Remember when you were a child, when using your imagination was a natural state of being?  When each day was filled with possibility?

You could be a princess in a castle one moment, slay a dragon (princesses are brilliant, beautiful and tough, you know!), then travel to the moon, and then, after snacktime, create the most fantastic fort out of a cardboard box, pillows and blankets.  All in the space of a morning.

Come to think of it, that sounds creative, productive and fun.  Oh, we have much to learn from kids.

My parents used to subscribe to National Geographic Magazine.  We had stacks around the house.  It was the stuff of dreams.  I’d pore over them for hours, imagining myself visiting the fantastic places I saw on the glossy pages.

When I was nine I went on a school trip to the Art Gallery of Ontario to see the King Tut exhibit.  I was smitten.  That was it, I wanted to be an archaeologist.  Of course, seeing the movie Raiders of the Lost Ark a year later – ah, Harrison Ford (*sigh*) – only reinforced the glamour of it.

Image source: Google Images.

I also wanted to be a photojournalist for National Geographic, seeing and documenting incredible cultures and landscapes.

When you’re a child, anything is possible.  Children don’t impose the limits on themselves that adults do.  You know, like: that’s not even possible; it’s irresponsible; it’s too expensive and there are bills to pay; what would people think? and so on.

In university I went on an archaeological dig for six weeks at a Maya site called Cahal Pech in Belize, Central America.  It was an amazing experience.  I can’t say I still want to be an archaeologist, but I got to experience first-hand what I had previously only read about in books or seen in museums.  Awesome.

A grownup is a child with layers on. ~Woody Harrelson

What if we took some time to peel back the heavy, burdensome layers we carry, and allowed ourselves to imagine what we’d like to do or try if there were no limits?

Part of me would still love to be a photojournalist.  But in reality, there’s nothing stopping me from taking pictures when I travel and writing about my experiences.

Now it’s your turn… dust off that grey matter and think back to when you were a child.  What was something you really, really wanted to do?  Explore the possibilities, even for a few minutes, and ignore that voice inside you that tells you all the reasons you “can’t” or “shouldn’t.”

You could go back to school.  Or try flying lessons.  Learn to swim.  Try horseback riding.  Sing in front of an audience.  Go to a castle.  (leave the dragon-slaying to the imaginary princesses though, please).  Charter a boat.  Visit the Great Wall of China.

In every real man a child is hidden that wants to play. ~ Friedrich Nietzsche

It’s your life and it’s precious.  What would you choose to do with it?

Volunteer position title: Merchandise sales

Sectors/Interest Areas: Academic/Education, Arts & Culture, Children & Youth

Date(s) and Times(s) needed: July 13th through August 26th. Nightly, from 5:00pm to 7:30pm or 10:30pm depending on the position.

Location: Sand Harbor State Park

Ideal for: Individual volunteer(s), Group(s) of volunteers, Visitors/Tourists

Age Groups Accepted: Child (5-12), Teen (13-18), Young Adult (19-23), Professional (24-39), Adult (40-64), Senior (65+)

Minimum Age: 5 years with an adult

Description of volunteer position: We need people to greet, take tickets, usher, help sell merchandise…and much more! Contact us today.

Requirements: A positive attitude.

Organization’s Volunteer Contact: Ali Beltramo

Volunteer Contact’s Email: ali@tahoebard.com

Organization’s Phone Number: (775) 298-0159

Organization/Event Website: http://www.laketahoeshakespeare.com

The production is directed by former Wakefield resident and 1965 Wakefield High School graduate Nancy Curran Willis.

After the Nazis occupy Amsterdam and announce that they will begin rounding up the Jews, Otto Frank (played by Jim Ansart) decides to hide his family in the annex of his office building. Soon they are joined by another Jewish family, the Van Daans: Hermann Van Daan (David Warmock), Petronella Van Daan (Teri Muller) and their 16 year-old son Peter (Jonathan Acorn).

Eventually, the two families agree to allow a Jewish dentist, Albert Dussel (Kendall Hodder) to join them in their hideout.

