Reflections from Summer 2014

Now that the summer camp season is over, it is totally within my personality to take a moment and

reflect. This was a great summer…four camps, three productions, twenty-nine days of educational theater, and over seventy children involved. As I think about this past summer I am so thankful for those that joined to help us on this summer’s journey. Carolyn Knight, Lauren Forehand Kolmetz, and Alex Shaw were staff members and our volunteers were Samantha Savoie, Taylor Fisher, Chase Yakaboski, Madison Smith, Christian Williams, Austin Shaw, Jenna Adelman, Josh Demers, Kierstin Fisher, and Cindi Ledbetter. I am so thankful for the staff and volunteers we were able to work with this summer. I also have to thank my wife Anna, for her support and always doing an amazing job on costumes and scenic ideas!

One reflection I keep coming back to is that our volunteers were amazing! Part of the reason I love theater is that it is a community sport. Theater cannot happen because of one person, it only happens because of the efforts of a community of people. Our volunteers this summer helped with greeting patrons, theater games, choreography, prop building, set painting, scene changes, running the sound, make-up…I feel like I am missing something. Suffice to say that our volunteers covered every aspect of the theater experience. Our wonderful ECTC community came along beside us to help create an amazing experience for our young thespians. It’s so important…it’s imperative…there is absolutely no way Anna and I could have pulled off this summer with the excellence we strive for without the help of these people. It’s part of the dream…a community. Thank you so much Samantha, Taylor, Chase, Madison, Christian, Austin, Jenna, Josh, Kierstin, and Cindi for being an active and important part of the ECTC community.

As I reflect, a few others I need to thank are Christa Whittaker and Darla Briganti for allowing us to borrow costumes- they helped our young actors look authentic; Erin Bakker with Abrakadoodle Art Education and Parties for providing face painting for the Wizard of Oz -they looked amazing; Butler Elementary, Seaside Neighborhood School, Destin Elementary, and Ruckel Middle School for hosting us – we could not have done the camps without them allowing us to use their facilities; the Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation for their partnership; and I want to thank all the parents for trusting us to provide a great theatrical experience for their children.

Such wonderful moments were created this summer – and I am referring to moments both off stage and on. I observed a father congratulating his sons on a job well done through Facetime. This was such an amazing moment because the father had to be out of town due to work obligations, but was still a part of the experience because of technology. This summer I saw friendship after friendship emerge – children that had never met before passing the lines of shyness and joining the camaraderie of theater and building friendships. One of the things I love most is the glimmer in the eye of a child that has just performed in front of his or her friends and family. It’s truly special. I am thankful to be a part of an art form that creates room for these moments.

What a summer this has been! I have such good memories from this summer and those memories come from being in relationship with some wonderful people. My reflections have filled me with a grateful heart. Thank you for being a part of the ECTC community!

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