Happy Summer! Today promises to be finally, a real summer’s day! These cool morning temps will rise as the Fox River’s birds’ songs crescendo! Mother Nature is in concert with Paramount’s Season 9 continuing to warm up as well with auditions for Kinky Boots at the Actors’ Equity Office in Chicago yesterday, today and tomorrow. And this Saturday will be Child Actor Day for all four Broadway Series productions! (Audition Info at paramountaurora.com) It really makes ya think about the roles children play in musicals. As in Newsies, Beauty and the Beast, The Secret of My Success (with an original new storyline) and in Kinky Boots, musical book writers often include at least one child. It’s for their unique perspective. Kids have a directness and candor, pure and honest. Through the adult mess, they have a way of seeing the truth. “Out of the mouths of babes…” They raise their voices wise and clear. We are alerted, startled by their unbiased, unjaded innocence. If only we were more in touch with the divine child in all of us. How we might understand the goodness we are born with and its difference from what we’re taught. Nature. Nurture. (Never thought I’d be “going there” this morning!)
I attended Matilda at Drury Lane for its final Sunday matinee with a cast full of incredibly talented kids! I don’t get out much, but when I do, what a jolt it is being with an audience and mixing with our Chicago theater community. What was intended as dutiful “artistic director homework” seeing the young, remarkable new faces onstage, it turned into even more. I realize how I sometimes forget how long I’ve been around. The generations of artists I know and have worked with among the cast, the musicians and those in the audience. Their hugs! And with the patrons I recognize there from our theater, it begins to hit me: every time I’m asked how I am, I find myself simply saying, “Well, I’m excited about everything”! And in that moment, so much gratitude. It’s exceptional to be with this person. It’s exceptional to be with the people at Paramount whose friendship I cherish and work I admire. Work ahead that excites us. Work we share in service to our audience and to the art of making theater itself.
If only we were more in touch with the divine child in all of us. How we might understand the goodness we are born with and its difference from what we’re taught.
Well, this turned into quite a high! Stronger than any caffeine buzz from this morning’s cup o’ joe, it’s a high to be with you! So appreciating you being here right now, here’s to your participation in what’s going to be a great summer for Paramount, the school, the arts center, RiverEdge Park and a great fall season ahead!
Love & thanks,
Jim