The only ones who know of the secret hiding place are a few of Otto Frank’s most trusted Dutch employees, including Miep Gies (Kerry Anne Kilkelly) and Victor Kraler (Patrick Cleary) who bring the Franks and the Van Daans supplies and news of the outside world during their time in hiding.

It’s no surprise that the star of the show is Becky Klein, the Bedford High School sophomore who plays Anne as a an entirely typical 13 year old girl whose diary winds up telling one of the most extraordinary true stories of the 20th century. But there’s nothing typical about Klein’s performance as she totally immerses herself in the role. It is because Klein herself feels all the highs and lows expressed in Anne Frank’s powerful words that she makes the audience feel them too.

Like many 13 year-old girls, Klein’s Anne bickers with her older sister Margot (played by Aryn Colonero), resents her mother (Demetra Tseckares) and adores her father. She is obsessed with boys and movie star magazines, loves reading and dreams of someday being a famous writer.

Forced to be totally silent during the business day so as not to alert employees in the offices below to their presence, tensions develop within and between the two families. But there are moments of humor and tenderness as well, as Anne eventually comes to understand her older sister and appreciate her mother. And as her sexuality awakens, she and Peter go from bitter adolescent antagonists to sharing their first kiss in the attic of the annex.

Jason Benagh’s set design recreates the cramped quarters of the annex hideout furnished with only the basics. A window in the attic tracks the time of day, and the leaves and bare branches of the tree seen through the window chronicle the passage of the seasons.

Director Nancy Curran Willis brings a professional quality to all of her work and “Diary of Anne Frank” is no exception. She has assembled a talented cast who deliver fine performances across the board.

Willis has won numerous awards for her work in both professional theater and community theater. She won the prestigious Eliot Norton Award in 2008 for Best Production and Outstanding Direction for Boston Theatre Works production of “Angels in America.” She has also been at the helm of award-winning QP productions like “True West,” “Breaking the Code” and “The Shape of Things.”

Willis has been actively involved with Quannapowitt Players for 40 years. She grew up in Wakefield and her parents, Charles and Gladys Sturtevant, were founding members of Quannapowitt Players.

QP’s production of “The Diary of Anne Frank” offers audiences a chance to see professional quality theater at bargain prices.

Performances are on May 24 and 25 and June 1 and 2, 2012. All shows begin at 8 p.m. For tickets, go online to qptheater.com/ or phone 781-942-2212.

The Diary of Anne Frank, a play by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett. Directed by Nancy Curran Willis. Assistant Director, Lisa Burdick. Producer, Lisa Atkinson. Stage Manager, Judy Forgione. Set Design, Jason Benagh. Lighting Design, Mike Condon. Sound Design, Mike McTeague. Costume Design, Anna Bruce. Hair & Makeup Design, Marc Capizzi. Cast: Becky Klein, Jim Ansart, Demetra Tseckares, Aryn Colonero, Kerry Anne Kilkelly, Jonathan Acorn, Patrick Cleary, Teri Muller, David Warnock, Kendall Hodder, Paul Smith, Derek Clark, Adam Heroux, Avery Bargar and Tom Berry.

(Photos by Jon Sachs)

[This review originally appeared in the May 23, 2012 Wakefield Daily Item.]

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Volunteer position title: Usher

Sectors/Interest Areas: Academic/Education, Arts & Culture, Children & Youth

Date(s) and Times(s) needed: July 13th through August 26th. Nightly, from 5:00pm to 7:30pm or 10:30pm depending on the position.

Location: Sand Harbor State Park

Ideal for: Individual volunteer(s), Group(s) of volunteers, Visitors/Tourists

Age Groups Accepted: Child (5-12), Teen (13-18), Young Adult (19-23), Professional (24-39), Adult (40-64), Senior (65+)

Minimum Age: 5 years with an adult

Description of volunteer position: We need people to greet, take tickets, usher, help sell merchandise…and much more! Contact us today.

Requirements: A positive attitude.

