Thursday, May 14, 2015
Happy Thursday readers! Its day 4 of tour already. You know what that means... time is flying.
We’re up at a fairly leisurely pace for us this morning. That basically means
that we’re not up with the sun, showering while warming up or packing the car
while eating breakfast. That’s a luxury. We have a long day today, so we’re
getting a little (and by little I mean about 1-hour) later start than usual so
the group could get some extra rest. We’ve started to get into a rhythm and we
all chip in with completing the check out “to do” list, getting the luggage
into the car and doing one final sweep of the cabin to make sure we don’t leave
anything behind.
On the road we go and begin the drive to our next stop on tour,
Carbondale. It’s cloudy and cool today; there’s a chance for rain or snow. It’s
just Colorado in the spring. Weather notwithstanding, I think it’s going to be
a great day. We have a long but beautiful drive ahead of us, a workshop with
students and then a performance of Romeo
& Juliet. As the drive gets underway, it appears that this is going to
be wildlife spotting day. Just minutes outside of Lake City we see deer and a
large herd of elk. Katherine spots yet another animal and calls it out so that
we also can partake of the enjoyment of seeing the wildlife; “horsies.” Yes,
each time we pass horses in a field, or even a corral, Katherine informs us in
this manner. There’s an additional element which you readers sadly can’t
appreciate because each “horsey” is accompanied by a giggle. Katherine has
another skill related to animals. She can tell happy cows from sad cows. Leah,
ever the eager student, asks Katherine to impart her knowledge. Soon, each
pasture we drive by is a lesson in how to determine the emotional state of the
bovine occupants.
Brett is acting as copilot while I drive this first leg of the trip and
he’s located a county road that will save us some time. The turn comes up
quicker than expected (our GPS lady is polite but her reaction time is
questionable), but we make it. Andrew and Daniel are following in the van.
Thankfully Andrew’s reaction time is better than the GPS lady. It’s a dirt
road, but it’s in decent shape. There are “horsies” and happy cows and the road
parallels the river. It’s quite a lovely setting. I again think, this is going
to be a great day. The road begins to narrow a bit and we get to a junction. We
see a sign that reads “landslide area” but it’s the direction that we need to go
and the GPS shows that the road in indeed open, so we proceed. The road grows narrower still but we keep
going. Finally, the GPS lady tells us to take the next turn on the right so
that we can meet up with the road that will take us to the main highway. So,
copilot Brett and I look for the turn off to our right. Nothing to the right
and the river is to the left. Maybe it’s a bit further down the road than the
GPS lady thinks. Copilot Brett agrees. I keep driving. The road narrows again;
now you could touch the rocks on either side of the car by leaning out of the
windows. Taylor offers the sage advice that if it starts to rain, we should
head to higher ground. Its then that I realize we’re in a very narrow, steep
canyon with a swiftly flowing river. Now, I’m getting a bit nervous and it
doesn’t help that copilot Brett is whistling the theme from Deliverance.
Thankfully, the GPS lady’s voice comes on and says… “At the next available
spot, please make a U-turn.” There’s a group outcry at this, but we agree to
turn around and look for that turn again. We missed it somehow. Andrew, Daniel
and copilot Brett get the van turned around. I over hear Andrew say something
about a sign he saw, but when I ask copilot Brett about it, he smiles and says
“it’s all good.” He and Taylor help me turn
the tank around and we head back. We arrive at the exact spot that the GPS lady
says to turn. Only… there’s no turn. Turn…? There’s no ROAD. Nothing even
resembling a road. Perplexed, all we can do is head back out the way we came in
and take the longer route. (It’s not until later that I find out that Andrew
saw a sign that said the road had been closed due to a landslide. Based on the
state of the “road” I can only assume that happened sometime in the Jurassic
period.) Copilot Brett feels terrible; this was his call after all. But really,
it was no big deal and we learned a valuable lesson; Copilot Brett is not
psychic. He cannot see into the future to determine if GPS lady’s roads exist
or not. So, we extended our drive by about 20-minutes. We got to see some
beautiful scenery and now we have a story to tell about tour. It’s still going
to be a good day.
Leah is very intuitive and she can sense that there’s a bit of stress in
the car. She does her best to alleviate this by telling us a story. The story
is based on us, though, to protect our identities, Leah has changed our names.
The characters in the story are Sunshine, Rhett, Cobbler, Doggy and Poops.
(I’ll let you readers see if you can figure out who is who) The story is about
5 people on a car trip; only one of them is a ghost. Good. Thank you Leah, we
all feel much better now.
We stop for a much needed break and then begin the drive through the
Black Canyon of the Gunnison. This is one of my favorite drives in Colorado.
