Newsletter July 5, 2024

This past weekend The Civic Theatre of Greater Lafayette mounted a Short Play Festival that performed 14 plays, ten minutes or less, featuring 29 actors. I got to direct two of them, one with a cast of Romans and one with a cast of cows. Gotta say, the cows behaved with much more civility than the Romans—I’m talking about the characters, the actors were all terrific.
I also got to direct a couple of my recently graduated high school students one more time and loved that opportunity. A third one was cast in another play and delivered a charming performance of her own. Oh, gosh, they grow up so fast…said no adult, ever!
You may recall that my ten minute play from last year, “Just Book Club,” was chosen to be published by Smith & Kraus in The Best 10-Minute Plays 2024 due in October. Well I got to meet a Chicago playwright whose play will also be included in that anthology. He came to town to see his friend’s play, “This Cow and That Trombone.” Small world, right? And it turns out that a Ball State professor of one of my former students will also have a play in that collection. Small, small world!
Sorry, did I just trigger that ear worm of Disney’s “It’s A Small World”? No? Oh, now I have? My apologies. Try singing “The Song That Never Ends” several times through, that usually does it for me.
A neighbor drove by while I was getting my mail Monday and rolled down her window to exclaim that she’d just finished reading MAMLA and really enjoyed it. Then she thanked me for a “good read.” I love when people thank their favorite artists for their creativity and passion. It’s a simple kindness like thanking someone for preparing a good meal. I want to remember to say as much to others.
TTFN!