<div>TO THE CAST OF INTO THE WOODS!</div><div><br></div><i>This is an open letter to the CAST OF INTO THE WOODS, which I am sharing with NEOpal because I'm so proud of this endeavor! And I hope the the few of you who know me and recognize my voice in this letter and my own love of the theatre behind the words, will find a night to see this marvelous piece of work. Youth and Age, Passion and Experience was brought together on our wonderful new FPAC stage (with lots of leg room in the audience!)</i><div>
<br></div><div>I know it’s bad form to stand up and applaud your own friends
and colleagues… <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>And being Executive
Director of Fairmount
Center automatically
disqualifies me from having an objective view of anything we do.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Be that as it may, and since I have lost all
shame in my advancing years, I will nonetheless indulge myself.</div><div>
<p class="MsoNormal">Having stayed away from Mr. Sternfeld’s work – and leaving
him to his own peculiar genius, receiving no reports, rumors or clandestine
missives, I appeared on opening night of “Into The Woods” at FPAC not knowing what
to expect.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I crossed my arms and
waited.. watching to see what, if anything, our little troupe of young actors
could do with the treacherously difficult play.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">
</span>What transpired during the performance was a slow and growing sense that
I was seeing a small miracle.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I admit I’m already unreliable… using those kind of superlatives…
<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>but try to hear me out..</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It’s some of the finest work Fred has done – because he’s
managed to coax and guide a group of young people into mature young actors, and
has created a play that makes you forget you’re watching a ‘youth theatre production’.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>In fact, when that fact does flash across
your mind, you think – how is it possible that young man or young woman could
have just accomplished that insight into human nature?! This cast is a
gathering of remarkable young actors.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">
</span>And their skill is the kind of subtle, honest stuff that good theatre is so hungry for.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><b>They are members of the FPAC
company</b></span></i> – and they are being trained by passionate teachers who understand the
core values that makes great theater. Mitchell Fields and Carol Pribble, George
Roth, Dana Hart, Molly Cornwell, Adina Bloom and the astonishing musical work
of Mike Cariffi – along with a brilliant group of other professionals – under Fred’s
care, management, and direction create a team of educators that are doing their
job in the most loving way possible.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I claim no part in this, which I believe qualifies me to
speak about them with a modicum of objectivity.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">
</span>Also, we are fairly certain we’ll do well at the box office, so I’m not
trying to drum up ticket sales – although to those of you who value an lovely
evening in the theatre along with a few gasps of astonishment and aches of loss
and joy, I would recommend you come see this play… It’s only $10.00.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Over the last few years, Fred Sternfeld has created
productions in Cleveland
that have been undeniable blockbusters, selling out most evenings.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>His <i>Ragtime</i> and <i>Man of LaMancha</i> at JCC, his
<i>Fiddler</i> at Cain Park, his<i> Beauty and the Beast</i> at Beck – to name just a few…
Fred will win no awards for “Into the Woods” because it will never be on the
professional theatre radar, but I believe it will stand up there as one of his
most mature and significant accomplishments. It is a culmination of his 6 years developing FPAC. And only finer things will be ahead.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Everybody who has worked with Fred knows he’s tough guy to
work with.. because he’s a perfectionist and for him, the play is the thing…
and only the play.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I know a lot of
people who find his style intolerable… But let’s face it, hes a dreamer. I know dreamers... I have a very close intolerable association with a dreamer myself. And I thinks we all know e<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; "><a class="sqq" href="http://thinkexist.com/quotation/existence_would_be_intolerable_if_we_were_never/328839.html" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none; "><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000">xistence would be </font><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000">intolerable</font><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"> if we were never to dream.</font></a>”</span> Just the same,I’m just here to tell you, at Fairmount, he - Fred - is our guy.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Because he is serving the young
aspiring theatre artists in a significant way.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">
</span>And I’m proud to have him out our team. And I stick by him, and will continue to to stick by him proudly.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">One last thing: To the cast of “Into The Woods”.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I'm not sure you can really understand yet what you have
accomplished.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>But here’s a few things to
think about.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><ul><li>Caroline Hatch – your face lights up the stage… And you sing
with such simplicity and feeling… <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>You
heart is on your sleeve.</li><li>Miles Sternfeld – Innocent, without guile – delightful to
watch – a 6 year veteran of FPAC and it shows.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">
</span>You’re work gets better every year.</li><li>Erin McCardle – You make a
powerful statement and there’a comic in you – tough stuff and you pull it off
very well.</li><li>Ben Martin – Mature, energetic performance. No BS… Sensitive
portrayal with many levels… Lovely Voice.</li><li>Courtney Nelson – Wow!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">
</span>Where did you come from?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Perfect
timing… Strong voice… wonderful comic capability… You have the Knack, young
lady.</li><li>Cody Higer – Look out, here comes something
astonishing.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>This young lady is shot out
of a cannon with enormous stage presence and a powerful physical presence and the capacity for deeply moving work.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Keep at it Cody.. you’re on your way!</li><li><span style="font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Verdana;color:black">Tia Karaplis</span> – As Rapunzel – a voice
like an angel… <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>For one so young, you
have so many tools – a great deal to look forward to.</li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; ">Jesse Markowitz – The comic touch is good for
you, you work well with a tinkle in your eye… You know you can sing… but I
wonder if you know yet your inner jester.. When comes out, you shine.</span></li><li><span style="font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Verdana;color:black">Shane Siniscalchi</span> – Clearly adored by
at least 50 screaming fans… you ham handed prince was delightful.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The duet with Jesse quite wonderful… Keep Studying. You too have the knack.</li></ul><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Verdana;color:black">I know there are many more of you.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Just suffice it to say that I didn’t see a
misstep in the entire ensemble.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>You sang
the harmonies beautifully.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>You worked
together like professionals.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Verdana;color:black">Congratulations to you all.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I’ll be back</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Verdana;color:black">Tom Fulton</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana;
color:black">Executive Director</span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana;
color:black"> Fairmount Center</span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana;
color:black"> for the Arts<br><a href="http://www.fairmountcenter.org/">www.fairmountcenter.org</a></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Verdana;color:black">And</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Verdana;color:black">Director<br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; "><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana;color:black">Chagrin</span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana;
color:black"> Falls Performing Arts Academy<br><a href="http://www.chagrinacademy.org/">www.chagrinacademy.org</a></span></span></span></span></span></p><br>-- <br>Tom Fulton (<a href="mailto:tomtq2@gmail.com">tomtq2@gmail.com</a>)<br>
Director,<br>Chagrin Falls Performing Arts Academy<br>440-247-2072 x4334<br>E-Fax: 216-937-0187<br><br>"Thou must be patient.."<br>King Lear<br>
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