Organization’s Volunteer Contact: Ali Beltramo

Volunteer Contact’s Email: ali@tahoebard.com

Organization’s Phone Number: (775) 298-0159

Organization/Event Website: http://www.laketahoeshakespeare.com

Volunteer position title: Admission ticket assistance

Sectors/Interest Areas: Academic/Education, Arts & Culture, Children & Youth

Date(s) and Times(s) needed: July 13th through August 26th. Nightly, from 5:00pm to 7:30pm or 10:30pm depending on the position.

Location: Sand Harbor State Park

Ideal for: Individual volunteer(s), Group(s) of volunteers, Visitors/Tourists

Age Groups Accepted: Child (5-12), Teen (13-18), Young Adult (19-23), Professional (24-39), Adult (40-64), Senior (65+)

Minimum Age: 5 years with an adult

Description of volunteer position: We need people to greet, take tickets, usher, help sell merchandise…and much more! Contact us today.

Requirements: A positive attitude.

Organization’s Volunteer Contact: Ali Beltramo

Volunteer Contact’s Email: ali@tahoebard.com

Organization’s Phone Number: (775) 298-0159

Organization/Event Website: http://www.laketahoeshakespeare.com

Volunteer position title: Greeter

Sectors/Interest Areas: Academic/Education, Arts & Culture, Children & Youth

Date(s) and Times(s) needed: July 13th through August 26th. Nightly, from 5:00pm to 7:30pm or 10:30pm depending on the position.

Location: Sand Harbor State Park

Ideal for: Individual volunteer(s), Group(s) of volunteers, Visitors/Tourists

Age Groups Accepted: Child (5-12), Teen (13-18), Young Adult (19-23), Professional (24-39), Adult (40-64), Senior (65+)

Minimum Age: 5 years with an adult

Description of volunteer position: We need people to greet, take tickets, usher, help sell merchandise…and much more! Contact us today.

Requirements: A positive attitude.

Organization’s Volunteer Contact: Ali Beltramo

Volunteer Contact’s Email: ali@tahoebard.com

Organization’s Phone Number: (775) 298-0159

Organization/Event Website: http://www.laketahoeshakespeare.com

Volunteer position title: Special event assistance

Sectors/Interest Areas: Academic/Education, Arts & Culture, Children & Youth

Date(s) and Times(s) needed: July 13th through August 26th. Nightly, from 5:00pm to 7:30pm or 10:30pm depending on the position.

Location: Sand Harbor State Park

Number of Volunteers needed: 18 per night

Ideal for: Individual volunteer(s), Group(s) of volunteers, Visitors/Tourists

Age Groups Accepted: Child (5-12), Teen (13-18), Young Adult (19-23), Professional (24-39), Adult (40-64), Senior (65+)

Minimum Age: 5 years with an adult

Description of volunteer position: We need people to greet, take tickets, usher, help sell merchandise…and much more! Contact us today.

Requirements: A positive attitude.

Organization’s Volunteer Contact: Ali Beltramo

Volunteer Contact’s Email: ali@tahoebard.com

Organization’s Phone Number: (775) 298-0159

Organization/Event Website: http://www.laketahoeshakespeare.com

Chasing them.

It is on at the Old Customs House-Artsource HQ- in Phillimore Street.

Roel Loopers

I don’t even care if I come, just that she does, it makes me so happy to see her smile and see her face as I take her over the edge and then again and again and then again, until she stills me and gives herself a chance to breathe!  I could dance it delights me so! Do you know what I mean? Am I adequately getting my joy over? I’ve not felt this joy since my first Mistress, or for that matter the total selflessness of making someone else so happy. Don’t get me wrong, I pout when she takes me to the edge and leaves me there with a giggle which she is want to do! A lot! (I forget to ask to come! Then I get frustrated as she does it again and again, teaching me to ask. I eventually think to, as she laughs at me and then makes me come in seconds! Sigh)

So tonight we play properly for what will be the first time, yet I know it wont feel like that! It will feel like we have been doing it forever. I ache for her touch today, the day is already dragging and it is only 9.30am. It will be hard to be apart for nearly 5 weeks when I am on holiday. I will think of tonight I know and ache for it again as I have for the time we have been together. Tonight she says will be just a promise of things to come. Tonight those there will only share part of our moment, but they will see what belongs to her.

