Fall, 2006
This year's TRAVERSE CITY FILM FESTIVAL was a great success, expanded from the first festival last year and facing further expansion next year, with new venues like Lars Hockstead added for the screenings.  Close to 50 past and present OTP volunteers participated in the second festival, including long unseen faces like Mindy Morton, Nicole Enger, and Jamie Kramer, who now lives in New York City and has done background roles in a number of films that were shot there.  The local creative community owes a debt of gratitude to filmmaker Michael Moore for creating this festival, which has brought both artistic and financial rewards to the area.  I do, however, have one comment that is solely my own personal observation.  Moore is a documentary maker and obviously has a great fondness for the genre, but perhaps he gives a little too much festival time to them, particularly in the panels and selection of director guests.  My own "Kodak moment" of the festival came when Matthew Modine was autographing his book about the making of FULL METAL JACKET (which looked so good on the State Theater screen and served as a reminder that we need to reopen that space as a full time cinema again).  One of the people seeking an autograph was ROCKY HORROR's Patti Herron, whose brother was stationed in Iraq.  The two of them had watched FMJ many times together and she wanted the autograph on a copy she was sending to him.  She was too young to have seen the film when it played at the old Meijer Plaza Cinemas back in 1987, so I asked her if she caught the screening.  She was feeling very emotional about his presence in the war zone and was not in a mood to sit through the picture at this time, although it remains his favorite movie.  This is definitely a side of America's participating in foreign wars and Hollywood's fascination with making films about them that more people - particularly those who initiate the conflicts - should be aware of.  *****************  As always, summertime brought back many former residents whose work or educational needs necessitated the leaving of their hometown.  I saw Jacob Norton (WEST SIDE STORY), now studying Arabic at Georgetown University in Wasgington, D,C,,  His father is Mike Norton, an actor in shows like MAN OF LA MANCHA, CABARET, and EVITA, and for many years a writer for the Record Eagle.  Jacob's birth happened at the time Mike was their theater critic, writing reviews that were sometimes controversial but always interesting to read.  Will Havill from the early days of Riverside Shakespeare took time from his life in Seattle to stop by and say hello.  Laurel Benghauser, the non actress daughter of Bensie, finished her hitch in the army and was heading out to L.A. to resume her education.  T.J. Berden, veteran of shows at the Playhouse, St. Francis (where he directed an agreeable rendition of Agatha Christie's MURDER ON THE NILE), Riverside Shakespeare, and Stage Door Productions, came to hear Miriam Pico sing at Pete's Pub; he's in his final term toward getting a degree in communications, and interned in a theater in L.A. this past summer (but misses the Midwest).  Another visitor from L.A. was MaryScott O'Connor, whose Playhouse performing spanned a long period, beginning with the role of a butterfly in THE INSECT COMEDY in 1982, about the same time Pat Blasill first joined us.   She later was in shows like WORKING, APPLAUSE, THE SOUND OF MUSIC, and FIDDLER ON THE ROOF before heading west, where she abandoned her acting chores for activities on the political front.  **************  Grace Brauer Blackmer has been performing her original songs Sunday nights at the Loading Dock's open mic.  Some of the lyrics have been rather adult in nature but very much in keeping with the coffeehouse atmosphere there.   ****************  CLUE, THE MUSICAL enjoyed a successful opening, with a lively cast recreating the board game's characters (can you imagine anyone but Richard Dawson as Colonel Mustard?).  Nan Worthington was outstanding in a performance as Mrs. White that strangely brought to mind the long ago show, SWEENY TODD.  Jamie Moyers has her last Playhouse musical role as Miss Scarlett before she moves to Chicago. Toni Leaf (sister of musician Jerry) designed the set; thanks should go to her and Katie Slenk, who put in many hours in the creation of it.  The show captures the flavor of off Broadway musical theater, which is where THE FANTASTICKS and other interesting musicals have come from.  Al Lien, a very good (and sometimes, in my view, underappreciated) director did a fine job; he will later direct AS IS in the Studio.  Becca Walton, a very reliable backstage worker, has a quartet of almost simultaneous involvements, doing props for CLUE, performing in Terry Lawrence's LAST CALL and SWEET CHARITY, and stage managing 12 ANGRY MEN for the NMC Players.  She similarly worked on four shows last spring, so this comes easily to her.   ***********  When I first moved back here in 1997, after 8 years in my hometown of Chicago, the first show I did was THE SUNSHINE BOYS, where I did a lot of voices backstage.  Now I am in Terry Lawrence's original play, LAST CALL, where I will be doing some more of those.  It's old radio style acting, which I always enjoy when I get to do it.  My biggest role here is the Irish priest, Father Pat.  I played one of those in MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING last year, but here I get to do it with a brogue, not unlike my fairy character in the film, FOLK LORE, which premieres locally at the Horizon Cimemas on October 27, right during the play's run, so I'll have to catch it on video  (Stacy Griffith and Al Lien have major roles in the film).   ********  I also am in the chorus of SWEET CHARITY, which saw the return of Amanda Baltrip (PETER PAN, SUMMER AND SMOKE, GYPSY), who for several years lived in Florida, working at Disney World and performing in community theater, including Dorothy in THE WIZARD OF OZ.  Vocal director and Gala show performer, Sara Quigley is also in the chorus.  Music director Joe Rice has wanted to do this show for some time, and he's finally getting his wish.  Interlochen's Kristina Godfrey, a dancer in BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, will play Charity, while Andrea De Gregorio, who played Belle, is vocal director, along with Tom Stokes.  BEAUTY's director, Phil Murphy, will direct this show.   ********** Shawne Benson, a former improv performer and Children's Theater participant, is now living in Chicago and working as a theater technician.  The Lakeside Shakespeare Theatre from that city returned to Benzie County for a fourth season of staging shows last summer, using her sound designs.  **************  Best wishes go to Mike Axford, who is moving to Grand Rapids.  Congratulations to Esme Bloomquist's sister Emily, who became Mrs. Robert Palmer on August 11.  Condolences to Margaret Schaal on the passing of her mother, Vera and Ashley Frost on the passing of her brother, Josh at the young age of 23.   

Hedges Macdonald

hedges@chartermi.net