woods, which she didn’t make. Last night she was our loudest cheerleader in the audience and whenever something new would pop up…dance blocking, Logan’s Mortimer, Lagasi’s song…she roared from the back row. And speaking of Lagasi, Barb nailed it last night.. We were all so happy for her. A nd so Charlie jumped off the stage and grazed the ceiling, in a single moment distilling our joy at being back with this show. Most caravanned to Rick’s house for a post-show gathering (after stopping the caravan to remind Annie that it’s customary to turn on your lights once the sun goes down.) The fire was blazing when we arrived and we spent the night wandering from the fire to the frame of his new log home, to his back deck… and I was reminded of something about this cast..as they moved from place to place, the groupings changed… no cliques… easily chatting with whomever they happened to be with.

Hannah’s group arrived last, having picked up a very cold cake in Pittsfield and we presented it to Brennan of the Light Switch for his birthday. He said it was his best birthday ever. It’s been very tough on him to be off the stage when there’s so much fun in front of the lights, but boy….I have no idea who I could have found to do a better job. The evening ended … for me at least.. with a gathering around Rick’s refreshment table, a circle of friends. I watched Logan who a short three years ago would have been hiding somewhere in the back row of conversation. Last night he was taking center stage in our little circle, telling his stories, doing his imitations, poking his face up against Rick’s newly washed windows…. Becoming. 11:15 a.m. Travis just stopped in. It’s good to rehash the previous night’s show with a guy with that kind of theatre sense. We both agreed…it was good. Phoned my dad last night to get his official review of the show. He thinks that Cathy Doyle is the best thing since sliced bread. Elmer, Elmer, Elmer. It’s always the blonde.

Sunday, August 02, 2009. Just by-golly glorious.. our Pittsfield closing was one sweet experience. The cast was hitting on all eight cylinders, the audience was big and appreciative, and our spirits were high. It was still live theatre and that kept it interesting. The little boy who told his mommy after Cathy had talked to him, “She’s a crazy lady!” Mysteriously we were in “Christian bondage” at the end of the show, Grant’s voice was in and out, sometimes there and a few times missing, and of course our favorite line was still there: “We’re making leather Old leather Testament leather book markers.” I keep wanting Hope or Jess to ask Jonna, “And what are we going to make them out of, Lucille?” It was one wonderful closing. The Pittsfield audiences have become well schooled in theatre over the years and I always value their estimation of a performance. Plus we’ve had many hometown folks travel across the river to see the show…friends, relatives, fans of the show. I’ll miss the Pittsfield theatre… such beautiful sound, great sight-lines, adequate room backstage, comfortable temperature, close enough to hear the audience breathing. No worry of rain. Roger, Brennan, and Silas were a great team at this performance, tweaking everything instantly. An interesting sidelight of last night’s show. Rev. TenEyck, our host, was in attendance. Only he and I knew it, but he was on pins and needles all night, afraid the show would offend his congregation. When he saw the show in Jacksonville he’d made the comment about “Bradbury always crossing the line.” My reaction has always been, “Heck, Christ crossed the line! I’m just trying to follow Him!” Last night he sat in the back row, nervously eyeing the crowd..many of which were his congregation.. Then he was overwhelmed by people thanking him for bringing the play to Pittsfield.

A super-fast load-out with our friend Rick pitching in and within 20 minutes our show was stuffed into the trucks of Silas and Brennan, and one red Honda toaster… our polka-dotted Carrie and Annie supervising and telling me where everything had been placed.

With no Jacksonville riders I cut across the deer-infested country and ended up at Brennan’s house before midnight. Annie and Michael were chatting with him in his star-lit driveway, the bunk bed already safely at home in his garage. Happy people. Now…two days away from the show…just what we need.. Let others do the matinees…Camp Sunshine is taking a break.

5:30 p.m. A mini-reunion of sorts today as most of the cast showed up for the JTG’s Into the Woods. A hard, hard show. Sondheim is a bugger to sing. I’ve never been a big fan of his, but that’s simply because I’m not smart enough to always understand him musically…but the cast did a great job with a brute of a score. Strange how good it was to see our cast again even though we’d just left each other last night. ‘Twas good to sit and watch someone else strut the boards. Theatrical therapy. So good to see my buddies Greg and Kristen on stage again…both began with us as children…now playing the adults in the show. Jess kept trying to put the moves on me all during Act II but I bravely fought her off. Oh, the things I must go through.

