You remember BST? The stage manager, "JW" with the bear on her belt?? The Rugrats tech crew??? You remember Apprentice Theatre? The first day tour and vomitorium?? Bill Allman and his pipe??? You remember the many "Best of Broadway" and "Apprentice Theatre" shows I choreographed at Baldwin Wallace and Cassidy? You know what boundary violations and power dynamics are?? You know how Lauren Weisberger wrote the entirely fictional tale *The Devil Wears Prada *after working at Vogue??? A new chapter from my memoir BACKSTAGE PREDATORS: AN APPRENTICE'S THEATRE TALE here: https://www.clevelandcurtaincurmudgeon.com/projects/backstage-project/act-i/ A fictional tale about acting teacher Polly "Cowboy" Crockett and the college's Theatre chair, Henry A. Lowman ("Mr. Hanky"). An excerpt: ---------------- *(Polly gestures grandly to the framed production photos of show years’ past lining the lobby.)* POLLY (CONT’D): Okay - this one here is a show I directed. And this one - see that face? That’s one of your counselors. Which means: be nice. The Ducklings have power. Only the most dedicated and professional students become Ducklings. *(The kids crane their necks to all look at the photos and counselors.) * POLLY (CONT’D): Now, we’re going through the backstage doors. You are to be quiet, as the scene shop artists are working. We run a year-round operation here. KID WITH BRACES: What’s that bear on your belt? POLLY: Oh him? This is Banjo. Banjo keeps me company and lets me know if you kids act up. He was a gift from my husband when we got married. See, he wears his gold chain that shows off his chest hair. *(Polly takes the bear off her belt to hold him up to the group of kids and massages the bear’s chest with her index finger.)* *(Polly reattaches Banjo to her belt loop.)(Polly then opens the backstage door using a push handle wrapped in black muslin to quiet the closing sound.) * ----- Read the entire Act I, plus the forensic analysis, for FREE HERE: https://www.clevelandcurtaincurmudgeon.com/projects/backstage-project/act-i/ Also available to read: My First Gentleman Admirer, HERE: https://www.clevelandcurtaincurmudgeon.com/projects/backstage-project/my-fir... My First Gentleman Admirer is about the actor Kevin Jokesmith Kelsey attempting to court the sixteen-year-old crew member, Chad. All based on my real life story. For mature readers 18+ only! ----- If you or someone you know is a victim of child predatory behavior please contact RAINN: 800-656-HOPE, online.rainn.org, rainn.org/es. RAINN is the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network providing support in partnership with more than 1,000 local sexual assault service providers across the country and operates the DOD Safe Helpline for the Department of Defense.