She is proud of me, I don’t get that! She thinks I’m beautiful and sexy and adores and loves me. I don’t get any of it! I accept it though. And when I am with her and on my knees looking up into her eyes, I don’t care that she is so much younger than me, she is my Mistress and knows best! She has been right all along, it works regardless of what my mind tells me.

Tomorrow night I get to play with a toy of mine hopefully, after the casserole and games night, to please my Mistress the best way I know! I used to have a flair for it and I think I still will, after all you never forget how to ride a bike do you? Ha ha ha ha! Knowing me I will get toppy too, and my wonderful Mistress allows that which is even more wonderful since it now does not interfere with my submission. As soon as we stop I am back to subby me again with no  worries of losing myself again for the next 28 years! I get the best of both worlds with her and all my needs met. I am so grateful to have found her after waiting for so long.

CLICK HERE 

Last week we decided who would be our new Gally, and you all chose Devon Bostick! Devon is now annexed as our Gally into the Maze Runner Dream Cast Family. This week on Dream Cast, we’re going to be taking a look at a couple of young actors who would be great to play Chuck. Chuck was the Greenbean before Thomas, and they became best friends. He looked about 12 to 13 years old and was described as short and pudgy with long brown hair and blue eyes.

Alex Ferris is such an adorable kid, who looks younger than his age! He’s played in “The Time Traveler’s Wife” as Henry (at the age of 6). More recently, he’s played in the first “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” movie as an annoying, smart kid named Collin. ***SPOILER*** He is so cute it would be hard to resist being friends with him, feeling sorry for him, or crying when he died in my presence.

Alex Ferris hasn’t shown up in media in a while, so this would be a great opportunity for him to get back into acting. His most significant role has been in the movie, “Yours, Mine, and Ours” as Ely Beardslay. This child actor is also adorable, and I definitely see him as the Greenie that gets bullied around constantly but the other Gladers.

I know that was very short, but that’s it for Chuck! Thank you all so much for reading this and tune in next week for Newt. If you have any ideas for Newt, comment on this post, telling us what you think! To pick our Chuck for our Dream Cast, poll in your votes down below!

   Glade on!

Call the dentist. I think I developed a cavity while watching that video.

This goggie is so excited, and he just can’t hide it!

Robert Altman is a wise man.

Last week, I finished filming a piece that I consider to be the greatest work I’ve ever had the privilege of touching, let alone performing. A short dramatic film, written by Rick Dalton of the webseries Ragged Isle, that captured a beauty of love and loss that was so real, I wonder sometimes if it’s autobiographical. I cannot speak to the plot yet, as the film has not been released nor will be for some time, but I can speak to it’s immense power.

The 7 days I just spent have sparked a change in me, both professionally and personally, that I never saw coming. I was pushed so far to the edge of safe emotion, and found myself rebounding back for more day after day – like I was getting a fix. The power of the script, Rick’s direction, and my incredible co-star (Vanessa Romanoff – whom taught me so much by simply existing always in the moment) sent me to places I had never been before. I long for those places again, a week later. Probably always will.

The magic of this piece doesn’t stop there: Mr. Mark Hensley (local photographer and cinematographer) acted as the Director of Photography, and my giddy aunt, his stuff looks amazing. Each day he showed me dailys – raw unedited footage – and it looked better than most final products I’ve seen. His lighting, his direction, his steady hands, and patience were a tour de force performance of their own.

And finally, all this would not have been possible without the tireless efforts of our production manager Erin McNally, whom day after day, sacrificed her time, money and bed to make this film possible. Her immense scheduling and organizational abilities are untouched by anyone I’ve worked with.

I apologize for the ego-fanning fest, but I am in awe of the experience I just had. I could make movies with these people for the rest of my life, and never want for another thing. Who knows – maybe I will.

Peace and love, peeps.

