Tag: highschool

Margerumalia – Greg the Custodian

Eric Margerum

Newsletter – February 14, 2025

My daughter had the pleasure of working as a background actor on the set of “Only Murders in the Building,” a Hulu series starring Steve Martin, Selena Gomez, and Martin Short. She played one of the makeup artists getting Steve Martin’s character ready for a scene in his TV series, with Jane Lynch as his body double. These two stars treated my daughter as a fellow professional and creative artist, which you think would be natural, but it’s not as common as you’d expect. She lovingly described to us how each of them were kind, funny, and appreciative of the people around them.

I already loved the series, now it’s earned a top spot on my worth-watching list.

My turn to appreciate someone came this past weekend when my junior high students gave two performances of the play we’ve been rehearsing for five weeks. I could go on and on like a proud parent about their accomplishments and growth as actors but I want to take a moment here to appreciate one person who wasn’t given any applause or a credit in the program. Greg, the custodian. 

Greg is a soft-spoken man with kind eyes and a desire to be of service. He arrived just as a parent and I were liberating a table from the school cafeteria to use as a ticket and concession counter. He didn’t ask questions, just hefted that table and carried it all the way down the hall to set it in front of the library where our play would be performed. 

After that he unlocked the doors, delivered a package to the mail room that I had found in front of the door, and made sure he knew what to expect for the weekend. On Sunday he had the storage closet unlocked so we could return the dividers we borrowed from the art department, and he returned the ticket table to its spot in the cafeteria. Greg stayed until the students and I had returned all the costumes and props to the theatre storage room, and all the parents were leaving with their children. 

Just as we had begun, Greg and I were the last two in the building and I thanked him one more time with a handshake, telling him how much I appreciated his help. He smiled and nodded, locking the doors behind me before he started to vacuum. 

I remembered an email from the Superintendent of Schools about “Appreciation, Recognition, and Thanks” and I rescued it from my trash folder. I plan to fill out the form and use some of the same words I wrote above. I hope it gives Greg a bit of an uplift. I know it will for me.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

TTFN

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My middle grade novel, The Most Amazing Museum of Los Angeles, is available through The BookBaby Bookshop at https://store.bookbaby.com/book/the-most-amazing-museum-of-los-angeles

Margerumalia – Opening Night in Elsewhere

Eric Margerum

Newsletter – November 1, 2024

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It’s opening night of Elsewhere and I’m excited to see the performances unfold. The background projections and lights are all set up, the costumes, props, and sound effects were all found, borrowed, or created, and the programs and posters are freshly printed. It’s show time! 

I’m always proud to see how far the students have advanced through the years. At an age where they’re finding their place in the world, their theatre experiences give them a chance to experiment in a safe and supportive environment. After all, it’s just pretend, right? So you can express the emotions of your character at full volume on stage and, instead of getting in trouble, you get kudos for “acting out.” What other aspect of life gives you permission to embody that behavior? 

That’s not to say there isn’t real depth of feeling to go along with those experiences. A couple of years ago there was a student who had to step into a small role at the last minute. With only about three or four lines to say at the beginning and end of the play she broke into a panic attack on opening night. “It’s all real,” she sobbed in the dressing room, “it’s all so real.” 

I reassured her that she didn’t need to go on, that we’d find someone else to do it script-in-hand, but she did it, and did it well. She experienced that crashing reality of pretend where your emotional self experiences the reality of the make-believe and the feelings are all so real. 

This year, that same actor is appearing in Elsewhere as the nightmarish tooth fairy commanding her minions, the tooth goblins, to extract teeth from the mouths of the children. She’s deliciously evil and so distant from that younger version who broke down in the dressing room. She’s come so far! 

Writing goals, right? What writer wouldn’t want to see their storytelling have that kind of emotional impact, that kind of potential for growth? It’s all in the experience. The only way forward is through.

Speaking of acting out, I hope you had a delightful Halloween!

TTFN

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The Most Amazing Museum of Los Angeles is available through The BookBaby Bookshop at https://store.bookbaby.com/book/the-most-amazing-museum-of-los-angeles

Margerumalia – A Happy Day in PA

Eric Margerum

Newsletter – October 25, 2024

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I’m going to draw the curtain on the Marcie Saga with this photo from Pennsylvania. Her forever Mama sent it to me a day after taking her home and it’s endearing to see Marcie thriving in her new home alongside the toy bell mouse we bought for her. A toy she chased enthusiastically all over the basement! We feared Marcie’s reaction to the long car ride, but she settled into the trip very nicely. 

I now have a taste of what foster parents might feel when a child moves out of their home. That was always the plan and there’s great joy in knowing the child is happy and healthy. I learned that a caring foster parent can’t help but feel the empty space left behind, longing for reassurances that the child is doing well. We’ve gone through that. 

A few days ago I opened the back door to give food to Tabitha (Marcie’s birth mama) and one of the orange kittens. He let me pet him about seven or eight times while he gobbled his food and quickly broke into a satisfied purr just like Marcie’s. Tabby watched with interest but kept her distance—she’s a survivor.

By the way, a couple of newsletters ago I set up a vote to find out your favorite image of Marcie for a children’s picture book. At the the time I joked that it was good preparation for the national elections. THAT was well prophesied! It was a dead heat between A, B, and C at 30% each with the original photo capturing the last 10%. Haha!

I hope you exercise your right to vote if you haven’t already. I did. 

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I need to go create a poster for the high school play I’m directing, so I’m making this short. The cast of Elsewhere will perform on November 1st & 2nd and would appreciate your positive vibes for a successful run. 

TTFN!

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