Opening Night

It’s hard not to feel the excitement – a certain buzz in the air.

A cast and crew of more than 40 FHS students – supported by hard-working and dedicated teachers and a host of parent volunteers – take the stage for Opening Night of Farragut’s spring musical, “Pirates of Penzance.”

Auditions were late last semester. So, literally, the students have been focused on “Pirates” since they came back to school after winter break. They’ve had other obligations, of course, but this is the main stage production for the semester so it definitely garners the most attention. Rehearsals have been going on for weeks and as I mentioned earlier this week, Tech Week began on Saturday and ran through last night.

It’s a dedicated bunch.

It’s also a passionate group of students. I dropped by for a minute last night and everyone was full of the buzz of excitement I mentioned before. Even as they re-worked a few scenes, they approached the work with professionalism and panache.

So now, they are ready to go. And I’m definitely ready to see the show.

I’m particularly excited to see this opera. I have always had a bit of interest in Gilbert and Sullivan productions since I fell in love with the 1981 movie, “Chariots of Fire.” Chariots depicts the real life story of two British Olympians in the 1920s – Eric Liddell and Harold Abrahams. Abrahams is portrayed as somewhat of a renaissance man. In addition to his studies and his athletics, he is also a devoted follower of theatre and a huge fan of Gilbert and Sullivan.

There is one particularly playful scene with Harold at the piano leading a group in the sing-along of the Pirates of Penzance standard, “With Cat-like Tread.”

When you see the show this weekend, if you are familiar with “Chariots of Fire,” you’ll probably remember that scene. And, I’ll probably think of it for just a moment tonight, too.

Showtimes for the FHS production are tonight, tomorrow night and Saturday at 7:30. There is a Sunday matinee at 3 p.m. Shows are in the Wells Auditorium on the FHS campus. Tickets are $10 for adults; $8 for students and seniors.

JG

Originally posted 3/7/2013

Big Ideas

I found myself on the University of Tennessee campus the other day.

Other than some visits to the Communications Building and some trips for football and basketball games, this was my first real extended visit to campus in quite a while. I didn’t even make the college visit when Holly toured as a high school senior three years ago and they’ve done quite a bit of work since then.

You can do a lot in three years.

The University has unveiled a new slogan recently called Big Orange. Big Ideas. When you step inside some of the facilities, you get a feel for how that slogan has played out (at least in terms of classrooms and technology). I was in the Education Building and the Business Building first. They are so modern now with futuristic technology and 21st Century décor. In the Business Building, I was drawn to one room with huge television screens. It reminded me of something out of a science fiction film.

Even buildings on ‘The Hill,’ which frame venerable Ayres Hall, have all been modernized.

In and around campus, there are also signs alerting you to the fact there is much construction going on. For one thing, construction on the Haslam Music Building is ongoing as well as work on the new University Center. A sign featuring Smokey, the mascot (wearing a hard hat) tells you that you have entered ‘The Cone Zone.’

We tend to think of our college years in sepia tones. I met my future wife as an undergraduate student. Later, in grad school, I met some great friends and extended my learning.  I even played a little softball. Later, I taught in the Journalism program as an adjunct. Throughout that period, nothing really changed.

And really, it wasn’t that long ago.

I think the campus must’ve crept along with the self-same look and feel for all my undergraduate and graduate years (and for a while afterward). But in the past five years, they’ve really kicked the change element into high gear.

Big Ideas.

In short, the place looks great. It has a modern feel to it and there were lots of excited young students who seemed passionate about learning and guided by mentors who were equally engaged with interactive white boards and touchpads.

There was a buzz about the place. I went away feeling good about my alma mater – where it is and where it’s going.

If that is what the administrators mean when they say ‘Big Orange. Big Ideas,’ then I say ‘Bravo.’ Things are looking good in the hallowed halls of ol’ UT.

JG

Originally posted 3/6/2013

Rob and Katie

Today, I turn to a classic 1960s tv show for some metaphorical inspiration.   

Recently, I ran across an episode of “My Three Sons” and there were a lot of messages in this one 30 minute show that apply to so many people I know.

Folks have family issues, health problems, job woes. March has come in like a lion, it seems, in more ways that one.

Maybe if we step back in time to a simpler time, we can gain a little wisdom from a 60s sitcom.

If you remember the setup for “My Three Sons,” widower Steve Douglas is raising his three sons. The show deals with a lot of common family mini-dramas - from girlfriends to pets to sicknesses. You know…life.

The family moves from the Midwest to California about halfway through the show’s run. Just after they move to California, middle son Robby (who became the oldest son when his big brother, Mike, left the show and the family adopted Ernie to keep the three sons intact) meets a California girl, Katie. The two of them marry and begin a family.

Everyone celebrates when they learn Katie is expecting a baby but the family has to make major adjustments when her one baby actually turns into triplets. Or:  “My Three Sons” for a new generation. The adjustment to the three sons instead of one is where I come in with the latest attempt at rescuing a metaphor.

The Unexpected
Rob and Katie are trying to deal with the unexpected news that they will be raising triplets. In the episode titled “Back to Earth” they are struggling to cope with this new reality.