Pictures don’t do it justice. We see more wildlife here; a wild turkey and a
marmot. The aspens are just beginning to leaf. Brett and I sound like kids
watching fireworks as we “ooh” and “aah” at each new vista. We’re even
selecting the appropriate background music to enhance the experience. (What do
you think we listened to readers?) We reach the scenic overlook and we stop so
everyone can snap a few pictures and stretch their legs. Back in the car, we munch
on snacks and head over the canyon into the valley near Hotchkiss and into
Paonia. The views in the valley are stunning too. Everything is so green – that
rain and snow did a good job. The lakes are full and the rivers are running
high. Appetites are also running high, so we stop in Paonia for lunch. Some of
us head to a local diner and others hit a farm to table café. We head back to
the cars and Brett moves from copilot to pilot so I can take a break from
driving. He communicates with the GPS lady to get directions to our final
destination and there’s a problem. Having made this drive before, I know we’re
about 1 hr. 10 min. from Carbondale. That leaves us with enough time to get
there, check into our hotel and then get to the performance location before I
have to start leading the workshop. Well… according to the GPS lady, the drive
will take 1 hr. 40 min., putting us behind schedule. What happened. Time again?
Wormhole? Copilot Brett’s ill-fated drive to the road that did not exist? Nope.
Rock scaling work on the highway and it’s not something we can get around. Oh
well. There’s nothing we can do about it.
We head down the highway and, sure enough, we arrive at the roadwork and
traffic comes to a complete stop. I spend the time snapping pictures of
beautiful Colorado and of a partially amused Brett. We have to wait for a while
and when we finally start moving, we’re way more than 40-minutes behind
schedule. We still have to get over McClure Pass and the valley beyond. Again,
there’s nothing we can do about it, so we just keep on truckin’. The scenery
just gets more and more amazing – it’s still going to be an OK day.
On the way over the pass, Brett and I see a field full of white stones.
Odd. Never seen so many white stones… oh, wait. They’re moving. Those aren’t
stones at all. The entire field is full of sheep. Hundreds of them. Baby ones
too. Brett questions what we are seeing, “What the flock?” Yes, our Brett;
lover of puns. The valley just beyond McClure Pass is greener that I have ever
seen it. There are waterfalls, little streams and flowers blooming everywhere.
There are also lots of ‘horsies’ and very happy cows. As we pull into the final
stretch of our drive, we see another animal off to the side of the road. This
is epic readers. By this sighting, we may have just missed answering a question
that has perplexed man for ages. Why did the chicken cross the road? We
couldn’t stop and ask him. We have places to be.
Brett has done a great job as pilot; he’s made up considerable time (no,
he hasn’t been speeding; at least not the whole time). We pull into Carbondale
in time for him to drop me off at the workshop/performance location so I can
get ready while the others go check into the hotel. Then they’ll make their way
back so they can set up and eventually take part in the workshop. As I enter
the location, there’s a sign about tonight’s performance of Romeo and Juliet. I meet up with my
contacts Amy and Jennifer, who are both fabulous and work tremendously hard to
make sure the arts are a big part of people’s lives here in Carbondale. Thank
you for all you do ladies and for your support in getting us here!
I get myself set for the workshop. Today, I’ll be working with students
who are part of the SOL Theater Company. They range in age from elementary
school – high school and teaching a workshop to multiple ages will be a
challenge. The Young Artists and Taylor get back just as the students begin
arriving. We hold the workshop for a few minutes to wait for some latecomers,
so I let them watch how the Young Artists put the set together. With a cue from
Jennifer that all the students have arrived, I start the workshop. Taylor joins
me and we start with the Name Game for an ice breaker. I know right away that
we’re going to have a good class. The kids are incredibly creative and invested
in learning everything they can about performance skills. The Young Artists
join us as they finish setting up for Romeo
& Juliet. I begin a game called “environment” where the students have
to react physically and emotionally to whatever settings I call out. I give
them things like “on the moon,” “across broken glass,” or “in a bowl of chewed
up bubble gum.” It’s during this last one that something hilarious happens. One
of the girls in the class comes up with perhaps the most creative way to
address this environment that I have ever seen. She gets Brett to give her a
piggyback ride. He plays his part well
and the duo makes it safely to less squishy ground.
As the workshop ends, we spend time on expressing emotions in a way
that’s big enough for the stage. Then we take questions from the students.
Their questions are just like them, thoughtful and focused. These kids are
serious about the performing arts. They ask a question about how to handle
rejection when you don’t get the part you want. It’s here that the Young Artists
and Taylor shine. They are encouraging and supportive, but they’re honest too. They
talk about putting the focus on being as prepared as you can and always doing
your best. The rest, you take as it comes. It’s not easy but it is something
you have to be prepared to deal with if you want a career in the performing
arts. Instead of being put off by this answer, it’s clear the students
appreciate hearing the truth. Questions keep coming in and we answer as many as
we can. We have to end the class, but we stay behind and talk to the students
one on one so that no one leaves without getting their questions answered.