Nice email this afternoon from Harry Wright, the big guy on the walker in Friday’s front row: It WAS a great show...more should see it...the cast was GREAT!!! I was especially impressed by the youngest cast member...she has excellent potential. Let me know when your shows are at J'ville, or New Salem... Me and the walker need an aisle seat....

A final email of the night…I think…. Ken. We don’t get to shows much anymore but we always come to yours. You seem to find talent that nobody else can. Please bring more shows back to Pittsfield. They’re always good.

Wrong…one more email…. You have to be fighting breast cancer to know how meaningful the Song of Hope is. I cried. Yes, I know Christ is my hope but it’s like He reminded me tonight. And my little girls got the message too. In fact they told me.

Monday, August 03, 2009 Took our stash back to Annie the banker this morning. I asked her how her pop’s birthday went and she told me Daddy Craig had spent his birthday going to St. Louis to taker her mother a spare set of keys. She’d called to say she’d lost them in Missouri somewhere. Then I went across to the post office where I was stopped by Hope’s construction boss. He wanted to know how the show went in New Salem. I told him it was wonderful and that he had one great construction worker on his crew. He said, “And she looks darned cute picking up shingles!” Goodness! 7 p.m. At about 3 p.m. this afternoon a storm hit just south of us…Hannah’s bro said golf ball-sized hail. And right behind it was a large fist of humidity that’s slammed the area right in the nose. I’d prayed for dry weather. I guess I forgot about the temperature. Gus just announced that it might get a bit beastly this weekend…Okay Lord, praise God for the lack of rain.

Took a walk around town tonight, experiencing the first real heat and humidity of the year. I always pray the 23rd Psalm when I step off my front porch and in two blocks I found myself praying for the cast..then counting them off …making sure I’d not missed anyone. Kept coming up one short! Dern! Got slightly mauled by a black Labrador on the far end of town…his owners running behind him, trying to catch him. I prayed for that dog. It would have been too obvious if I’d kicked the crap out of him. I need nineteen names..can only come up with eighteen! Completed my lap of the town, still feeling antsy, I took off on an out-of-town jaunt. Walked by a volleyball game in progress…Who the heck is number nineteen? Roger? Got ‘im. Tech guys… Stage managers… Stopped to talk to a couple out walking… glad they didn’t have a dog… Nineteen? Nineteen? For reasons that I can’t fully explain, I still had enough vinegar in my to take another lap around town. Someone needs to shoot me before I try that again. But somewhere on my last lap of a darkening Arenzville, I thought of nineteen! Allen! Allen, you wore me out tonight!

Tuesday, August 04, 2009. Storms raking Arenzville this morning. Lord, let it clear up for tonight. Carrie emailed me the lyrics to Storm Over Jordon. I worry that we have everything. I guess if we’ve not unloaded then we surely have what we need. In ShopKo this morning, trying to dodge the marathon of walkers… Charlie Frank came up to me… (I tried to hide…Charlie talks for a long, long time).. said, “Ken, that nun who walked through our bible study at Faith Lutheran..” “Yeah…?” “Was she real?” “Real?” “A real nun. I mean, she looked very nun-ish..very authentic. Rosy cheeks. Cheery disposition.” “No. She was a fake nun. In fact, she’s a Sunday School teacher at Mt. Emory.” Charlie seemed disappointed. 1:30 p.m. Forecast for tonight looking ominous. Been getting calls asking where we’ll rehearse…well folks, I don’t know. Okay Lord..up to you.

New Salem…. Wednesday, August 05, 2009. The cricket sounds were authentic. Somewhere around 8:30 they kicked in last night in Kelso Hollow and the lost-in-the-woods scenes took on a real authenticity. Brennan and Silas continue to break their butts for this show… hauling the stuff over, carrying the bunks down to the stage, then spending the night up in the crow’s nest with unfamiliar equipment…but one familiar face…Allen. Those two guys are my heroes with this show. Our only real potential sources of problems with New Salem was to be the tech and I could not have asked any more than what those guys gave last. Sweet, sweet, sweet. The night was memorable in many respects… Barb being taken down but not out by a bad case of the leg cramps, Jonna apparently terrified of bugs, some beautiful stage pictures as we spread out and used the area to greatest advantage, Grant’s voice back with us, Jess finally able to decorate the air with her dance, some very long entrances….Sweet, sweet, sweet. If we can get a good rehearsal tonight we may take Thursday off. And finally…finally the dancers have room to dance.

