![Looking back on my brief dance with Zelda, and our wee trio of show-makers, with love, gratitude, and pride. Four shows is such a short run. To everyone who came to see ZELDA AT THE OASIS, or made effort to do so, or sent love when their schedule didn't allow them to do so, THANK YOU. To our extended team, Jen, Victoria, Nikolai, and Patrick, thank you for lending your time and talent to enrich Zelda's story with movement, love, music, and light. Mike, how lucky am I to share stages with you? Thoughtful, nuanced, giving, ready for absolutely anything. Whether it be a fallen set piece, missing prop, or an in-the-moment discovery in the form of an emotional fireball hurled in your direction, you seamlessly fold it into your character's world, never breaking your stride. And, in this case, all while playing multiple roles and making it look effortless. The calm to my chaos. You remain one of my all-time favorite scene partners. As if that wasn't enough, you're a top drawer human being with the heart of an artist. Rare and special. Thank you, my friend. Gail, last year, you invited Jen and I to dinner to discuss a two scripts about Zelda Fitzgerald, one for each of us, that you'd held onto for years. We kept our date, despite the fact that my Mom had died only days prior. I knew very little of Zelda, but I knew you, my friend and onetime director from your Gallery Theater days. When you suggested we present these shows a year later, I agreed, conditionally (I have learned over the years not to say yes without reading the script first, no matter how much you like the people involved.). When I read it, I was struck by the fascinating life and emotional turns of Zelda, but...the script left me wondering if you had accidentally switched mine and Jen's. Singing? In French? Dancing? Not a one of those is listed on my acting resume. But you were intentional. You believed in me. It was time to believe in myself. This was made so much easier with your wisdom, support, and encouragement to guide me. I'm walking (strutting?) away from this experience a braver actor. Thank you. Zelda, thank you for your art. It mattered. I'm sorry the world wasn't ready.]()
Looking back on my brief dance with Zelda, and our wee trio of show-makers, with love, gratitude, and pride. Four shows is such a short run. To everyone who came to see ZELDA AT THE OASIS, or made effort to do so, or sent love when their schedule didn't allow them to do so, THANK YOU. 🌹
To our extended team, Jen, Victoria, Nikolai, and Patrick, thank you for lending your time and talent to enrich Zelda's story with movement, love, music, and light. 🌹
Mike, how lucky am I to share stages with you? Thoughtful, nuanced, giving, ready for absolutely anything. Whether it be a fallen set piece, missing prop, or an in-the-moment discovery in the form of an emotional fireball hurled in your direction, you seamlessly fold it into your character's world, never breaking your stride. And, in this case, all while playing multiple roles and making it look effortless. The calm to my chaos. You remain one of my all-time favorite scene partners. As if that wasn't enough, you're a top drawer human being with the heart of an artist. Rare and special. Thank you, my friend. 🌹
Gail, last year, you invited Jen and I to dinner to discuss a two scripts about Zelda Fitzgerald, one for each of us, that you'd held onto for years. We kept our date, despite the fact that my Mom had died only days prior. I knew very little of Zelda, but I knew you, my friend and onetime director from your Gallery Theater days. When you suggested we present these shows a year later, I agreed, conditionally (I have learned over the years not to say yes without reading the script first, no matter how much you like the people involved.). When I read it, I was struck by the fascinating life and emotional turns of Zelda, but...the script left me wondering if you had accidentally switched mine and Jen's. Singing? In French? Dancing? Not a one of those is listed on my acting resume. But you were intentional. You believed in me. It was time to believe in myself. This was made so much easier with your wisdom, support, and encouragement to guide me. I'm walking (strutting?) away from this experience a braver actor. Thank you. 🌹
Zelda, thank you for your art. It mattered. I'm sorry the world wasn't ready. 🌹
2 months ago
