Monterey California is beautiful even on foggy days. Very expensive, but beautiful.
Last week I went to Monterey, where we used to live during the 1990s, and got to visit people and places we learned to know and love so many years ago. One of the ladies I went to see was Gail Higginbotham, Artistic Director and Owner of Ariel Theatrical, a children's theater company in Monterey. She had some health issues, so I went to her house to pay her a brief visit.
We got to talking about her theater endeavors and she asked about mine. She said that the current hardest problem she has is that the kids have changed. "They are different now. They come to rehearsals unprepared. They don't seem to know how to relate to people. They don't recognize how working as a team is important. They have no sense of personal discipline or responsibility. I keep wondering if this is all about what didn't happen for them during the Pandemic or if they just are not being taught in their families."
Gail also said that she is having trouble finding good help --- from acting instructors, to choreographers, to other creative workers. Most devastating of all is that the piano player who had been part of her artistic team for years recently died. She hasn't found anyone who could adequately replace him. And since she has had surgery, she has not even been able to be so hands on at rehearsals herself. Then she said, "Are you sure you don't want to come back to Ariel? You have been missed."
I can't help but wonder if one of her troubles is that the Monterey area is just unbelievably expensive. Regular folks cannot afford to live there anymore. (I certainly couldn't afford to buy back my old house.) The normal (not ultra rich) people who do live there and in surrounding regions have to work several jobs just to afford life.
But, it is possible that children at large have been changed by the problems brought on by the COVID Pandemic. Unless the children had parents who were taking up the slack, many kids missed out on learning social graces and how to relate to people face to face.
Last week I went to Monterey, where we used to live during the 1990s, and got to visit people and places we learned to know and love so many years ago. One of the ladies I went to see was Gail Higginbotham, Artistic Director and Owner of Ariel Theatrical, a children's theater company in Monterey. She had some health issues, so I went to her house to pay her a brief visit.
We got to talking about her theater endeavors and she asked about mine. She said that the current hardest problem she has is that the kids have changed. "They are different now. They come to rehearsals unprepared. They don't seem to know how to relate to people. They don't recognize how working as a team is important. They have no sense of personal discipline or responsibility. I keep wondering if this is all about what didn't happen for them during the Pandemic or if they just are not being taught in their families."
Gail also said that she is having trouble finding good help --- from acting instructors, to choreographers, to other creative workers. Most devastating of all is that the piano player who had been part of her artistic team for years recently died. She hasn't found anyone who could adequately replace him. And since she has had surgery, she has not even been able to be so hands on at rehearsals herself. Then she said, "Are you sure you don't want to come back to Ariel? You have been missed."
I can't help but wonder if one of her troubles is that the Monterey area is just unbelievably expensive. Regular folks cannot afford to live there anymore. (I certainly couldn't afford to buy back my old house.) The normal (not ultra rich) people who do live there and in surrounding regions have to work several jobs just to afford life.
But, it is possible that children at large have been changed by the problems brought on by the COVID Pandemic. Unless the children had parents who were taking up the slack, many kids missed out on learning social graces and how to relate to people face to face.
All the more a reason to have music, arts, and drama in the schools. And also why I have been writing children's musicals that have overarching Character Values as THEMES. Kids need to learn about Integrity, Kindness, Sincerity, Bravery, Cooperation, Work, Honesty, Preparation, Appreciation, Family Love, and facing Fears. Participating in Children's Theater is a great place to learn.
"The Frog Prince," that will be premiered this July, also has an important Character Value as its THEME - Keeping Promises.
Here is a clip of the EXIT MUSIC "A Promise Is a Promise After All"
"The Frog Prince," that will be premiered this July, also has an important Character Value as its THEME - Keeping Promises.
Here is a clip of the EXIT MUSIC "A Promise Is a Promise After All"
RSS Feed