West Side Story

WOW! Where do I begin? The opportunity I had to be able to perform with the Bishop DuBourg High School Guild Players in West Side Story was amazing. I keep telling people this is no high school play. These kids are incredible and as I sit here writing I begin to tear up and cry because of the way they performed on stage and touched my life. There were students in the cast I already knew: Justin (Riff), Joe (Tony), Collin (Bernardo), Marcy (Anita), and Maggie (Consuela); students in the cast whose parents I went to high school with: Diane (Anybody's), Dave (Pepe), and Julie (Minnie) (who I also taught in grade school); and students I had seen in previous productions or just met. Each and everyone of them made me feel welcomed, especially Jamison (A-Rab) and Andrew (Baby John). I had a scene with them where they needed to knock me over. Andrew was so funny about worrying he might hurt. They didn't want me to break a hip. Okay I'm old but not that old! However, one night when he pushed me, I did hit my chin against one of the crates and started bleeding. I'm sure the look on my face when I sat up on stage was priceless but the show went on and so did I. Katie promised not to say anything to him during the show. (I don't think he found out until the next day.) And Jamison . . . well what can I say about Jamison? Probably not too much since I have to work with him in Cats. I got my revenge at the Sunday matinee and that's all I'm saying! I had fun being Officer Krupke and blending the role of Lt. Schrank into Krupke when the actor got sick and couldn't continue on in the cast. I began to see these students as my kids and felt responsible for looking out for them. I know they probably think I'm weird or don't have a life because I keep coming back to do Guild shows at the high school, but it's my way of giving back to the Guild. Jim and Sandy were teachers/adults who were there when I really needed someone outside of my family to believe and see and encourage the good in me. Jim Leibrecht was in the show as Doc and he is a phenomenal actor and director. I also got to work with Christian and Mary again. These two are an incredible music director and choreographer respectfully.
Now next week, we start up rehearsals for Cats and I will start to see a whole new group of people for the following twelve weeks. WOW that's sounds like a long time! I don't know if anyone of these kids read blogs (meaning: read this blog) but I hope they continue to remember how truly gifted and special they are!
P.S. YES Allison I know you're not a high school student anymore! Silly me for the last post.