Thoughts on DEAR GABBY's Run

As I write this, DEAR GABBY: THE CONFESSIONS OF AN OVER-ACHIEVER has already presented two of its four performances to very responsive crowds. Even the 4:00 p.m. show show had about 50 people in attendance . . . which I think is awesome. We set extra chairs for the 7:00 p.m. show so we had about 80 patrons.

I know that this response would not be possible without the support of my colleagues in the Language Arts department. They have distributed flyers for the show and encouraged their students to attend the show. Some have even offered extra credit to students who have attended the show.

DEAR GABBY is a delightful production under the careful direction of Elynmarie Kazle. Elynmarie has ties to the show that go all the way back to the beginning at the Santa Monica Playhouse so I know she considers herself an ambassador for the play and the Playhouse.

We originally presented DEAR GABBY on the main stage back in 1999. It was under the directionthen of Melanie Pepe who is now the Education Director at Weathervane Playhouse. Most of the kids who appeared in that first production are now living and working in NYC, LA, and Chicago. Some of them are still pursuing a career in theatre and others have moved on to other exciting career opportunities.

We have presented the show several times over the years. I think this year's production repesents the 7th FHS production. Melanie directed the first two; I directed the second two; and Elynmarie has directed the rest. Additionally, I once directed a production of DEAR GABBY for Weatehrvane's Summer Stock class which was presented at the Coach House Theatre due to the ongoing renovations at Weathervane. One year we even took our production back to Santa Monica to present it in its home theatre in front of its playwrights, Chris DeCarlo and Evelyn Rudie.

Elynmarie swears she knows the play by heart. I know large sections of it. We only argue a little bit about how to stage the play. She usually finishes the argument with a sentence that starts with "Evelyn always said . . . "

Four alumni cast members were in the audience for last night's 7:00 p.m. show. It was an especially emotion moment for me to see those four join the current cast on stage. We like to think of DEAR GABBY as an extended family that just grows and grows. I hope more alumni come to the shows later today.