The Quote of the Day that inspired my A to Z Blogging Challenge theme –
A Word for the Day that takes on many meanings.

Quote of the Day: A writer lives in awe of words for they can be cruel or kind, and they can change their meanings right in front of you. They pick up flavors and odors like butter in a refrigerator. John Steinbeck

Word of the Day: Understudy

An understudy in performing arts is someone who studies, or learns, a role so they can replace someone who might not be able to perform. This happens more in professional theatres, not so much in community theatres. I did not plan for an understudy, but life has a way of making our plans for us. Kate, who played Micki, had a conflict with a performance. Her choir director had a last minute add-on mandatory workshop the same night as one of our performances. Before I had a chance to panic, she had asked her younger sister Ashley to fill in.

Mary (in her Aubrey outfit), Ashley, and Kate
Ashley watched two of our performances and came to our walk-through at The Shante. Kate grilled her on her part. Ashley read the entire script, and according to Kate, probably had it memorized. “She has a mind like a steel trap,” she said of her younger sister. Ashley slid right into the part and was a shining star. I am so proud of her. In fact, hearing her do the part, minus the singing that Kate added, gave the character of Micki another dimension. I thought of her as a writer, a poet, and an artist. I was giving her a future, combining her poetry with her art and some day having a room of her own at the Minnesota Institute of Art.

I asked Ashley if she wore her own clothes or if she used Kate’s. She used Kate’s and said that was all cool, now, but there was a time when they would have killed each other for wearing each other’s clothes.

Ashley, you are a beautiful, talented young woman. Thank you for lending your talents to Coffee Shop Confessions.

Her mom and sister said that she’s been interested in trying drama, but we have almost no opportunities for young people in our community for theatre. I know! I’m embarrassed to even confess it. I do have a calling to start some theatre programs for young people. It’s time to get something started. Anyone want to help?

Go. Create. Inspire!

Journaling Prompt:  Have you ever been an understudy, or fill in, for someone at the last minute? Do you feel a calling to start something in the arts in your community?