This semester has gotten very busy, so I have found little time to update friends on happenings in my world. It has been such a pleasure becoming a student again. This Fall I’m auditing an intermediate acting course at ACU. I’ve had the opportunity to work with some outstanding students actors performing scenes from both John Logan’s Red and David Mamet’s Oleanna. I’m currently working on a final scene for this semester, a cut from Act II of Tennessee Williams Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. Big Daddy is not a character I never expected to play, but my age difference with the other actors makes this the only role I can reasonably play, so Big Daddy it is (Or would it be “Slim Daddy,” or “Thin Daddy”?). I remember how much I loved reading Tennessee Williams in high school and college, so it has been really interesting engaging some younger actors who are new to his work. I’m enrolled in our theatre department’s Shakespeare class in the Spring. I’m looking forward that class as well.
But now for the big news: I’m going to be in my first radio play! A few weeks ago I received an invitation to play Ebenezer Scrooge in a radio production of A Texas Christmas Carol. Every years out local NPR affiliate, KACU, produces a live radio play that is aired during the holiday season as a fundraiser for the station. The radio actors perform the radio play live at the local Paramount Theatre. A Texas Christmas Carol sets the Dickens classic in early 20th-century Texas oil country, complete with Texas drawls and humorous moments that are quintessentially Texas. This year the host of NPR’s Texas Standard will be the announcer for the play, and my understanding is that the play will be airing on NPR affiliates around the state of Texas.
A special note about this year’s production: A Texas Christmas Carol was written by Barry Smoot, a veritable icon in our local theatre community. For many years, Barry served as the live production director at Abilene’s Paramount Theatre. Barry died unexpectedly earlier this year. I never had the fortune to work with Barry in any local productions, so my connection to him is primarily through other theatre folks in Abilene who knew and loved him. It is such an honor to get to perform a play that he wrote on a stage where he directed shows for decades. Barry, I hope our show honors your memory.
Beyond theatre, life continues unabated. Tara and I are full-fledged empty nesters now, though Gabriel still frequents our home, much to my wife’s delight. Tara is a member of the Classical Chorus of Abilene, and I’m in my second year as the Generation X member of Backbeat, proving to these youngsters that old people can still rock. Heheh. My teaching this semester has been fulfilling and still affords me time to pursue the things that bring me joy. It is such a privilege that I do not take for granted. I continue keeping my eyes open for new performance opportunities.
That’s the update. Local friends, be certain to listen to KACU for when our play airs, or better yet, come to the Paramount on Friday, December 13! The evening will be a lot of fun. We’ve got a great cast and a really fun Christmas play that you won’t want to miss.
