(this is not a dress rehearsal, you know)

I saw the matinee performance of 43 Plays For 43 Presidents today. It was a lovely production, and it was great to see all the great changes they made. I think we always wished we could mount it with a larger budget - allowing us to do more with it. So it was extremely gratifying to see it produced with such support and thoughtfulness... and so wonderful to get to meet everyone behind (and in) the show who so clearly have put their full energy into this production. Nice people with good hearts and great ideas.

One thing The Actors Theatre has been able to do that we had talked about but never were able to accomplish is to set aside several shows specifically for school-aged audiences - complete with materials designed to encourage study and discussion in the classroom before and after the show. It really is such a great piece of edu-tainment... it's so cool to see a theatre take that opportunity and run with it so thoroughly.

It was also very odd to come see it in the capacity of one of the playwrights. Someone said to me and Andy, "You're celebrities here." Which was so very, very, very odd. I don't feel like a celebrity. My life right now, and the path I'm currently on, is even so far away from theatre and the arts as to make this whole experience somewhat surreal (albeit wonderful).

And so I will finish this blog, having put the little one to bed, and then turn my attention to my homework - which is all about quantitative and qualitative research and the context of my current school counseling internship. Sometimes it's confusing to have so many hats that fit just fine. It makes deciding what to wear a little tricky. But I suppose that's not a bad conundrum to have.

Still Dreaming...

I must admit I've gotten sucked into the coverage of the DNC convention in Denver. I blame my husband, who is a staunch and nearly-giddy Obama supporter... and a true political nut on top of it. (Hence, the creation of his brainchild, 43 Plays For 43 Presidents... which, oddly enough, is going to be produced at the Actors Theatre of Louisville next month.)

Anyway... I was so inspired and floored by Al Gore's speech tonight (and so surprised and miffed at the lack of conversation about it among the pundits covering the convention on CNN) that I had to make it today's joy.

Now, mind you, it is tempered with sadness (all over again) about the outcome of the 2000 election... and anger at how the results were bungled and, one might say, unfairly and somewhat questionably coerced to proclaim Bush the winner... along with a deep regret that this man - this brilliant, passionate, dedicated statesman - will never be our president. (And, by the way, for a stunning bit of deja vu, check out the details of the Tilden-Hayes contest.)

BUT... it was a stunning speech and it brought me great hope and happiness to hear it. I know some people think he's a crackpot, and some people think global warming is a fallacy, but I think the naysayers are in for a bumpy ride over the next 4-5 years or so. But hey - maybe I'm wrong. I certainly hope so.

All I can say is: Yay Gore! You rock my world. (And you rocked the house tonight.)