The colors of the season

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October 12, 2009

By Tim Smith The Democrat Mon Oct 12, 2009, 09:32 AM CDT

The Oklahoma Community Theatre Association received a nice e-mail from Sara Phoenix, the director of the musical “John and Jen,” the Poteet Theater production that the Pauls Valley Arts Council brought to us the latter part of August.

They will represent Oklahoma’s community theaters at an international theatre event in Germany.

Poteet, from Oklahoma City, placed third at AACTFest held in Tacoma, Washington.

Her note, in part reads: “… We are so excited and busy with last-minute details. We just got word that all our props and costumes have arrived at the theater in Germany and are waiting for us. We are so thankful for all of our wonderful Oklahoma theater friends who have supported us on this journey. It has been overwhelming in the best sense of the word! ... We are honored to be representing Oklahoma and all of the wonderful theaters here. We will definitely update you with pictures and news as soon as we can. Thank you, thank you! Sara Phoenix and the John and Jen cast and crew.” Good luck all.

Tidbits: The Pauls Valley High School marching band, The Pride of the Valley, traveled to Konowa for its annual band competition and they came in second in both parade marching and field performance.

I traveled to Fort Worth last weekend to visit my son at school and it was refreshing to hear him talking about his introduction to theater class and that he would be sending me “home a bit early” as he had to stand in line to get a ticket to see the school’s stage production of Doubt.

The Merle Streep/Phillip Seymour Hoffman/Amy Adams film version captured some 2009 Oscar nominations. Exposing him to the arts did pay off.

Live from the Highlands: As my 50th year celebration of my personal commitment to the performing arts comes to an end, it is now 2001 and until 2004, I was once again taken away from live theater production.

Then, in 2004, the newly formed Pauls Valley Arts Council wanted to begin developing a strong theater presence and I was fortunate to be able to direct their first offering, the Woody Allen comedy, “Don’t Drink The Water.”

This light hearted look at a family trapped in an American Embassy “behind enemy lines” had a stellar cast and crew and “set the stage” for live stage productions in the valley and Garvin County.

The fall season is heating up in New York and as I talked with a friend who is planning a visit there over the Christmas holidays, I remembered back to a trip I made over Thanksgiving vacation in 1976.

From seeing the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade, returning to the Empire State Building and making a day trip to West Point, the colors of those holidays only get richer and more vibrant with each passing year.

A final thought: Congratulations to the Toy and Action Figure Museum celebrating their fourth birthday Oct. 13-15. Here’s to many, many more.

Memories linger, with fondness and in the colors of fall and winter, in our towns.

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