Who will win?! My money is on the penguin.

a bright blue ribbon.

a puppy, a bike

a playful kitten.

it’s fastest, cleverest

a record collection.

it’s tallest, wittiest,

a nice girl’s attention.

it’s fresh cut flowers

staying on track.

it’s steaming hot tea

or a pat on the back.

it’s abating your hunger,

quenching your thirst.

it’s getting it right,

being picked first.

it’s a well earned promotion

a baby, brand new.

it’s rolling ‘round under

the covers with you.

it’s a run in the park.

a kiss on the cheek.

a smile from a person

you pass on the street.

it’s a song to sing,

and the words to say,

it’s stars to keep

the darkness away.

it’s knowing your voice,

owning your freedom.

it’s having your heart

my key to the kingdom.

When I saw the live production of “It’s a Wonderful Life” being performing at a local theatre I jumped on the opportunity to have a grand evening out, dressed as if I was attending the finest opera in all the land. I had never seen “It’s a Wonderful Life,” nor had I ever been to this theatre. I invited my best friend Ashley to come along and it was night of new adventure!

In past decades (circa 20-50′s) women and men alike have dressed to the nines when attending the theatre. Think fancy coats, pearls, opera glasses, satin gloved arms and furs.

A night at the theatre!

For this grand evening out, I whipped out my finest of threads, including a vintage mink coat my grandmother had gifted to me. We each wore a feathered fascinator with birdcage veils and Ashley even had a vintage, rhine-stoned monacle. With our theatre outfits combined, we were an incredibly opulent duo.

We arrived at our destination only to find what appeared to be an extremely small community type of building, but were hopeful for the inside. We sashayed through the double doors expecting to drop off our coats with the coat check and grab a fancy cocktail to match our fabulous attire. Our sashaying came to an abrupt stop upon entrance where we were greeted with some soccer moms selling canned soda in a giant room lined with cold, metal chairs facing a small, shabby looking stage. As we adjusted to the shock of our grand theatre being a community shack, the soccer moms were enamoured with our ensembles and squealed with delight. One woman kindly asked us to pose for a photograph (the photo below) and said they were going to put it on the cover of one of their community booklets.

After the rush of older woman oohing and ahhhing over out outfits, Ash and I chose two seats in the second row. Out of about 40 seats, there was probably 8-10 people there, including us. It was opening night.

The production was absolutely terrible. And I’m not saying that to be mean… it’s just… well… it was TERRIBLE! The acting was bad, the backdrops and sets were non existent, and the fashion?!?!?! THE FASHION?!?! All I can say is my friend and I looked more like we should have been characters in the play, rather than sitting in the audience.

This was clearly a local, no budget, no talent production. Don’t get me wrong now, my friend and I had an amazing time. We watched the entire thing, clapped, were polite and engaging and overall we had a lot of fun. I just had no idea that it would be AS low budget as it was, and frankly it was slightly embarrassing to show up dressed so nice when the production was clearly not.

After the play, Ash and I clapped as loud as we possible could, for as long as we possible could. Despite the bad play, we truly did have a fabulous time. The actors and actresses all came out to say hello to their families (no doubt the only people in the audience). One actor came over to us and asked, ” Wow, you two must be huge fans of It’s a Wonderful Life to come dressed in part…” I then told him I had never seen the play before. He gave us a blank stare and moved on to chat with someone else. Then another actor came over to us and said, “Oh you guys look great, who do you know in the play?” We then responded that we didn’t know anyone in the play. Again, another blank stare of disbelief. Ash and I were erupting in laughter on the inside. It seems as though EVERYONE in the audience was friends or family of someone in the play, except for us. It was hil-ar-ious! The actors could not believe two totally random girls just showed up dressed as such to see this ridiculous production.

We thanked everyone for there efforts and left with smiles plastered across our faces (without really explaining what our deal was). Certainly not a mission we headed out for, yet it ended on great note, leaving so many question marks behind.

Another night that could have ended in disaster (or complete boredom) if not for fashion making it fun!

I’m getting ready to go to France.  Here is a random picture, to see how it works.

Now I’m beginning to get it.  Jess is a BIG help here!!!!

This is going to be exciting.  I can see I’ll be spending some time playing here.