Hi everyone. My name is Frances. My husband is the Director for a Community Theatre in rural Eastern NC. We had a wonderful Drama Instructor from Maine that moved here when we were in high school thirty years ago. Both my husband and I worked with him for years until he retired 3 years ago. I, as the ever faithful whatever girl helping setting lights or sewing the torn stage curtain. My husband, the leading man.. now he Directs. I miss him on stage but that is a different story...

Tonight is our last performance of Bye, Bye Birdie and I am sitting in my PJs at 1:30 pm exhausted. We have a 50 person cast with with mostly teens. We have rehearsed since the first of January 4 nights a week and Sunday afternoon. Tomorrow after strike, withdrawal...the orchastra (which we have had for 3 rehearsals), the set, everythng gone....

We are 48 & 46, have 3 children 8, 15 & 23. I always tell folks that Drew does theatre like others go hunting, fishing or card playing! We just get to do it together.

Our mission is to keep theatre alive here. So many teens need something to do constructivly besides sports. It is such an awesome experience to see someone get turned on by theatre.

We do a Childrens theatre workshop in July and then did a production of Willie Wonka Jr. September. We mostly had 7-14 year olds for this. Next a grown up straight, And Then There Were None, and Birdie now trying to get the teenage group involved.

Now we have look for good plays to do that are not the same ole stuff for next year but as you all say bring in the crowd. Here, if they have never heard of it we may not get a draw...unless there are children involved.

I have got to get off this computer and clear my mind of the play for an hour....hope to get great ideas from you all.