A day from hell for Brad…his store vandalized and burglarized, the power off at the Eades Center, and on top of it all with auditors coming .. a cat walked across a computer keyboard and erased valuable information… I’m glad he was at rehearsal last night. “Theatre” and “Therapy” start with the same three letters…and not by accident.

And the night was not without its quirks as well…Grant calling at 6:15 to ask if he was anywhere near the park, little actors nests built backstage (actors are both territorial and nesting creatures…it’s a necessity for survival) .. Travis discovering that the keys to his car are now locked inside the green room, the special uniqueness that Allen brings to everything, Hope going hopelessly up on her lines with Bubba hanging the air, Jonna putting in even more “leathers.” Bottom line: it was good. It was very, very good. The show plays so well out there. One of the bugaboos of TIP for me as been the tech. I’ve had to direct the show while guiding the tech..and considering the large distances I just never got it done well. But our team of Roger on the ground and the three guys up in the air takes an enormous load off my back. Roger and I don’t always agree on sound levels but we always find something that pleases us both. I think he’s been to more rock concerts than I have. I weary of over-loud shows, and he was born to rock and roll. It looks like TIP has three tech guys and this is the first show they’ve had off. One stayed close to help and the other two were pretty much worthless. That’s okay. We’ll take one. Come closing time Grant led us in “Lord prepare me to be a sanctuary..” both beautiful and appropriate. Then ..as often happens…as we left we found ourselves locked inside the park. Only Brad and I knew the secret exit so the rest of the caravan followed us out the winding path…When I pulled out of the park there were still two cars unaccounted for. Either they found their way out or New Salem had new campers last night. Trav, Laura and I played “the game” all the way back to J’ville…makes even long late trips fun. Poor Brad…one of the worst days of his life..his business burglarized, doors broken, and today, the day the accountants show up at his other job…victimized by a cat who walked across his secretary’s keyboard and deleted vital info. Dear Lord, give him a good one today…or show us how to write a play about his yesterday…Tragic as it was, it neared the state of musical comedy by the end of the night.

Six a.m. prayer group found me about half with it…now off to shoot a TV commercial. I hope we don’t have any close-ups.

4 p.m. Barb…dear Barb…God-love-her-Barb.. still limping from last night’s leg pain…is thinking of riding her motor scooter to New Salem tonight. Dear God! Brad emailed to say that he hadn’t been robbed yet today. May need to start a hearing-impaired clinic. We have one performer who I swear hasn’t heard much I’ve said for two seasons now. Every other day I get a call asking when we’re doing costumes, where we’re supposed to be, what time we’re leaving. 5 p.m. Barb just called. She’s trucking the moto-bike up. Good move, Sis.

Thursday, August 6, 2009. My mind was ping-ponging. Back and forth…we need another night of rehearsal..we’re okay, these things will be alright.. but we’ve got the night..why don’t we just… no, it’ll be better to take a break, we’ve already run the show a weekend… but it’s the tech that needs the rehearsal and it’s all new territory for them… But somewhere…somehow around 9 p.m. Roger sidled up to me in the audience and said he’d meet with Allen tomorrow.. let’s take the night away from the stage. And tonight…the theatre’s dark. Some bits of anxiety last night… late music cues, Jonna forgetting the position of her scene, Hope forgetting she had one scene, and I once again did my best to drive Barb crazy by nixing the idea of a motorcycle running backstage. It was my fault. This is too late in the process to add something like that. Trouble is, with this show switching venues, we’ve had to make several major adjustments. When Brad Barnes hints that the cycle is a distraction then it must be. He can put up with anything. But the show.. Camp Sunshine…the actors..the performances…still as sharp as ever. Only the tech and the mind-gaps caused us any trouble last evening. And what a gorgeous night it was…full moon trying to peek out from behind the wisps of clouds… the crickets and tree frogs adding an eerie authenticity to the woodsy scenes. Those yellow shirts spread out across the faded oak boards.. one gorgeous sight and as has happened to often in this show, I found myself drawn away from the show and instead dwelling on the beautiful personalities..the souls…onstage. I’ve always loved performing at New Salem, but tech has been my bugaboo… For 11 years it’s been me..directing the show while running the tech…too much…too much…I would drive home frustrated and tired. Roger’s been my savior with this show. I trust his ear as much as I trust mine and he’s one busy sucker during Camp Sunshine. But at last, I’m free to direction…even enjoy a show. And our stage managers…invaluable. Carrie is everywhere doing everything and now Annie has a new spot in the crow’s nest, cuing Allen. God has sent just the right..just the special crew. Laura, Travis and I again formed my carload coming home. A sweet pair with whom to end the evening. Laura is the very soul of balance and calm and Travis is always my theatrical barometer. We’re good enough friends that he’s honest with me..and we was last night, telling me that he was surprised at a few moves I’ve made recently...adding something so large as a motorcycle on the final rehearsal (he was right), allowing some adlibbing that wasn’t rehearsed (most of which I hadn’t heard), and generally not being as bad-assed as usual. Three strikes and I should have been out. Friends who confront you in love are to be cherished. Thanks for Travis, Lord.

