When I went to the opening night of the Singing Christmas Trees, Aradhana, the director, told me that the lighting would not be at its best since the performance was being done for the TV cameras. I was told that if I wanted to see the show with Jeff’s amazing lighting, I should come back one more time. I finally made it back on closing night. I greeted Jeff when I arrived. I was informed that the house was sold out. Seating was assigned so I decided to sit up in the balcony. He had a framed sketch I had done of him leaning up against his lighting console. The director had given him the sketch that night as a present.
People kept filing in even as the show was getting started. I texted the director to let her know I was seeing the show one last time. The pastor joked with the audience saying that on the final night the cast would most certainly get it right. When the music grew louder and the Kabuki curtain dropped I could hear the couple next to me whisper to each other, WOW! Huge snowflake animations on the walls of the worship center bought a similar reaction just as if they were watching fireworks.
Though I loved the show, my reactions were more subdued than the first time. I recognized this quiet, somber, feeling. I suspect I always feel this way on a shows closing night. It is like Christmas came and went to early for me. Having sketched the cast for so long, I identify with their sometimes unsure hearts bolstered by faith. I didn’t want it all to end. I also felt that I might have missed many sketching opportunities. This diamond had so many facets. My humble observations seem to have only scratched the surface of this huge production.
When the show was over a small army of men and women began to crawl all over the Trees like ants, stripping them of their banners and ornaments. The orchestra pit disappeared just as quickly. A few children ran around the huge Worship Center weaving in amongst the pews shouting and laughing. Large wooden storage boxes were rolled down the isles and the trees were quickly disassembled before my eyes. The huge space was filled with the sounds of people yelling orders and the rush of activity. When I finished this sketch I found Jeff again and we talked for a while. The budget for this show had been cut drastically. The director had wanted artificial snow and because of the cuts she didn’t get it. It is possible that the Trees might not go up again next year. The arts are hurting everywhere.
When I got into my truck to leave, I saw a slip of paper shoved into my windshield wiper. Annoyed I stepped out of my truck to get it. It wasn’t an ad but a note that said “The Singing Menorah was here!” I laughed out loud and suddenly felt happy knowing the arts will always shine bright.
The Singing Menorah
Brian Feldman had been ribbing me for some time about all the Singing Christmas Trees sketches I have been posting here on Analog Artist Digital World. At an 8 AM Meeting of MOOM (Meeting of Orlando Minds) on Friday, Brian suggested he might stage a performance of the Singing Menorah at the Track Shack which is at 1104 North Mills Avenue right in the area where I planned to host an Artists and Writers Crawl. He pointed out that Track Shack had one of the few storefront Hanukkah displays in Orlando. The Crawl was only a day away but Brian managed to throw together a stellar performance. He had help from Omar Delarosa who co-wrote many of the lyrics and performed on guitar. Knowing the times of the stops along the Crawl route we agreed that he could start his performance around 8PM when the Crawlers were moving from the first stop, The Peacock Room to the Second stop, Wills Pub.
The Crawl developed a glitch from the start, when Tisse Mallon and I arrived at The Peacock room to find that it would not open for another two hours. I wrote a note and stuck it on the door so other Crawlers would know to go to the second stop, Will’s pub. Because I wandered around and introduced myself to all the people who arrived at Will’s, my sketch was not a very focused. When it was time to wander up to the next stop, I was still splashing watercolors on the sketch. Other crawlers headed out but I kept working. When I arrived at Track Shack where Brian was to perform, there were a crowd of Crawlers sitting in lawn chairs on the sidewalk looking into the storefront window. Omar was playing guitar. At the appointed time Brian walked out having to squeeze in the space between the plate glass and the display wall.
The performance was hilarious and fun. New Hanukkah lyrics had been written for a number of pop tunes. The Menorah that Brian was sporting consisted of cardboard tubes wrapped in tin foil. There were Hanukkah cards leaning up against the storefront window and for some reason a small Mickey Mouse sat watching the audience. Emma Hughes handed out dreidels to everyone in the audience when Brian sang a dreidel song. For the final number, Brian called in his back up dancer named Willoughby Mariano. It seemed most appropriate that she had a cast on her left leg from her foot up to the knee, but she still performed and gave a new meaning to the saying, “Break a leg”. Later, Emma handed out sparklers and when the performance was over everyone lit them up and the lights and sparks danced. Unfortunately, I didn’t get a sparkler since I was still scratching away in my sketch book.