It’s time for a break for dinner before tonight’s show. I drop everyone
off downtown and then Brett helps me get checked into the hotel. I grab what I
need for tonight but we don’t have a lot of time, so I scramble around as quickly
as I can and… I lock my keys in the room. Yes indeed this is going to be… has
been… a day. I’ll deal with it later. We head back downtown and grab something
to eat (fabulous Thai food). As we’re dining, I’m unable to engage in
conversation. No – I am not still wishing that we had stayed to watch that darn
chicken – there is a man in the restaurant who is wearing a duck bill on his
head and a hotdog costume. He is holding up the cut out of an elephant’s head,
people take his picture and then, he leaves. Moments after that a couple comes
in. She’s wearing something that looks like Raggedy Anne met Brünnhilde and
he’s wearing a Superman onesie. What is happening and do I need to fear for my
safety? No. The town is holding a scavenger hunt.
Dinner break over, we head back to the performance location. I have the
Young Artists do a dialogue drill in the car and Taylor helps move things along
by making piano sounds. As soon as we arrive, we do a fight call and then run
over any sections in the score that we need to so everyone is comfortable. As
the audience arrives, we sequester ourselves in the green hallway (for it is
not an actual room). I talk with the Young Artists before they go on. This is
the last Romeo & Juliet that we
have this season and the production will be retired for a while after this.
I’ve pushed them incredibly hard on this show; challenged them dramatically. I
tell them to just go out there and tell the story; to enjoy the moment. We hold
for 15-minutes because people are still arriving and more chairs have to be set
up. Finally, Amy begins the opening remarks and then I go out and do the
opening narration. Daniel takes over with the Shakespeare prologue and the show
begins. I know in the first 10-minutes that this is not only going to be a good
show, but the audience is enthralled. They are laughing at every funny moment,
reacting with audible sighs in the love duets and shock in the fight scene. The
Young Artists take that energy and deliver one of the finest performances
they’ve given all year. We reach the death scene and I can hear people crying.
They’re not the only ones. This time, they got me too and that doesn’t happen
often. Brett’s death scene as Romeo is stunning and wrenching; Leah is a
heartbreaking Juliet. You can hear a pin drop as Taylor lets the final notes
ring. This is what I wanted; for this final Romeo
& Juliet to showcase the Young Artists’ talent and Opera Colorado as an
organization in a way that says – THIS is what opera is. This is how it can
move you, inspire you, take you on a journey. That is what they did. I think
they’re all aware that the energy on stage tonight was special. It’s especially
poignant for Brett – this was his final Romeo with us as a Young Artist. It’s
been wonderful to watch him work in this role for the past two seasons.
After bows, we do the Q&A session and get not only questions, but
people simply wanting to tell us how much they loved the performance and to
thank us for coming. Our hosts have arranged a reception for us so we take a
minute to catch our breath and then we spend time mingling with the audience.
This includes members of the Carbondale Council for the Arts who helped fund
our stop here and provided our lodging for tonight. We are so grateful for
their support! Over the next hour, we meet people who love opera, who have been
regular opera goers for years and who have never gone to an opera before. Every
single person we talk to has nothing but positive things to say about what they
just experienced. Notice I didn’t say, “what they saw.” Opera is not about going
to watch something on a stage. It’s something you experience.
I love talking to people about Opera Colorado and what we do. I also
love to watch the Young Artists in this setting. Leah and Katherine are being
hugged by some ladies who are still crying. Andrew is engaged in a very lively
conversation with a woman who saw her first opera last year when we came with
our production of The Barber of Seville.
She tells him that ever since she had that experience, she sings opera at home
because she can’t get enough. Daniel is talking with a couple who actually met
each other at Opera Colorado’s production of the Tales of Hoffmann in the 1980’s. She says that when she saw him at
the opera, she knew he was the one and 30 years later they’re still together.
Brett is talking to a woman who admits she has a massive crush on him; his
portrayal of Romeo stole her heart . She then pays me one of the best
compliments I have ever gotten as a Director. She tells me that I’ve converted
her. Turns out, she was one of those people who swore that she would never go
to the opera. She hated it. She came tonight because her neighbor organized the
reception and needed her help. She said this production and how it was handled
literally changed her mind about opera. That’s something that you hope for when
you’re putting a production together but you rarely hear. It’s humbling and
wonderful. She can’t wait to learn more about it. Brett gives her some
suggestions of operas she might like and we invite her to come see something at
the Ellie Caulkins Opera House so she can get the full experience. On her way
out the door, she has Opera Colorado’s website on her phone. We are asked back
over and over and I’m not allowed to make my exit until I promise to come back
next year. They want our touring production of Carmen, more workshops and this time, they want to bring us into
the schools with Hansel and Gretel. I
think we can make that happen.
We say our goodbyes and thank everyone for coming; for the amazing
reception, and then we begin the process of loading out. It’s really late and
it’s been a very long day, but the Young Artists are laughing and talking to
each other as they pack the van; still smiling in reaction to what they did
tonight. We get back to the hotel, I get a new key, set the plan for tomorrow
then we head to bed. Andrew decides to go to the gym, so I fully expect to find
him passed out on the elliptical machine tomorrow morning. Tomorrow will be
another long day but it will be all driving. We have to get to Pueblo for
back-to-back performances of Hansel and
Gretel at the Sangre de Cristo Arts Center on Saturday. Time for me to turn
in as well.
Seems I was right… it was a great day.
Sleep well readers,
Cherity
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