Break a Leg

In theater, if one wants to wish an actor or crew member good luck with a show, one says "Break a leg". It’s bad luck to say "Good Luck". More about this later.

As most of my family and friends (cyber and otherwise) know, I have been involved for the last 2+ months in our local theater production of "Menopause The Musical". I won’t go into my reasons for wanting to be in this show, or what it’s about. I’ve covered those subjects in other blogs.

This blog is a tribute to some people I consider myself blessed to know.

There’s our director, Ruth Waters. I’ve known Ruth and her family since I was in my mid-teens. I’ve worked with her on numerous productions, on stage and backstage. As a director, she is demanding, a perfectionist, and a true workhorse. I’ve watched her pull performances out of her actors they didn’t even know they were capable of. She is, in my estimation, one of the best I’ve ever worked with. You can bet if you’re seeing a play directed by Ruth, you will see top-notch entertainment, with a thoroughly prepared cast and crew. She gives 100% of herself as a director, and she expects nothing less from her cast and crew. This production is a demanding one, and I believe that under a less talented director it would not be the dazzling show it promises to be. Her instincts are always spot-on. Thank you, Ruth, for your hard work and dedication.

Then there’s our musical director, Anne-Marie Skogsbakken. Anne-Marie is a gifted musician and a classically trained pianist. She has been the Musical Director for 2 or 3 shows a year for the last 6 years, for 2 theater groups, all while working full time and keeping up with a home, family life and other interests. I don’t know how she does it. She has done an extraordinary job in helping the cast with the difficult timing, harmonies, and syncopation in the music of this show, and in several cases has utilized her considerable musical skill to improvise in order to make things a little easier for us, the cast. Thank you, Anne-Marie, for sharing your talents with us, for your hard work, for your patience, and for your friendship.

There’s our choreographer, Roxann Belrose. I didn’t know Roxann before this production, but I am so glad she was a part of it! She has a natural rhythm, a sweet, positive personality, a wonderful sense of humor, and a beautiful smile that never fails to lift spirits. We needed her so much for this production and she was the perfect choreographer for us. Thank you, Roxann, for your patience, your encouragement and your friendship. I’m so blessed to have met you!

Then there’s my fellow cast members, all amazingly talented and wonderful women. We were friends before this show, but we have bonded and grown closer as the months have passed:

Ann Sorocki, who is one of the warmest, sweetest, most genuine people I’ve ever met. Ann is a tiny woman with a big, beautiful voice. She never fails to give someone a warm smile, a word of encouragement, an ear to listen, or a shoulder to cry on. I love you Ann.

Beth Foley, who kept us laughing through long, exhausting and sometimes frustrating rehearsals. I know she’s been a blessing and a rock to her mother, director Ruth Waters, during the run of rehearsals for this show. Despite suffering a family loss during the last month, she always came to rehearsals prepared, and never failed to crack us up with her wonderful sense of humor. I love you Beth.

Dottie Hollatschek, who, along with Ruth, had a dream for RiverTowne to produce this show, and is seeing it come to fruition. Dottie called me last year and said "I would love for us to do this show and I see you in it…there’s a perfect part for you!", which I have since learned was exactly the part I’m playing, Iowa Housewife. Dottie has also had some personal family crises during the run of rehearsals, but has stuck with it despite everything, and has made her character uniquely her own with her amazing talent. I love you Dottie.

And finally, I reserve the last kudo to a woman of extraordinary courage and dedication…Pat Hughes.

Pat is one of the unsung heroes in theater, television or movie production – the behind-the-scenes person. She’s our Stage Manager, but she is so very much more. Not only does she work on building practically every set in every RiverTowne production, she also directs and acts and has been Stage Manager for too many productions to mention here. She’s our all-around keep-it-together person when we’re running around panicking and looking for a prop or costume, cueing the lights, cueing the sound, offering words of encouragement and support…in short, being indispensable. She never fails to offer a hug or a wise crack to keep us laughing.

This past Friday, after a great and fun rehearsal, Pat missed the steps that lead from the stage to the floor, fell about 3½ feet and broke her ankle and the lower bone in her leg. Fortunately she was not alone at the time and others were able to call 911 to get emergency help for her. The injury was a very serious one, a compound fracture, and Pat had to undergo emergency surgery in the wee hours of Saturday morning. She’ll be in the hospital for at least a week.

I went to visit her on Sunday. When I walked into her room, I told her, jokingly, "You do know that ’break a leg’ is only supposed to be a figure of speech, right?!" I asked her how she was doing, and she told me that she was, in her words, "royally pissed", because she will be unable to fulfill her duties as Stage Manager for the show this weekend. She said, "I shouldn’t be in this hospital. I should be backstage where I belong." Incredulously I said, "But Pat, it was an accident! You have to concentrate on healing!" Despite this very serious and debilitating injury, not to mention the pain she’s in, Pat’s foremost thoughts were and are with her cast and crew, and her responsibilities to this show. True to her character, she is determined to fulfill her duties during the second weekend of the show, running things backstage from a wheelchair. That’s Pat.

We have decided as a group that we will no longer use the phrase "break a leg". We have been reminded in an extremely traumatic way that sometimes we tempt fate with the words we utter. Henceforth we will say "shake a leg".

And to our other unsung heroes - Producer Lu Hoff, Lighting Director Rex Hawkins, Sound Director Wray Thomas, our Tech Crew - spotlight guys Matt Foley and Paul Hinckley, Assistant Choreographer and fill-in Sound Guy Derek Jordan, Backstage Crew Dianne Hawkins, Ingrid Pierson and Lisa Gunn (thanks for stepping in when Pat had her accident, Lisa!), Costume Mistress Kay Eynon, Makeup Coordinator Alan Toler..without these folks giving of their time and talent, this production would not be the successful one it promises to be. My humble thanks to you all.

If I’ve forgotten to mention anyone, please accept my humble apologies and sincere thanks.

Get well, Pat…we love and miss you!

And to my fellow cast and crew members....SHAKE A LEG!