Several times, cars stopped dead on Mills Avenue to see what the excitement was about and several cars honked. However, my attention was sharply focused on the show. This is without a doubt the greatest Singing Menorah performance I have ever seen. Well, yes, it is the only Singing Menorah performance I have ever seen. For the remainder of the Crawl I heard people commenting on how surprised they were that Brian had such a good singing voice. Brian truly gave the Singing Christmas trees a run for their money.
The Trees – Main Stage
This sketch was done on the day the core group of actors and dancers first took to the main stage. The trees structures had not yet been erected. The choreographer is pointing out where people should be to start the dance number so the whole stage area is used. When the performance began, the choreographer was yelling “Shatzi, Shatzi, step out, come in, out, together out!” With all the clutter there was much less room than expected and the dance number ran into some difficulties. Rather than try to iron out the hot spots the director decided to move the rehearsal to the mirrored dance space. There were no complaints and the second half or the rehearsal saw major improvements. Setbacks left room for unexpected and inspired steps forward. Throughout the night things fell into place even when they were not asked for. For instance a microphone was needed and a tech person just happened to wander into the rehearsal space with a microphone. Miracle or coincidence? That depends on your outlook.
Experience the Trees for yourself!
The final showtime for the Singing Christmas Trees is:
December 13, 5:00 PM
Tickets range from $8 to a $42 Dinner package.
It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year
When I walked into this rehearsal, Aradhana , the director, had the core group of actors in a circle and she was conducting a warm up exercise. She had everyone mime the act of digging a hole and burying a star. “A tree grows from the star. Feel the energy soak through your chest, neck and head. Let the stars light shine through your face.” All the actors who had been bent over slowly straightened back up stacking one vertebrae on top of another till they stood tall and straight.
Much of this rehearsal was handed over to the Amy, the choreographer. The director can been seen in the far distance behind the room dividers working away on her lap top. Amy had a series of dance steps plotted out on a sheet of paper and she lead the group as everyone learned the moves. “Step, cross, back. left, slide, ball change, slide, ball change!” The steps were rehearsed again and again till everyone was on board. Having now seen the final production, I can see that all the hard work paid off and the number seems effortless and fun.
Show times are:
December 12, 3:00 PM
December 13, 5:00 PM
Tickets range from $8 to a $42 Dinner package.
Folio 2010 Events Calender
The 2010 Folio Events Calender is out featuring 2 sketches from Analog Artist Digital World. Coming soon to a refrigerator near you.
Trees – Glory in the Highest
Having seen the final production of “The Singing Christmas Trees”, I now know that “Glory in the Highest” is one of my favorite numbers in the show. Here Jenine, the choreographer, is teaching the children the dance moves. The children are arranged with the smallest in front and the tallest in the back forming perfect wedges. A proud father sits on the side lines shooting digital pictures of his child.
In the final production the core group was on the main stage doing hand signs to the music’s lyrics and the children were on the steps leading up to the stage. They were all dressed in flowing white robes and the long sleeves billowed as they moved. The hand signs were graceful, slow and beautiful when timed to the music. I have to sing every time I hear this song. I always like to skip a beat and then belt out “Highest” a moment after everyone else. The great thing about this show is how everyone rose to the task. Not everyone was professional dancers or actors but after months of dedicated rehearsals everyone came together as a group and put on a stellar show. If someone needed extra help to learn some dance moves another cast member would step up and offer help. Alone we can do so little, but together we can do so much.
At the beginning of one rehearsal a cast member pointed out to the circled cast that she had wanted to give up on the show. The work was hard and endless and she just wasn’t feeling any joy in the process. Her voice broke as she told everyone this. She read that night a verse that struck a chord in her. “In humility count others as more significant than yourself.” With that thought she decided to rededicate herself to the show, trusting in the director and the cast. When I saw her beaming on the stage swaying to the music during this number, I was filled with wonder and joy celebrating the strength of the human heart.
Ditto
Based on a reader tip from Patricia Charpentier, I had to go see this lighting display on the corner of Harmon and Clay Streets. Patricia said she laughed her head off when she saw this display of Christmas cheer. I drove to the location straight from work and when I arrived it was still light out. I knew immediately that this would be a fun sketch. Shortly after I started a woman arrived saying “Don’t worry, I ‘m not sneaking up on you, I just saw this house and I have to get a photo”. She took a shot with her iPhone and then asked what I was up to. I showed her the very early stages of this sketch and told her that if she wanted to see the final, she should check this blog. She got back in her car and just as she drove past me, all the Christmas lights flickered on. She threw her hands up off the steering wheel in frustration and parked a second time to get another photo. The Ditto sign however was still not lit. Patience pays.
