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Every once in awhile, I come across the snapshot in my old
red album.? There we were--so young, so glamorous.? We had
just finished rehearsing on the musical planned for that
fall festival; and
Joan, our director and producer, had offered to
take us for a ride in her convertible.? She hopped out of
the car with her camera and shouted, "Smile, wave, look
happy."? Still in our stage make-up with sunglasses and
everyday clothes, we smiled, waved, and looked very
animated.
Still all these years later, I am grateful to
Joan for transforming our early teen
years from boring to wonderful.? Without an exciting
purpose, youth groups can dwindle down to a few
disinterested adolescents, but with
Joan we had a mission:? we were working together to produce
shows that would energize our group and raise money for
worthwhile causes.
Joan came to our church with a friend and got interested in
working with the young people.? She was in her twenties, a
career professional from a wealthy family.? Her beautiful
sister was a ballerina, and her folks were caught in a round
of social obligations with wealthy friends and business
associates.? Joan found our church and our youth an outlet
for her considerable talents.
She would come to our Sunday evening meetings, and after our
business meeting and Bible lesson, she would help us plan a
musical.? We had to exercise, dance, sing, listen,
enunciate, and cooperate.? We would begin by reading her
script, noting where the musical pieces would be.? We would
discuss costumes and make-up, publicity and promotion.?
Different parts of our group would take on various
responsibilities.
Then finally the big moment would come.? We would find out
who would play the roles, who would be singing solo or in
small duets and trios, and who would come to rehearsals.? We
began the Saturday afternoon rehearsals in our regular
clothes, practicing lines, blocking out movements, listening
to and learning music.? We even made tapes of some of the
numbers to use as background music, introductions, and
publicity.? It was challenging!? It was exciting...and it
turned ho-hum weekends into magical moments of fun.
Oh, not all was smooth sailing.? We had our competition, our
prima donnas, and our fights, but through it all,
good-humored Joan would arbitrate, conjole, compromise, and
direct.? The sound of her voice, her laughter, and her sage
advice colored our days, and I suspect even permeated our
dreams.
We brought a toy store to life with costumes, songs, and
acting. ? It was a wonderful production as dolls, toys, cats,
bears, and storybook characters took center stage to sing or
recite.? The church children who attended our musical were
enchanted and couldn't wait to become part of youth group.?
Another year we did a puppet show of Cinderella, using our
heads and puppet bodies on a hand-crafted stage.? I was
Cinderella before the ball, and a close friend got to be the
transformed beauty, but we worked together well.? I recorded
"When You Wish Upon a Star," and my youthful sweet soprano
played during the introduction, tender stage moments, and at
the closing.? I was enchanted with the opportunity and was
something of a local star for a precious week or two!
Then we did a pioneer play with music, and my young brother
got to be a childhood version of Davy Crockett.? Different
young people played the frontier heroes from Daniel Boone to
Kit Carson--all with drama and rollicking music.? It was a
wonderful year, and our church began to draw outside
audiences.
With it all, we raised money and canned goods for the
District Fall Festival, and many of St. Louis' poor had food
and gifts for the holiday seasons following our
productions.? Many of us went on the take major roles in
High School dramas and chorus programs, and what might have
been the doldrums of wasted adolescence was transformed into
worthwhile projects and the development of life-long talent.
We always made Joan take the encore with us, but with happy
gratitude, I always secretly though that she was the real
star!
************
SUMMER ALBUM
By Mary-Ellen Grisham
The light changes And the children stay out late Even after
boisterous, breezy, sunshine days-- Snapshot days filled
with small scenes of fights and fun--
Sleep and rain are the worst enemies.? Mothers go in
and out with toys and food, Towels, wet wipes, bandages, and
good direction. Gossip lingers like a plea for better ways;
Youngsters learn the focus of love and hate: Action shots
all day long.
Then the light changes And the children go indoors. Winter
comes and the heart closes, But the memories are tucked
inside.
The album is complete.
(c)2004 Mary-Ellen Grisham
meginrose@charter.net
*************
Leaf Dance on the Moon
By Mary-Ellen Grisham
?
Softly swaying trees
Branches moving in the breeze,
Round moon in ivory white
Floating through the night,
Caught in place for time so brief
Dark leaf dangling in relief
On this silver night in June--
Leaf dancing on the moon.
Moments of beauty soon gone
As our days move gently on--
Images of love and joy,
Meanings time cannot destroy
Held within the heart and mind
Memories so dear and kind
Symbols sweet of God's great love--
Blessing radiance from above.
(c)2001 Mary-Ellen Grisham
meginrose @ charter.net
Mary-Ellen is a Christian writer living in
Godfrey,
Illinois,
with her husband and son.? Currently the Editor of Eternal
Ink, Mary-Ellen would like to invite you to visit the site
and get acquainted with this Christian ezine:? ?
www.eternal_ink.com |
