Yay! It’s Friday!
So much to look forward to today… Hours of costume fittings!
Date: September 6, 2013
Crane: 194
Days Spent on Project: 201
Location: Apartment, Washington Heights, NYC
Person I would have sent it to: Lynn B.
Back in 2000, when I applied to be a Faculty Associate for the National High School Institute, Lynn Baber was the director of the theater program. I interviewed with her for the job; I’m convinced I stood out only because of a recommendation from Krista A. (yesterday’s Crane).
Lynn remains the director at the Theatre Arts program.
I would work with that program for seven summers, from 2000 (the summer after my junior year in college) to 2006 (the summer after I graduated from the Yale School of Drama. It would become something I looked forward to every year, something that actually reaffirmed everything I thought I wanted to do with theater. It was a place that felt like home. I made incredible friends there- so many over seven summers- and over that time, I worked with over a thousand high schoolers.
To this day, in New York, I still will occasionally run into a now 20-something theater artist who remembers my name and the costume shop and some aspect of the summer they attended NHSI.
I believe Lynn has found her perfect job; I really do. She works with some really exciting and talented people, who not only work in the Chicago theater scene, but now come from all over the country. She really does foster a community. That she makes it all look so easy and effortless, when so much is happening, is a testament to her skill with the teachers, associates, and the students.
She facilitates growth and discovery in the best way possible.
I can’t say enough about this program. Even though it was an incredible amount of work to accomplish- we would fully design and build 10 different shows in under a month- the work always happened. And it was actually really good. (There are a few times when I think I saw truly GREAT theater there… to this day some of those productions stick out in my mind as things to be proud of…)
Lynn was the leader of it all. I really do hope she knows how much she is loved for the community she creates, the people she brings together, and the art she facilitates. Truly a genius.
Music I listened to while sewing: I’m listening to a “Dancefloor” playlist this morning… I need to get some jazz in my step because…
Thoughts/Feelings behind the block: … I slept through my alarm this morning. Last night I was so tired, I fell asleep on a book with all the lights on, and woke up this morning to see my dog trying to get me up.
I’m running a little late, obviously.
Time to run, but it’s good to know there’s a lot to look forward to these days.
Every day is a chance!
Cheers.
A Thousand Quilted Cranes 