I get to be a Scarecrow, and a Tin Man!

Wednesday, March 5th, 2008 @ 11:44AM

Life comes full circle

When I was in high school I was part of a group called Vocal Ensemble.  It was like any high school madrigals choir, only at Hillcrest High School this was the sought after group.  Becoming a part of V.E. (as the kids called it) meant you had arrived, you were talented, and most importantly that you had the approval of the high school choir teacher.  Mr. Bentley is his name.  Mr. Bentley is one of those teachers that could demand the very best from each of his students and get it.  If it meant late night rehearsals he would do that. Long Saturday rehearsals were no stranger to Mr. Bentley as well.  Mr.  Bentley also very rarely gave compliments.  I should say he actually very rarely gave full on compliments.  He would very often say things like “That wasn’t as terrible as yesterday” or “Well we almost got that right” but very rarely would you feel that Mr. Bentley was in fact proud and had no other motive or measure behind what he was saying.

What does this have to do with a scarecrow and a tin man?

Well.  When I was in high school, aside from being in V.E. I was involved in a lot of other projects.  My time was used in a lot of different ways.  I didn’t committ as much time as I needed to Mr. Bentleys class.  At the end of the year V.E. would do a “Pops” concert.  Essentially it could be any sort of song from any genre.  If it made it through auditions you would be in the concert.  The catch was everyone had to either have a solo or group piece in the concert.  I did not plan anything so when it came to auditions, I flubbed my way through “If I only had a brain” from the Wizard of Oz.  He put me in the concert with a strict warning that I better rehearse if I didnt want to look like a fool.

I rehearsed.  I got costumes.  I focused.  I saw the whole thing in my mind. Practiced in the mirror.  Time came to do the show....I was towards the end.  I stepped on the large stage all by myself.  Sang the song, wore the costumes, did my choreography.  The success in my mind came about when I didn’t screw up. 

Later after the concert I found Mr. Bentley waiting for me.  He hugged (not the RFH meaning of hugged) me and picked me up off the ground.  “You did it! You did it!” he said. 

One of my best days.  Now I get to reprise those roles in the upcoming Wizard of Odd at the Desert Star Theatre

RT