Dog is my co-pilot

Katie, hiding under the chair

The other day I was driving on 8 north, on my way to pick John up from work. There was a jeep on my right.  In the passenger seat was a beautiful grey Husky sitting with a seatbelt, bobbing his head with the wind.  That sweet pup made my day.  He was so happy to be driving along with the wind in his hair.

I have been blessed with some very awesome dogs.  They make me laugh at the silly things they do.  They have very different and interesting personalities.

First there is Baxter:

Baxter, guarding his pan

I got Baxter on July 18, 1999.  His parents were two of my fathers dogs.  He was 5 1/2 weeks old when I got him.   Not too long after I got him, he jumped out of my arms and landed on his head, he jumped up, tail wagging and was acting fine.  I called the vet and he told me to that puppies were made of rubber and just to keep aneye on him.  A few weeks later I took him to the vet, because I was having alot of trouble house breaking him, and he wasn't coming when I called him.  After a few tests, Baxter was diagnosed as deaf from trauma.  He acts like there is nothing wrong.  He runs around and plays like any other dog.

Next we have Katie:

John and I got Katie from the pound in September of 2004.  We had just gotten back from visiting my mom in Connecticut, and she suggested that we get a dog for Baxter to play with.  After looking for a while we went into the Summit county Pound and there were two fuzzy pups in a cage together.  One was black and tan, the other was tan and brown.  They were adoptable on the coming monday.  We were told that we could have the male or female or both, and that there was a lady who was before us and she was going to take the male first, and or both.  We were very lucky to get Katie.

Then we have the Crazy Neurotic Riley
If he looks terrified to you, well thats just Riley.   We rescued katie from the pound in September of 2004 in July of 2005 she had a litter of 7 pups.  John decided to keep one when he saw Riley.  We have had him since he was seconds old, he gets rigid if you try and pick him up. He whimpers all the time. If we could harness the energy from the wagging of his tail we would not have to pay for electricity ever again.

  Here is a pic of the puppies when they were 7 days old.

Next is Sasha.  Sasha is the orneriest dog I have ever met.  She is a Vizela Mix that we rescued.

Sasha and Katie keeping guard.



She is our biggest weighing in at 50 pounds, she is also the cuddliest.  She will lay on you and wrap one leg over your chest and nuzzle her head under your arm.  Vizela's are extremly smart, she is a problem solver, if she wants something she figures out how to get it.  She causes chaos and destruction if she gets bored.  Luckily she has Katie and Riley to chew on.

Next and finally is Priscillia.

Pricillia is one of Katie and Baxters pups.  We had given her to a friend when she was a pup.  After 6 years we were asked if we would take her back because she was aggressive.  In the year we have had her I have not seen her be aggressive. She is very timid and shy. She needs to be rubbed and loved alot.  We are looking for a home for her.  If we can find an older couple who are home alot and have another dog.  She has never been an only dog and will need to have company.  She needs alot of attention.  She will come over na lay on my chest and thump me with her paw until I start rubbing, and if I stop, I get thumped and licked until I start rubbing again.

She is very gentle and sweet.

I never wanted to have 5 dogs, I don't want to have 5 dogs.  I will never again have 5 dogs.

They are funny and sweet. They make me laugh, and comfort me when I am sad.   They may not be my children but the good thing is if they get mad at me they can not talk back and yell at me.  And I can send them to their cages.

The Closing of "The Drowsy Chaperone"

I am sorry it has been a while since I posted here.  I have been a busy boy.  I just finished a 4 week run of "The Drowsy Chaperone" at weathervane playhouse.  The cast was jam packed with talents.  The 16 member cast was singing, dancing and changing costumes into my heart. 

Michelle Chaho as Kitty, Kevin Kane as Feldzieg

I have had experiences where a person or two and I would connect.  I have never worked on a show where I have liked every singel person so much. 

I know in the theater world we rehearse a show, perform a show, close a show, then audition for the next show.  Thats just the cycle of life.  I am sad today because my daily interactions are now overwith.  Here comes the next show.

"Chaperone" is its own entity.  It has heart, spunk, sass, and its just a fun time.  Today I was still laughing at jokes Ihave heard 20 times.  I watched scenes that I have seen so many times.  I felt pride. 


Danny O'Donnell as Gangster #2, Jonathon Merechant as Gangster #1, Kevin Kane as Feldzieg

Last night an audience member told me that I should be in the greeting line with the cast as well.  I told her I was.  Everyone of the cast was wearing a piece of me.  That is one of the great things about what I do.  I take fabric, thread and imagination and stitch it all together and then an actor breathes life into the garment.    And sometimes the garment transforms an actor into a character.  

My favorite day of all days in tech week is first dress.  For those of you who do not know, the week prior to a shows opening is called tech week or tech.   Saturday is usually Dry Tech (no actors)  the lighting, sound, scenic designers, the stage manager and director sit down and write into the stage managers script where the light and sound cues will be called, and where any scenic changes will occur.  Then they run through all of the light cues.

Molly Weidig as Jane, Adam Vigneault as Reporter, Danny O'Donnell as Gangster #2, Michelle Chaho as Kitty

On sunday in the afternoon, the cast arrives and a cue to cue occurs.  Basically they start at the top of the show and run from light cue to light cue, sound cue to sound cue, and any scenic changes. Then fix anything that needs fixed.  Then a dinner break.

After the dinner break we have First Dress, this is the first time the actors are in full costume, hair and make-up. We run the show full through doing all lighting, sound, scenic and costume changes.
Amanda Davis as the Drowsy Chaperone
I love this night because it is a time when we can see ourselves diffrently.  You may have been a blonde with long hair when you sat down, but now you are a red head with short curly hair.  Its a night of transformation.  I love watching the final piece of the puzzle come together.  For weeks the actors have been creating a charcter and this is the piece that breathes a new life into the performance.  I love watching the actors transform, and comment to each other about their new looks.  It is transformative, if the actor likes how they look, they have a zip in their step and it becomes a small part of their performance.
Molly Weidig as "Janet Van De Graaf
My absolute favorite is watching the children get ready.  They are so young and happy. the squeals of delight echo down the hall.  In 2 weeks we start the tech weeks for "Annie"  The hours of work start to get longer, but its all worth it.

Here are some more pics for you to enjoy.


Alan Klesh as Underling, Karen Wood as Mrs Tottendale

Michelle Chaho as Kitty, Karen Wood as Mrs. Tottendale, Molly Weidig as Janet, Amanda Davis as The Drowsy Chaperone.

Patrick Dukeman as Man in Chair

Patrick Dukeman as Man in Chair, Molly Weidig as Janet

The Cast of "The Drowsy Chaperone"

All Photographs were taken By Scott Dies