Jimmy Dean

Opening Night!!!!  Yikes!!!!! I always get the jitters....not that being nervous isn't what I do best.  I am compulsive about making sure that everything is just right.  Last two nights the PRESS has been there, I have been gluing and painting and tweaking and taping, to insure that the picture I saw in my mind lands on the stage at Genesee Community College.  What a week!!!!   I am so proud of this show...it really does shine!!!

That is where the problem of doing plays or musicals lies.  It depends on how you look at things.  Theater is one of the few art forms that can not be replicated.  I mean, sure we make tapes of certain nights and look at them again...but the alive feeling is what it takes to make the show.....well.... the show.  That only happens once, when the audience member is impacted the first time...it never happens again.  Once played....always lost.  That is the nature of the beast as it stands.  It also is the beauty of LIVE theater.  Each and every performance is its own separate piece of art, subtly being changed each time to be slightly different then before.......

When I start to design theater productions I look at it all as one big painting.  What does each and everything look like in a certain way on stage.  What type of actor will fill this role or what color the drinking glass should be.  I am that centered and compulsive... trust me.   I see the whole thing as a snapshot in the minds of those that will be sitting in the seats in the theater.  If I was a good painter, I probably would paint my scenes...instead I imagine them.... I can only draw stick figures.....  I tend to land on color a lot....Color sets the mood and allows the show to exist in a certain frame of mind.  It either soothes or inflames....or it adds a sense of nostalgia.

So...tonight opening night....All the last minute preparations.....all the work that has yet to be done and all the tickets left to be sold.....  Opening night of "Come Back to the 5 & Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean" at Genesee Community College - 7:30PM.  As I have said many, many times....this is a dream come true for me.... I am lucky that way.  I have many dreams about shows and performing......playing a certain character or sharing a favorite play or musical.   In Batavia, this community, I get the support to make those dreams come to life.... How indeed fortunate I am.   Please come see our show.

Well what can I say....more than one person  has brought it to my attention that this weekend there are two theater offerings in Batavia.....  The Batavia High School Drama Club's Production of "Our Town" by Thorton Wilder is sure to be wonderful.  It runs Friday, May 9th and Saturday, May 10th at John Kennedy Elementary.  Tickets are avaialble at the door and it begins at 7:30.  "Our Town" has always been a favorite of mine and it is expertly Directed by Caryn Leigh Burk with Assistant Directed by Malloryann Burk.... one could say the apple does not fall far from the tree....or apples as in this case.  I couldn't be more proud to see them both working to share theater with our BHS Students.  Caryn and Malloryann are hard working young people that value the children of Batavia.  Please go see this wonderful piece of Americana.  It will be worth the trip.  Congratulations Caryn on a job well done.....

During this same weekend, the Batavia Players will be presenting "Come Back to the 5 & Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean".  It is another slice of Americana that takes place in 1955 Texas during the filming of the movie "Giant" and again in 1975.  A beautifully scripted play with an incredible story line and fresh and exciting characters.   It is no wonder that the likes of Kathy Bates, Karen Black, Sandy Dennis, Sudie Bond and Cher were featured in the Broadway version and that the movie Directed by Robert Altman became a cult classic.  I am fortunate to be directing nine incredible local actors who shine in this production.   Valeria Antonetty, Shawnie Euren, Lynda Hodgins, Peggy Marone, Nikole Marone, Joan Meyer, Patti Michalak and Rachel Oshlag perform thier roles with familiarity and grace.  Working on these colorful and complex characters is  not easy.....IT is exhausting and you will be very impressed by thier efforts.  Oh...we can not forget the great job the one male in the cast.....Jake Bortle, a freshman from LeRoy Central School, is doing.  I was so lucky to find these 9 gracious actors to be in this production.

Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean is this Thursday, May 8th through Saturday, May 10th at the Stuart Steiner Theater, Genesee Community College....7:30PM.  Tickets are $10 General Admission and $8 Seniors/Students.  I guarantee you will enjoy this show.  The Batavia Players are reminding everyone that it is PG-13 in nature and may not be suitable for younger audiences.

