The people call it RAGTIME

L to R: Tyler Bennett (Tateh), Alyssa Sims (Little Girl)
Photo credit: Nancy Fitzgerald-Metzler

It's been an emotional ride. Last Thursday Hillbarn Theatre opened it's 72nd season with one of my favorite musicals of all time, Ragtime. Not only do I work for Hillbarn, but I have the unique honor and opportunity to play the role of Tateh, a Jewish immigrant, who with his daughter leave a brutal and scary Latvia to find a better life and the American Dream. This story is not rare, it was/is a common story of people leaving war torn lands to find peace and opportunity for their families in America. This is what our country was based on and why so many of us still beam with pride with thoughts of our country. Ragtime also covers less prideful events in American history, the relationship between white America and black America in the turn of the 20th century. This was not only complex (as it remains today) but very ugly; filled with hate, jealousy, ignorance, and fear.





As ugly as this time was, and there are times in the show where some characters behave in VERY ugly ways, this was also a time of great hope. Coalhouse Walker Jr. who because of his dark skin deals with incredible atrocity sings a song called "Wheels of a Dream" that encapsulates what true hope and desire looks like.

L to R: David Martin (Father), Annmarie Martin (Mother), Tyler Bennett (Tateh)
Photo credit: Nancy Fitzgerald-Metzler  

This moment is truly one of the most beautiful examples of how people, even under great duress, can still believe it will get better with the right balance of hope and love. This experience is particularly beautiful through the lens of today, as while he is singing about what life could be like for his son (spoiler alert!) Coalhouse believes that his son could do anything, be anything, have anything he works for. Last weekend while watching the number in the wings, I suddenly started to think about that conversation today between African American Fathers and their sons, now having the example of the President of the United States! I don't reference President Obama for a political statement (I'm an Arts Advocate, not a politician!), but simply to recognize the incredible impact of having a president that looks like you when you are a young child and how that would really make you believe that you could actually do, be or have anything that you set your heart to.

America is hopeful. Americans are capable of great things, at any age (If you don't believe me look what 8 year old Vivienne Harr is doing with Make a Stand Lemonade! (Grab some tissues first)

L to R: Helen Laroche (Emma Goldman, John Rinaldi (JP Morgan), Mark Metzler (Henry Ford)
Photo credit: Nancy Fitzgerald-Metzler

Come see Ragtime, don't listen to me, check out the reviews first, By Joanne Engelhardt, for The Daily News or Gregory Alonzo, for StarkInsider.com or an interesting perspective about the younger actors in the show!

If you can't make it to the show, support live theatre, ANY theatre! After all, without art what is our existence, but chaos?!

The Magic of Disney

I just recently came home from an Alaskan Cruise.  But not just any cruise, a Disney cruise... I was all packed; I brought my warm undershirts, lots of layers, camera and my cynical, "Disney is cheesy and just for kids" attitude.  I could not have been more wrong.

Disney is Magic.  The basis of what the brand has created is built on dreams, not silly I want to be a millionaire without working dreams but life dreams.  What this brand stands for is the belief that if you wish upon a star, it makes no difference who you are!  What a statement.  There were a number of things about the experience that I will always take with me, but not the least of which was watching my son (4 years old) jumping out of his seat in pure joy while watching the performers sing a song from The Lion King.  His elation was so real, so raw it was inspiring.

As if this was not enough, to close the show the cruise director stood onstage and told us his story getting hired as a DJ and dreaming to one day be a cruise director, and there he was, living his dream.

I urge you, dream, don't stop because you are "too old," dare to dream.  It's scary, I know, but when it seems to hard to dream remember this, "If your heart is in your dream, no request is too extreme."

Thank you Disney for keeping our dreams alive.

Success

After much deliberation about the subject of my first blog I realized that I am only considering having a blog in the first place because of how excited I am to share my passion with others.  That was an exciting thought.  I spent my first 7 years after college doing the "responsible" thing.  I got married, I started a financially focused career which I had early and often success, I had a baby, I even bought a house.  My list kept getting checked off for the perfect adult life.  There was a problem, I was miserable.  I was living someone else's dream, not my own.

After some forced turmoil in my personal life I realized that if I didn't start to live the life that I wanted, I would never achieve real success.  This success is not built on bankroll, asset collection or even notoriety in the community, but on the lifestyle that I longed for, a life in the theatre.

I came to realize that the only place I was truly happy was when I was surrounded by like minded artists.  The mind of an artist just works differently.  It is not a simply yes or no and right and wrong like in the business world, it is more of how and why not?  This spirit is one that fuels creativity and the creation of art (Look I made a hat) is, to me, the most exciting rush to experience.

I made the jump.  I am still in financial work (Development) but now my focus, customers and co-workers are all artists or art lovers.  I cannot put into words how everything has changed.  I am appreciative of my art, fellow artists and the arts community for providing such an incubator for creative energy.

Follow your dreams, listen to your heart and let your passion be your guide.  Everyone around you will thank you and you will find your success.