I remember being in 3rd grade and doing a Christmas paegant. Even at that young age doing something seemingly so simple and uncomplicated but it was magical to me. Then when I was in 5th grade and did my first real performance at 11 years. I actually don't remember the play I was in, but I do remember the feelings I had and the amazing release of going on stage and being someone else. I don't necessarily cite a specific play that had an influence on me, it's just the magic of theatre in general. I may have used that magic for the wrong reasons, but it got me out of a difficult household for hours at at time and it made me appreciate my school. We had a very good drama department and I was involved in both Junior and Senior High School as well as doing community theatre. I survived what could have been turbulent years because I found other people within myself and I was allowed to let those other people out through performing. Knowing that I would be an actor, no matter the stares and laughs that I got when at 13 and 14 people said "What do you want to do when you grow up?" and my response always was "I'm going to New York to be an actor." It took a while longer than I planned but it happened. Even though I no longer perform, I can't imagine having grown up without theatre in my life.
I have always adored Aaron Copeland. There is something in his music that touches me. Hearing his music as a child was wonderful. Hearing those notes and closing my eyes taking me to another place was grand.
One of the books I remember having a profound influence on me was James Michner's The Fires of Spring. Oh, my G*d, what a book. I was in my late teens and going through difficult times when an adult recommended I read it. It was one of moments of recoginition realizing I wasn't alone. What I was feeling was real and not something to be buried in "the dark place". I loved that book. I've never re-read only because I don't want to diminish the memory of what happened the first time I read it. I was so young and vulnerable and I don't want to be disappointed if it's not the same. I remember reading another book The Front Runner, in college, and crying and being transported. I'm sure there are other DRs who remember that book as well. I re-read the book some time ago and actually couldn't finish it. I don't know what changed in me but I didn't like the book at all. I'm glad I read it when I did and got something out of it, but I could not read it again.
As DR Elmore said, the library was also a refuge to me. I knew the stacks of the Minneapolis Public Library inside out. Another haven for me. I would take the bus from Coon Rapids (an 1:15 ride) to downtown Minneapolis and spend the day in the library, sometimes reading an entire book during my time there. It's also where I discovered Original Cast Recordings. I would bring them home on the bus and know I had a prize for 3 weeks. I sat in my basement bedroom and played them over and over again. They hold such wonderful memories. I think that's why, even though some of the shows are not very good (like How Now Dow Jones which was one of the first OCRs I took out of the library), I have a special place for some of the songs and the music.
Well, this is turning into a novella so I will stop and go back to work. Mr. Rockefella (a Bette Midler reference) calls me.