So…the Canadian air that we’ve enjoyed all of July is to be replaced by its more humid southern neighbor this weekend…Welcome to Camp Sunshine!

1:30 p.m. I just had lunch with Christ. I’m serious. At 76-year-old female, Spanish speaking Christ. While we hold Church meetings, she sneaks into Beardstown late at night and helps the Mexican meat cutters fill out college applications. While we hold prayer groups, she picks up a picket sign (yesterday) and marched in Pittsfield at the sight of an employer that found a noose hanging near a black employee’s locker. While we talk about passing legislation, she meets pregnant Mexican teens at school and helps them find that they are truly worth something. While we talk, she acts. Lunch with Christ…and Venezuelan wine. …and a dozen other Spanish foods I’d never tasted in my life… but it was the wine of life..the wine of making a difference in the world.. She’d asked me to park behind her house so no one would know I was associated with her. I parted in front.

Thursday Evening… I’m sure than many of our group are ensconced around that Fox network dance show tonight. Hope they’re resting. Meanwhile, the world’s most beautiful moon is rising in the east, a single feather of cloud dissects it. I think you could read a book in its light. Somewhere around 9 p.m. I just shut off everything electrical and sat down at the piano. God and I had a concert. And Lord, confound the weather forecasters tomorrow. Love you, Daddy.

Opening Night…New Salem Friday, August 07, 2009. The weather portends something ugly, but last night’s devotion told me “Do not fear the storm. Fear only your lack of trust in God.” I can’t think of a plainer message than that. Lord, make it great. 3 p.m. Raining. Lord, let it clear. I knew I’d go bonkers if I kept checking the weather channel so I started writing a ten minute musical for our Shorts play. Writing in the rain is good.

Saturday, August 08, 2009. Somewhere in the middle of Act I last night I ran out…ran dry… nothing. After a day of anxiety over the weather and the angst of opening night, to stand there with stars…STARS!.. shining down on us, the audience large and responsive and a cast putting on one of the most professional performances ever to grace the New Salem stage…I ran out. I ran out of words to praise God. Quite literally, I had nothing left to say. “Thou annointest my head and my cup runneth over.”

We arrived to find the stage slippery and wet, the bunk beds actually holding a half inch of water, the blacks soaked, the concrete walkways puddled.. and began to wipe & sop. Still..the tail end of the storm continued to roll over us. Towels everywhere. When Roger and I did the pre-show..a bit dulled after 20 minutes of a talented pair singing Miss Saigon, the folks began to perk up. Meanwhile Brad and Jess led the group in their warm-ups then a circle of prayer. By the time I made it back down the hill, Tiffany our guest photographer was in tears… “I haven’t felt this way since I was a girl,” she said. And so we began…Wow. Despite wind roaring in the microphones, despite some interesting entrances…Brad sliding into second base, Charlie into home base…despite a set of lights that suddenly balked (Brad and Brennon working in miraculous emergency tandem) despite the wasp in Cathy’s costume…it popped. It cracked. It shone. Camp Sunshine exploded onstage last night.. no other word for it. The audience was effusive in their praise. Usually the post-show crowd congratulates then moves to their cars. Last night it was full twenty minutes before some actors could head for the stage. And as usual, Brennan, Annie, Silas and Carrie had things pretty much tucked away by the time we got there to help them. I owe that wonderful quartet so much. When we stood behind the green room, then again in the Lonzo’s parking lot, no one wanted to leave, trying desperately to hang onto the moment. Heat predicted for tonight, but God has blessed us with a joy that few casts get to experience.. Performing a miracle…Twice. And for all of us, we’ve run dry of words.

What can you tell the water about the ocean? What can you teach a cloud about the sky? What can you tell a rainbow that it doesn’t know of colors? How can you teach a teardrop how to cry?

