When I came to Tyler back in 1999, it had been years since I had done anything on the stage. The last project that even smelled of theatre had been a children’s musical at church when the kids were much younger. Here in Tyler, Nathan took the first step when he went to audition for a local church’s production of Meet Me in St. Louis. He was pre-mobile, so I drove him to the audition. Since I was there, I auditioned too. We were both cast and had lots of fun.
A year of two later(2001), the same group did 1776 and sent me the note about auditions. Nathan and I both went for auditions again. There was only one part for someone his age and he got it. I played John Adams. Never in all my years had I played such a big part in a musical. I had parts in three or four songs and a solo at the end. Yikes! The orchestra did not come until almost too late. Not being a true singer, I could have used at least one more practice, but money for orchestras is tight. 1776 was the last project I did with that group. Since then, they dissolved the theatre group, but are reforming for next fall. Good luck!
Chris was in a directing class at UTT, so I tried out in support for the class projects. He did a fun Chekhov piece. He is a great director. I also did Broken Glass with Chris in his inaugural product of his Old Soul Productions. The piece was hard, but we had a great cast and a dynamic director. I think I went places during this production where I have never been on stage before. Last summer, Chris did a world premier of a new translation of Iphigenia at Aulis. The ages of the characters placed me as a cameo which was fine with me. Now that Chris is almost out of school, I hope he will find time so bring Old Soul back to life and direct more great theatre. I will track him down to see the shows and am grateful I was able to work with him while we both lived in Tyler.
Also at UTT, I was able to audition for Annie when they produced it a few years back. While Chris played Rooster and Bert Healy (and two or three bits parts to fill in), I played FDR and Geoff was a cop and other bit parts as needed. Nathan was Bert Healy to start out, but then his work schedule got in the way.
A couple years back, I decided to give the local community theatre a try. They were doing Little Mermaid with the children’s theatre group in the summer of 2004. The children’s group had a shorter schedule so they were a good start. I had a blast. I was a turtle whose elevator got stuck short of the top floor. I made some good friends and turned right around and did a walk on with the adult group in the Fall. This was a part life Dad would take. I was only in the last scene and on stage for maybe 10 minutes. I did not even need to leave the house until 8:30 each night. I did one more show with each group, A Christmas Story as the adult Ralph and my first romantic comedy Remember Me? as the husband of a wife with an identity crisis.
One summer, I think it was 2003, all four of us boys were involved in a production of Little Shop of Horrors. Chris played the lead as Seymour, Nathan was the sadistic dentist, I played Mr. Mushnik, and Geoff was the sound man. We all had a ball.
I suspect I will keep up my time on the boards if they will let me in Denton. Sweet Charity has auditions in late June. I just may show up.
A year of two later(2001), the same group did 1776 and sent me the note about auditions. Nathan and I both went for auditions again. There was only one part for someone his age and he got it. I played John Adams. Never in all my years had I played such a big part in a musical. I had parts in three or four songs and a solo at the end. Yikes! The orchestra did not come until almost too late. Not being a true singer, I could have used at least one more practice, but money for orchestras is tight. 1776 was the last project I did with that group. Since then, they dissolved the theatre group, but are reforming for next fall. Good luck!
Chris was in a directing class at UTT, so I tried out in support for the class projects. He did a fun Chekhov piece. He is a great director. I also did Broken Glass with Chris in his inaugural product of his Old Soul Productions. The piece was hard, but we had a great cast and a dynamic director. I think I went places during this production where I have never been on stage before. Last summer, Chris did a world premier of a new translation of Iphigenia at Aulis. The ages of the characters placed me as a cameo which was fine with me. Now that Chris is almost out of school, I hope he will find time so bring Old Soul back to life and direct more great theatre. I will track him down to see the shows and am grateful I was able to work with him while we both lived in Tyler.
Also at UTT, I was able to audition for Annie when they produced it a few years back. While Chris played Rooster and Bert Healy (and two or three bits parts to fill in), I played FDR and Geoff was a cop and other bit parts as needed. Nathan was Bert Healy to start out, but then his work schedule got in the way.
A couple years back, I decided to give the local community theatre a try. They were doing Little Mermaid with the children’s theatre group in the summer of 2004. The children’s group had a shorter schedule so they were a good start. I had a blast. I was a turtle whose elevator got stuck short of the top floor. I made some good friends and turned right around and did a walk on with the adult group in the Fall. This was a part life Dad would take. I was only in the last scene and on stage for maybe 10 minutes. I did not even need to leave the house until 8:30 each night. I did one more show with each group, A Christmas Story as the adult Ralph and my first romantic comedy Remember Me? as the husband of a wife with an identity crisis.
One summer, I think it was 2003, all four of us boys were involved in a production of Little Shop of Horrors. Chris played the lead as Seymour, Nathan was the sadistic dentist, I played Mr. Mushnik, and Geoff was the sound man. We all had a ball.
I suspect I will keep up my time on the boards if they will let me in Denton. Sweet Charity has auditions in late June. I just may show up.
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