Coming home after winning the Minnesota State Hockey Championship with ye ole Ducks

What do you do after you quack at the principle?

What do you do after you complete principle photography on your first major motion picture?

You do high school theater, of course. Or, at least I did. Riding high off of starring in major motion pictures with stars and stuff, the directorial duo of Miss Wozny and Miss Clinton made sure that I would not get any lead roles. Nope. I was to be a member of the group. And what was that group performing? An original adaptation of Alice In Wonderland for what is known as group interpretation. I was cast as the Mock Turtle. A supporting role, for sure. No Mad Hatter or Bunny on methamphetamine for me. I was way down the call sheet.

A very Midwest response to being the kid in movies. And for that and the adults who arranged it, I am very grateful.

Group Interpretation was a competitive event between high school drama programs in the state of Illinois where a group of young performers adapted a piece of literature for performance. The goal was to advance in regional and sectional contests, much like sports, for the chance to perform in the finals down state at Millikan University.

Thornwood had a legacy of doing well at State. Multiple winners, runners up, and so on. We had swagger. But the school’s success was based on the adults who led us and the school of ensemble building they were steeped in as veterans of the Chicago stage.