Often we encounter news that is, in the words of Holly as a youngster, “not what I was expecting.’’ Sometimes how we adjust to the surprise is more important than the surprise itself.

The thing is…life is full of surprises. Some are filled with good news; others are not. The challenge is stepping up to deal with those that aren’t so good. In the end, dealing with the surprise successfully helps us grow as individuals and become stronger.

Little Problems
As Rob is dealing with his major stress, we learn that his two younger brothers have independent concerns of their own. Chip, we learn, is being threatened by a bully; Ernie, must deal with a broken clarinet.

Steve finds time to prioritize and give them advice even as he is also dealing with Rob’s stress.

In life, it seems like there is always someone who has a bigger problem than we do. And yet, that doesn’t make our own issues any less valid. Sometimes, working through the punchlist of crises is a bit like triage. Some need to be resolved right away; others can wait a while.

But at the end of the day, we all need resolution. With some time management and prioritization, it can be done.

Rash Decisions
Rob’s reacts to all this stress in “Back to Earth” by deciding to quit school and find a job. It’s a hasty plan and a rash decision. Fortunately, he thinks better of the plan and agrees to finish his college education.

This is a great life lesson.

As much as we want to react to a stressful situation by making a major decision, history tells us this is the actually the worst time to make a life-altering decision. Better to stay the course.

Overwhelmed
The young Douglasses are overwhelmed with the care of their three sons and Rob’s first inclination is to forego assistance. Somehow, he is convinced he shouldn’t be depending on his extended family for help. Of course, his dad, brothers and uncle are more than happy to help out.

Robby wants to go it alone.

Later, of course, he relents, he reaches out to family and we have a happy ending for the episode.

The take-away, I think, is that if you are overwhelmed, it is okay to ask for help. In fact, many people are more than happy to assist. The flipside, though, is that we shouldn’t over ask. It’s not great to be overly dependent on folks when you really don’t need to be.

It’s a delicate balance but it can be achieved.

So, you see, just like Steve Douglas would do, we rolled all of this into one neat package, solved a laundry list of problems and it didn’t take more than 30 minutes (only 22 if you subtract the commercials).

JG

Originally posted 3/5/2013

Tech Week

I knew little about the technical aspects of theatre production when Paul began his pursuit of life on the stage four years ago.

Remember: I was a youth baseball coach.

Of course, that isn’t to say that baseball and acting don’t mix. Think of the great plays, musicals and movies with a baseball theme. There are numerous. Still…I just didn’t know much.

Over the years, as I have gotten more and more involved as a volunteer, I have picked up terminology. I have learned how things work. I have learned why things are the way they are.

Just in time for my second graduation, right?

One of the terms I have picked up on is ‘Tech Week.’ I have dropped by a couple times during  previous Tech Weeks to drop off a prop or to bring some purchased item of need. I haven’t really sat in on any of the behind the scenes Tech Week activities though. I just know the students come early and they stay late. Throughout this week, they stay after school.

It’s crunch time. Yesterday, I decided to slip in the back door and see what it was all about.

Talk about impressive. My good friend, Kim Davis, snapped some great behind-the-scenes pix like this one:

The ‘Cue to Cue’ rehearsal on Sunday brought a collection of sound experts, lighting techs, spotlight operators, make-up artists, stage managers, teachers and volunteers. I didn’t stay for the whole show – just enough to get a feel for what was going on.

Again. Impressive.

So, here’s how it works. The actors run part of a scene. The coaches are working toward finding ways to make that scene better. The stage manager is in charge of the script.

The lighting guys are following the script, making notes and determining what special lighting will happen. Meanwhile, the sound guys are tweaking the music and vocal sounds to get them just right. The teachers are watching for subtleties in the performance to help move it from good to great. The costumers are taking notes about how to improve a student’s overall look.

It’s an intricate and detailed approach. The actors wait patiently after a ‘stop’ until they get the go-ahead to move on to the next scene. And if there are any scene changes, they work out the intracacies of those as well.

As I mentioned earlier, I had seen any one of those. I just sat through about 45 minutes yesterday to see what it is all about. It’s about making the magic of theatre come alive.

So, with that spirit in mind, I won’t go any further. If you want to see the magic come alive, the FHS production of Pirates of Penzance opens on Thursday night at 7:30. There will be shows on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 as well and a Sunday matinee at 3. All shows are in the Wells Auditorium. Tickets are $10 for adults; $8 for students and seniors.

Hope to see you there.

JG

Originally posted 3/5/2013

In Cars

 Here in my car. 

I feel safest of all.
I can lock all my doors.
It’s the only way to live in cars.

I saw a couple articles online this week that suggest many Americans can no longer afford to buy a new car. It’s a sad commentary on the tough economic times.

In days gone by, a new car was a status symbol and a statement. Think about some of the big cars of the past decades and some of the tv commercials that helped to sell them. Strong. Dominating. Dynamic. Buying a new car was part of buying into the American Dream.

Of course, back in those days, you weren’t talking about new automobiles costing twenty, thirty, or forty thousand dollars. And the thought of financing a new set of wheels for three, four, five or even six years was unheard of. But, stretching out the payments is the only way some folks can afford those pricey machines (unless, of course, they lease them - new topic for a different blog).

