PERFECT

(photo is from "Park Takes The Stage" in Homeland)

This weekend -- the Theatre Bay Area annual general auditions. As a director - an auditor. Being at these auditions, I am reminded of the fact that we are not and never will be perfect. All of these talented Actors with just two minutes to show us what they can do. Just two minutes for us to imagine all of the possibilities for one of our upcoming productions. Whew! Perfectionism. It gets in the way as it imposes impossible, unrealistic ideals that guarantee failure. However, when we do not think we have to be perfect, then we can accept mistakes as learning experiences and be willing to try again.

We are not perfect -- we are growing. Accepting our own limitations makes us more tolerant of the faults and weaknesses of those around us. Together, we progress.

I am thankful that I don't need to be perfect!

I’m sharing some photos here from our workshop of “Homeland” last month at the Magic Theatre.

(photo is from "Across America" in Homeland")

Jay Kuo and I are looking at talent for upcoming productions of “Insignifiant Others” and a new musical that Jay is working on now called “All In.” I’m also casting for “Jekyll & Hyde” which I am directing at Palo Alto Players.


(Yilin Hsu and Luke Klipp as Rose and J.D. in Homeland)

There are so many wonderfully talented Actors here and while they may not think they are “perfect” most of them are absolutely right and wonderful. They provide those of us who love the theatre with endless opportunities for engaging storytelling and astonishing theatrical events.

Go see a play!

Happy New Year!

It is clear the future holds oppor-tunities - it also holds pitfalls. The trick will be to seize the oppor-tunities, avoid the pitfalls, and get back home by 6:00.
--Woody Allen

Sometimes we take ourselves far too seriously, drawing our lives in absolutes of black and white -- no shadings of gray, our whole lives depending upon every decision we make. We see a problem as a crisis rather than another of the ongoing issues that confront all people.

It might be helpful to look at today's problems as a game. Indeed, we would like to play the game well, but it is possible that we could have a good time doing it. If we don't take ourselves too seriously, we might have some fun.

Hope smiles on the threshold of the year to come, whispering that it will be happier.--Alfred, Lord Tennyson

At the start of this year, looking back at what has been, we see that our path has been filled with healing and hope. Now is a good time to make lists of the things we fear, the things we hope for, and the things we are grateful for. These lists serve as a kind of snapshot inventory of our attitude toward the world, pointing us in a direction for today and for the year ahead. Put these lists in a safe place until next year when we will bring them out as a reminder of where we were and a measure of how far we've come.

These inspirational words come from many sources.

The photo is by Ron Henggeler at www.ronhenggeler.com