VH1 BEHIND THE MUSIC / E! TRUE HOLLYWOOD STORY: The Rise and Fall of Randolph Community Theater

[jamezo]

I suppose there just comes a time in everyone’s lives when they grow out of things, like a great pair of shoes or a nice pair of jeans. and then people discover a better pair of shoes, perhaps a more expensive pair, that fits them a lot better, and is perhaps a better style for their evolving age. And while you wore that dingy old pair of shoes,

Comments

[neodragondevil]

Yea, it was "only" community theater, but it was OUR theater, our art, our design, or lives, our hearts. I remember when I started working with Connie when I was a child. Looking up to the older actors, willing to go to any length to prove you had what it takes to make it as a lead character, or even as THE lead itself. I joined when I was very young, younger than some even nowadays, and I still feel as if though I as well as many others were forced out before our time. We did some amazing things on those stages, and we had the potential to do SO much more. I know I have never said it before, but I was proud of seeing you in Les Mis playing Javert, the role that I myself always dreamed of playing. I know I'm only a few years older than you, but for so long I had seen you as the little kid who played Snoopy and Lefou, even when we all made it to Grease together. I saw you in Les Mis and I saw you as someone who wasnt a little kid anymore. I saw you as an equal on the stage, and someone I would have been proud to play apart rolls with for any performance. And now that I see all that you're doing with Disney, I'm proud of you; like a big brother smiling at his younger brother when he finally steps into the world as a man. I am proud of you JAMES. My one regret is that the hand I was dealt didnt allow for me to stick with you along the way. We, unlike most, took every show as if it was our purpose in life, like it was our life's work and could have been the last show we would ever do. I will argue one thing with you though, I dont think anyone should leave RCT (or RTC or whatever). Connie was the one driving force that kept me there as long as I did. She taught me so much and I never forgot any of it. Even in college, the things I knew from Connie's teaching amazed not only the other actors, but the directors and other staff. I, a smalltown actor, had the skills and talent to outperform most of the most seasoned veterain actors the schools had to offer. You're right, the way it is run by the town is bogus, but Connie is the genuine article. Without her, I wouldnt be half the person I am today. I think anyone considering acting should learn from her. You and I are both products of that. Keep in touch James. Its been far too long. I'm just sorry that it took so long and a chance reading of a friends-list journal entry to make me come around.

[jamezo]

AWWW DAVE! Thanks a lot for understanding! You are definetly the original product of Connie, hahaha you go back in theatre history to basically before I was born, lol! I can't express how much I appreciate your respect and how much I appreciated working with you on stage for a good majority of my theatre life. You couldnt be more right about Connie. She is an amazing woman who has done so much for the theatre community and I cannot thank her enough, because as you said, we are truly products of her creativity.

Well I hope all is well, thanks for reading and understanding! Keep in touch man!!