| |
Home
 News & Auditions Letters from Friends Letters from Friends“Thank you for all that The CENTER for Performing Arts at Rhinebeck brings to the cultural life of Dutchess County and the Mid-Hudson Valley."
Last year, thirty thousand people came through the doors of The CENTER to see our shows. Fifteen hundred volunteers worked as performers, artists and technicians, and four hundred community residents attended our classes, workshops, and arts camp. We’ve seen them as young as three years old, and as old as…well, never mind. And when one of our young performers makes the transition from community theater volunteer to working professional actor, it is noteworthy. Moreover, it’s reason to celebrate. Our doors opened in 1998, and for four years prior, we worked in a tent. And before that, we worked wherever we could. Do the math. That’s nearly a quarter million people ago – a daunting number by any standards, but more amazing given our rural setting. It’s a fact that many of our players come to us as children or teenagers. They work here, learn here and make friends here – and then they go their various ways – to schools, universities, careers of all kinds, families of their own – into lives. And once in a while, someone stands out. I guess we all imagine that what we do makes a difference. It’s not something that gets articulated much, but we all think it. So it’s a beautiful thing when that feeling gets validated. Yesterday, Lou Trapani, our Artistic and Managing Director, received a letter from a young man whom I recall I had the great pleasure of seeing in “The Medium,” Giancarlo Menotti’s brilliant opera. The Gilbert and Sullivan Musical Theater Company produced it here at The CENTER in February, 2001. It starred Joanne Fenton, Andrea Buergers, Joe Garofalo, Barbara Hardgrave, Elizabeth Dana Wunderlich, and, in a completely silent role, a kid named Michael Keutmann. The show was stunning - unbelievably great – anyone who knows the singers listed above could attest to that. But this kid who never said a word stole our hearts. He’d acted in a few other things: “The Boyfriend,” “The Tempest,” “A Day in Hollywood/ A Night in the Ukraine,” but this performance was the one I remember best. We all talked about him after the show. Then yesterday, out of the blue, this letter came: Dear Lou, I graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 2005, with a BA in biology. However, by the end of college career, I had decided to pursue acting professionally. I'm now living in Philadelphia, and I'm proud to say I'm a working actor. And though you may not know it, you played a part in my decision to pursue theatre professionally. We were standing outside the theatre one day (I believe it was during The Medium) and you asked what I planned on studying in college, or what I wanted to do when I "grew up" (I must have been 16 or 17--I'm 23 now.) I probably said biology, medicine, or research. You replied by saying that you thought I could make a career out of this (meaning theatre). Those words have stuck with me to this day. Here was a talented, experienced fellow, who knew a thing or two about theatre, saying that he thought I could make it. Sure, I got lots of praise--but usually from Mom and Dad, who had to tell me how wonderful I was. I might not be where I am now had it not been for those words of confidence years ago. Well, I just thought you might enjoy that story. I'd love to hear how you're doing and what's new at the Center when you get a chance. Take care! Thank you, Michael. Congratulations and keep in touch. It means a lot to us |