The Little Drama Queen

I am sorry I missed writing to all of you last week, but life just never seems to slow down.  Laura and I have both been constantly going and so much has happened since I last wrote.  It's hard to know where to begin.  Where better to start then with the PAA Story of the week.

PAA Story of the Week:

This is a story about our littlest child who is our biggest diva.  First, to give a little history.  This little girl was the first person I met when I came to check out Urban Impact Performing Arts Academy.  She sat outside the room waiting for class to start twirling an empty plastic mug around.  Written on the mug with big puffy rubber letter were the words "Drama Queen".  I now know this was a sign from God.

Don't get me wrong this little girl is incredibly cute and knows how to behave; it's just that she chooses not to.  Two weeks ago Ms. Laura had to escort her to Mr. Rick because she would not stop rolling around on the stage.  In the middle of running through Sir Humphrey's Honey Stand (our elementary drama) she would run up and lie down right in front of whomever was on stage.  Why?  I don't know.  

The next week, her antics continued and I really didn't want to send her to Mr. Rick, because she needed to learn her part in Sir H.  As a side note she plays Beyonce the Police Officer; she picked the name herself.  So, to keep her from constantly rolling around on stage, she was punished.  For her punishment she had to hold my hand.  Although she found this to be more amusing than punishing, it kept her from bursting on to the stage and flopping on the floor.

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In other news Laura and I have kept busy with theatre.  A couple weekends ago we participated in a 24 hour theatre marathon.  With in 24 hours six 10 minute plays were written, cast, rehearsed, tech rehearsed, memorized, and performed.  This was an annual fund raiser for a small theatre company and Laura and I were asked to participate as actors in this constructed mayhem.  

The following weekend Laura and I also performed in SWAN (Support Women Artists Now) day.  We once again performed in a couple of 10 minute plays, but this time we had more than a few hours of rehearsal.  Both of these events were wonderful to participate in but also sucked up most of our weekend.  With the time that we had left we went to Muskingum twice, and performed with the Urban Impact Choir at the local Church on the North Side. 

Prayer and Praises:

• Praise: One of our High school girls just got accepted into Messiah College
• Praise: God is good
• Prayer for our upcoming PAA parents night
• And the many other things that need prayer....

 Laura and I are very blessed.  Thank you for your prayers!

Kids Can Really be Adorable... when they're not calling you hoopty

As a follow up to my last blog, after choir on Tuesday when I got off the bus several students ran up to me yelling, "Hey hoopty! Wheres ya hoopty at?" It was nice, but it makes me wonder, "Were they calling me hoopty and if so what does that mean?"

I also want to take this time to follow up on a few prayer requests I have posted.

I innitially asked for more young men to be involved with the drama classes on Thursday nights. Since then young men have been coming back and even inviting their friends. I think some of this is because they like improv, but I know God is moving in their lives.

One of our students also had an audition for Hope college. His audition went great, and he got some great feedback from the professors. Overall he didn't like the college (a little too "Hippyish"), but he felt he nailed the audition.

I have constantly been asking for prayer about raising support, and God continues to provide for us. In less than three months over half of the support has been raised, which is a huge, huge, huge blessing. I know I have much more to go and it will still be tough, but that has been an incredible encouragement to Laura and I

Overall the drama classes have been going very well and I love being here. God is really doing some amazing things with these kids and it is a trememdous pleasure to be a part of it.


Thank you God!


PAA Story of the Week:

This week in the elementary class we read through Sir Humphrey's Honeystands, clearly based on the parable of the unmerciful servant. Suprisingly the kids took right to it and really enjoyed going through the show. But what made me really smile was when I looked over and two of the little girls who had some trouble with the larger words were sitting on either side of my wife, Laura. Laura would occasionally lean over to one and help them with their lines and by the end both of them were resting their heads on her. It was very cute. Kind of like the Ewoks taking to Han Solo, but a little different. Later Laura and I were talking and she said one of the little girls noticed her wedding ring, and Laura told her we were married. The little girl looked up at her and said, "You musta thought he was crazy when you first met?" Laura said, "Yes."

Prayer Requests:

• The "Everything" Drama Laura and I are working on with the high schoolers
• For God to encourage me on this second half of support raising
• Some of the students in the choir are really going through some troubles
• the Urban Impact Singers (The summer group)

Hope you all have a wonderful week!

"Hoopty"

Highlights in brief:

• I am Carlo
• I am Rorschach
• I drive a "hoopty"
• Daylight Savings Time

A lot can happen in one week. In fact a lot happens every week, but this week did not disappoint. This week I will start off with the Performing Arts story of the week

PAA Story of the Week:

So after choir on Tuesday nights I usually take a few kids back to their homes. This usually entails several younglings anxiously ready to get home, and every week is a different experience. I have taken kids home, who have not realized they lost their key to their house and had to wait for their Mom to get off work, kids who think it's hilarious to give me directions to their house first leading me in the complete opposite direction before guiding me back through dark, skinny alleys. My favorite happened this past week when upon seeing my car one student moaned, "Aww man, I gotta ride in 'at, you got a hooptie." Later looked up hooptie on urbandictionary.com to find hooptie means, "A piece of junk* car." (For those of you that don't know my car is a 1990 Dodge Dynasty and is huge blessing to me, even though the ceiling is sagging, the odometer stopped working, the airbag doesn't work, and it takes two people to open the hood.) I know my car is old and may in fact be a "Hoopty", but I never thought an Urban Impact student would be embarrassed to ride in it. Despite the jabs at my beloved car the rides home also provide some great time to get to know the kids a little bit more. Even if some of that time is spent driving in the complete wrong direction of their house.

*junk was not the word used by urbandictionary.com

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Other exciting news. I signed with a talent agency called "The Talent Group". This came after a series of events/major blessings the latest of which was an instructional video for EDMC, Education Management Corporation. I played Carlo a minor leauge baseball player. He had damaged his knee running into a player and now worries and slows down while running the bases. I spilled my guts and deepest fears of never making it to the majors to my "Psychologist" (A man named Tom who played the real estate agent in The Mothman Prophecies). This has all been a whirl wind, but most of all it has been a tremendous blessing.

Besides playing Carlo I also had a brief stint playing Rorschach from the Watchmen. By playing I mean dressed up in a costume to go see the movie, and I say brief because I was asked to take off the mask. Although the true Rorschach would have probably broken one of the managers fingers, I instead gruffly said "Someone's pickin' off costume heroes..." He didn't really get it so I said "okay" and went to the car and took off the costume.

All in all it was a busy week. The PAA is going very well and Laura and I continually excited about the progress of the students. We are now working on our scenes and short plays for the Parents' Night on April 23rd. You are all welcome to come that night to see these very talented younglings.

Prayer Requests:

• Building deeper relationships with the students
• PAA Bible Study this week (I am leading it)
• To continue to walk through the doors God has opened form me.

I thank you all for your continued prayers, and when I invited you to the parents night I really meant it. If you are interested let me know.

eric