I started thinking about the notion of buying new cars vs. buying used ones and I realized that we have bought a house more recently than we have bought a new car in this family. Lisa’s (ahem) veteran vehicle - the Honda - was actually purchased in the days right after 9/11. 

We moved into this house more than a year later. That puts it in perspective. 

Since then, I have purchased the Jeep (and before it, Big Blue, the Expedition).

I purchased both vehicles used (from Carmax). And, of course, we also purchased Holly’s car used (purchased from a man who purchased it - a former fleet vehicle - at auction). In fact, upon learning about both the Jeep and Expedition, both of them were company cars too.

We’ve had pretty good luck with fleet vehicles. Generally, they’re well maintained and not driven all that hard. The Expedition, which became our baseball vehicle, was first owned by a land development company in Florida; the Jeep, which was an appropriate size when we downsized cars, was also a company car of some sort (though details weren’t as readily available on it).

But, in all cases, our decision to buy gently used automobiles is really more financially philosophical than anything. You’ve heard the old adage about how when you drive one off the lot, it loses half its value. I’m not sure if the equation holds true but the sentiment certainly does.

Buying one brand new just doesn’t seem to be as great of a value. I guess it would mean more to a car buff. That’s just not me.

So, whereas I agree in the notion of the American Dream and the principles behind it, I just haven’t been an active participant in THAT aspect in more than a decade. And, unless someone can convince me otherwise, I’m not sure when I will go back.

I do like the look and smell and feel of a new car and I hope lots of folks will continue to to buy them (or more importantly that they will have the ability to do so if they wish). After all, someone has to buy one first and drive it for a while so I can get a good deal on it after it has been broken in just the right amount.

JG

(Source: Yahoo!)

Originally posted 3/4/2013

Regulars

Farragut is a small town. Though you might not think so, the Town of Farragut really is a small town.

One of the nice things about a small town is that everywhere you go, you see people you know - the grocery store, the hardware store, the pharmacy. Such was the case, recently, when we went to dinner at one of our favorite local restaurants, El Mezcal. 

It was a cold winter’s night when we went there for dinner but the food, atmosphere and the greetings of the friendly staff were all decidedly warm. And, as I noted above, everywhere we turned, we saw people we knew. As we were checking out, we chatted with one family we know from our current volunteerism in the FHS theatre program and, earlier, we spent a few minutes catching up with another family we got to know from our many years in baseball.

The greetings were bookend encounters from our years of volunteer service.

El Mezcal is a popular local eatery. It really does seem like we run into someone we know when we are eating there. 

Apart from the food and friendly staff, one of the things I like about going to eat there is how close it is to our home. Really, we can leave the house and be seated in the restaurant in less than 10 minutes. It’s that close.

Again, that’s another wonderful thing about living in a small town.

On a personal note, I also love giving a little something back to this great business. For many years, they served as a sponsor to the Choppers baseball team. Even to this day, you can look around the restaurant and see various bits of Chopper memorabilia, including framed copies of our team jerseys as well as the 2010 Knox County Championship trophy our team won.

Both were clearly in view of our table the other night.

So, that’s another reason for feeling warm on a cold winter’s night - nostalgia.

JG

Originally posted 3/3/2013

Showcasing the music

 The National Association for Music Educators reminds us that March is recognized as “Music in Our Schools” month. Tonight, at Bearden High School, the choruses from all the Knox County high schools performed their annual showcase concert as a way to kick off the annual observance.

I wrote about this topic briefly a year ago.

Basically, each chorus comes on stage and performs two selections. In a word…wow. What a kickoff.

As a musical novice, what I find to be really interesting is how diverse the musical selections are. Somber, soulful, soothing. We were treated to pieces ranging from hymns to spirituals. Numerous groups performed African pieces with pulsating percussion to punctuate the talented vocals.

I also enjoy watching the various directors with their different styles and panache. I am almost fascinated with what they are telling their students with body language, facial expressions and the various hand motions that I see (but don’t understand). 

Bearden’s auditorium was a wonderful location for this year’s showcase and ‘the home team’ did quite well during its turn. As an aside, for all the many times I have been to BHS, I think that was the first time I have been to the auditorium at that school.

What I enjoyed most about the event was hearing the different styles; the unique approaches taken by each of the different schools. I felt the same way last year.

And still saying all of that, I am biased. I like our group best.

That’s not surprising, I guess. I know these students. I see all the time they put in to learn the material and to get better. And I see their hard-working director, Kenton Deitch at work. He demands excellence and the students rise to that challenge.

At one point before they went on, I noticed Mr. Deitch speaking to Paul. Lisa wondered if he was asking Paul to introduce the FHS group and indeed that is exactly what happened. Mr. Deitch also encouraged Paul to make a “Pirates” reference, which he did. In fact, I would go so far as to say that PG was 'very model of’ tactful in working in the subtle promo. I loved the intro.

As for the music, it was impressive to see our group on the big stage tonight and hear them sing. They did - and always do - such a great job. 

JG

Originally posted 2/28/2013