What would you say to birds about a sunset? What would you teach a child about a grin? What can to tell a friend that your smile can’t say by silence? Is there just some way to say it new again?

The water is a part of the ocean.. The clouds are at one with the sky.. The rainbow gave birth to all the pretty colors. The teardrop began in the eye…

And birds are at home in the sunset… Children keep on grinning every day. And friends…precious friends who have one great friend in common Know something that’s beyond what words can say.

So would you simply take my look of silence.. Would you take my quiet touch of my hand… Would you know that simply being with you in these special times of quiet Say more than anyone could understand?

(Logan)… One week performing his Catfish on a Riverboat…another week kneeling with me at an altar … apologizing for everything but the weather … a heart much too big for his small body. (Hope) This hyper girl from Ashland who showed up at her first traveling theatre rehearsal, confused and spastic…then relaxing and simply becoming ..redefined the word “Hope” (Brad)… Showing up for his first audition, quiet, polite, a true professional. Trading unbelieving glances with me during Follies rehearsals. Setting the gold standard in theatre for all of us. (Cathy) Always looking at me as if she’s just done something wrong. More at home on stage than in her own living room. Pushing herself harder and further than any director ever could. With the ability to set a stage afire. (Barb) A giggling little Jr. High blonde who always assumes someone made a mistake in casting her. Traveling from store to store with her little black friends at Christmas… Never ..ever..giving a thought about herself…giving, giving, giving. (Jonna) And although I don’t know where her mind is at times…I know that her heart is on the stage. Out of it once the clock strikes nine, but when the stage lights come up, a talent that few of us can realize yet…especially her. (Hannah) And so this little girl took the stage in second grade holding Luke Crawford’s big hand and something happened when the lights came on..they’ve never gone off… A heart for performing that’s only surpassed by her heart for Christ. (Roger) So this guy calls me up and say, “I’ve got a play about King David.” I tell him that’s nice.. 10 shows later..still never an argument…always an appreciation for each other’s talents.. and who knows what’s coming next? (Brennan) It’s hard to concentrate on lights when your heart is burning to be on the stage. But he does. And faithful. And confused. And so totally…good…moral…. Trustworthy… And just getting started. (Silas) Sometimes it’s hard to be a demolition derby driver, a paintballer, a lover… and still watch all the sound cues. But when he hugs you and says, “I love you man,” you know he means it. The loving little boy sometimes wins out over the stud. (Laura) Eight hours is a long time to spend alone in a car with a girl you hardly know. … unless it’s a girl who has her head together.. who doesn’t let the world set her goals… who manages to feel her way through teenage friendships without ever tripping. (Jess) I guess it breaks concentration when you sneak up to an actress before her entrance and tell her you love her, but sometimes you just can’t help it. Even loving when her eyes are filled with tears. Someday…someday…realizing, “Hey…I am really something.” (Annie) Schitzophrenic .. banker, student, servant… then she hits the stage and the most magical change happens… The girl of a thousand faces. (Carrie) 200 days? Grew mature long before her time…wisdom not what it’s cracked up to be..sometimes it hurts. (Travis) Golfing on dry Wisconsin courses, watching campers perform from the back of the auditorium, the Travis and God performances, hugging my good friend on a very dark day… and sometimes asking a very precious question… “Just how are you doing?” (Grant) Spastic doesn’t even come close to the round little fellow who showed up for auditions long ago. Watching his voice define him. Struggling through “Anything you can do” with Stanberry. A fish completely out of water when off the stage. But still…maintaining his innocence… his humility..his genuine love for others. (Michael) And he comes at you with that bear hug and you’re engulfed… Okay, I’ve never understood his peddle pushers and tank tops, but he’s Michael and that’s plenty good for me. An absolute force of nature when it comes to organizing theatre classes..the terror of every school administrator. ..and one of God’s best soldiers. (Charlie) Where is Charlie this year? I have no idea. I just know he’ll be to practice early. Some march to a different drummer. Charlie has a whole orchestra. And it makes a music sweeter than most of us will ever know.

What would you say to birds about a sunset? What would you teach a child about a grin? What can to tell a friend that your smile can’t say by silence? Is there just some way to say it new again?

Lord let us love by just our presence… Let a smile speak more than words can say Let a touch be just enough to show my love in silence Make me worthy of my friends, I pray.

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The Never-Ending Saga, Chapter II

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