So what can I say???  How great is it that we live in this small city with Classic Theater offerings like we have this weekend.  How wonderful for those of us in the arts,  that we have the support of our community and residents.  How proud can I be as a Dad when my daughters and I both have shows on the same weekend.  Make this a special week and see both shows.... We appreciate your support.

Standing in John Kennedy School (Named for a former Superintendent of Schools NOT the President) this morning I was pleasantly surprised to hear our students perform for the visiting National School Boards Association Technology Seminar and visit. It was indeed a highlight to see the standing ovation they recieved after their phenominal performance. Kind of brings back to mind my reasons for living here in the first place. Elementary Students may not have the grandest of voices, but the purity of innocence and the ability to entertain is certainly apparent. When kids sing as wonderfully as these children did it is indeed special. Hats off to our Elementary Chorus teachers at all three schools for making this morning's program a big hit. Our guests from nine states were indeed impressed. The Arkansas and Louisianna delegations pulled me aside to tell me so. What a moment. I am always proud of our students and the work that they do. I could not get the smile off my face. It is indeed a great day to be the President of Board of Education of the best school district in Western New York. ALSO - the BHS Drama Club Show is at John Kennedy Elementary this weekend. Check out "Our Town" on of my favorite plays....oh and it just happens to be Directed by my very talented daughter Caryn and Asst Directed by my very talented daughter Malloryann.....Dad is proud of them both. As most of you know I am currently putting the final touches on the Batavia Players, Inc. production of "Come Back to the 5 & Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean". It is this weekend at GCC - Thursday - Saturday at 7:30PM. Come join us for this wonderful play. IT does have a rating of PG-13. Players is happy and appreciative to have the college available for for both of thier of thier spring productions this season. IN TWO WEEKS - Auditions for Jesus Christ Superstar - Batavia High School....MY BIGGEST SHOW YET!!!!! Please check out this week's show and future offerings. The new Principal at Batavia High School started today... A great big welcome Christopher Dailey.... He is a fine principal and will make a great addition to our High School. He was a former Asst Principal at Churchville-Chili. We wish him many wonderful years at BHS. I hope everyone takes advantage of this wonderful new source of news and information sharing that we have here in Batavia. I think it is wonderful....lets me work on my writing skills as well as catches me up on what others are doing.... Hope you enjoy my little efforts on most days.... See you around town and check out this weekend's two plays.....

Whew...this is a busy time for me so on this wonderful Saturday I wanted to take the time to remind everyone that the Batavia Players, Inc. Spring Show...."COME BACK TO THE 5 & DIME, JIMMY DEAN, JIMMY DEAN is opening on Thursday, May 8th and running through Saturday, May 10th. Performances are at 7:30 PM at the Stuart Steiner Theater at Genesee Community College. Tickets are $10 for General Admission and $8 for Seniors and Students. The play was a wonderful hit that starred the likes of Cher, Kathy Bates, Sandy Dennis and many more on Broadway. The content is PG - 13 in nature. Please join us this coming week. The play centers around the Kresmonth 5 & Dime outside of Marfa, Texas during the time of filming "Giant". The movie starred Rock Hudson, Elizabeth Taylor and James Dean. Our characters are depicted in 1955 during the filming and again in 1975 at the 20th Year Reunion of the Disciples of James Dean. A comedy/drama that is brilliant with dialouge and bright in character. I am pleased to direct our local cast which includes Valeria Antonetty, Shawnie Euren, Lynda Hodgins, Nikole Marone, Peggy Marone, Joan Meyer, Patti Michalak, Rachel Oshlag and featuring Jake Bortle as "Joe". I hope that you will all join us for this wonderful production. This is the second of four shows in the Batavia Players, Inc. 2008 Season. Next up - "Jesus Christ Superstar" in August.