This home comes complete with animatronic Mr. and Mrs. Claus in a window. Santa is also trying to get in the chimney while solders guard the candy cane lined entry. There is a nativity, carolers, candles, wreaths, reindeer and garland. Quiet Christmas music can be heard. The home owners came out a few times to straighten lights in the flower beds and to snap a few photos. The decorated house is owned by the O’Brien family. Mrs. O’Brien stopped over to see what I was up to and we chatted for a while.
Several times cars simply would stop in their tracks to take a look and commuters in a rush to get home, would have to honk to get them to move it along. This display has been been going up for 25 years. Terry O’Brien explained the the house with the ditto sign had once been owned by her mother. It was her mother who began building this Christmas light display over the years. Now Sara, a niece, lives in that home and she doesn’t have time for all the decorations. Mickey O’Brien set up the Ditto sign for her.
Holiday Isle – The Keys
Terry wanted to stop at this spot in the upper Keys to get a drink at a 3 story high Tiki Bar. I ordered a Margarita and Terry had some frozen pink drink. Once I had finished my drink I got antsy and wanted to sketch. I walked to the docks where all the charter fishing boats go out.
Terry and I had taken a snorkeling charter from this marina some years ago. I spent most of that snorkeling trip on my back on the upper deck of the boat, with numb extremities, hoping I would live to feel firm land beneath my feet again. We had gone out with a group of scuba divers. After all the divers had left I was encouraged to jump in the water since then I wouldn’t be rocking back and forth. The struggle to get my flippers and mask on made my sea sickness worse and just before I jumped off the boat, the last of what was in my stomach came flying out onto the churning ocean. I fell forward into the filthy water. The flippers I had rented were to big and one slipped off my foot and drifted down to the distant ocean floor. Once in the water I found myself surrounded by jellyfish which proceeded to sting me every time I touched one. Needless to say I don’t really have fond memories of this particular dock although I was eternally grateful when I finally made it back to land. Before I finished this sketch a huge truck parked in front of me blocking my view. I filled in details that could still be seen. So much of the trick about sketching on location is learning to accept setbacks and avoiding frustration. It started to rain so I declared the sketch finished and I ran for the cover of an awning.
Ice Skating Rink in Winter Park
Winter Park has installed an outdoor ice skating rink right near Central Park. I went to the opening ceremonies on Saturday. The rink is perhaps 20 yards long and 10 yards wide. It is enclosed in a party tent which protects the ice from the direct sunlight. Even so the temperature was in the 80’s so it must be quite an effort to keep the rink open in the heat. Teenagers in blue vests were always on the rink to help anyone who fell down. It was fun to watch because lets face it not many native Floridians are talented skaters. People were falling down left and right. I sat at the top of some metal bleachers that were set up on the side lines. I should note that I had no desire to skate myself. I have week ankles and that ice is slippery! Skate rentals were $10 for all day. The rink was installed as part of “Winter in the Park Holiday Festivities“.
Besides the rink itself there was an old fashioned sleigh set up with a photographer to take family pictures. In the background of my sketch you can see a group of skaters leaning against the rail who have gathered to watch an abridged performance by the Orlando Ballet School of “The Nutcracker”. A makeshift stage was erected directly behind the skating rink where sugar plume fairies and a troupe of dancers dressed like flamenco dancers performed. Everyone looks beautiful at the Ballet. I am sure the graceful dancing must have inspired the ice skaters. Most skaters however struggled just to stay upright, forget about pirouetting or standing on point.
The rink will be open Monday to Thursday 3 PM to 9 PM. Friday and Saturday, 10 AM to 10PM and Sunday Noon to 6 PM. Don’t ask me when the ice might melt.
Artist & Writers Crawl Revised
“The itch to make dark marks on white paper is shared by writers and artists.” -John Updike.
Escape the Holiday rat race by attending this FREE event hosted by Mary Ann de Stefano of MAD about Words and Thomas Thorspecken of Analog Artist Digital World. We’ve joined forces to create time and space where your poems, stories, and art can happen, where you can push yourself past your usual limits, where you can connect with other creative people.
Thanks to Tod Caviness for his help with planning our Mills 50 Neighborhood itinerary. The route is detailed in the graphic above. Join us for the whole night or any part of it. We reversed the order of the locations where we will meet. Be sure to check this post for the correct information.
Everyone is welcome! Don’t be shy! This will be a friendly, fun event!
There is no fee or registration required, but if you’re planning to come, it would be fun if you’d let us know.