Star Struck

Week 57: South Bend, IN

I can't imagine that I need to introduce Mr. Richard Chamberlain to you.
Those of us of a particular generation will remember him as the "mini-series king" and lead actor of such TV epics as "The Thorn Birds," "Shogun," and "The Man in the Iron Mask." Those of an earlier generation will remember him as the star of "Dr. Kildare." He is also the star of some movies I especially love like "The Three Musketeers" (with Oliver Reed, Michael York and Raquel Welch) and the little-known big screen musical adaptation of Cinderella, "The Slipper and the Rose." Richard has played leading roles in some very successful Broadway musical revivals in recent years, including "The Sound of Music" and "My Fair Lady." Well, he is opening with us week after next as King Arthur, and it's very exciting to have the chance to work with him. When I was a teenager and had dreams of being a strong legit actor, my mother used to point to Chamberlain as an example of an actor who took control of his destiny and made a classical education and a commitment to quality work his priority. With the overnight success of his 60's TV series "Dr. Kildare," he had every reason to stay in Hollywood and build on his stardom. But Richard chose to go to England, study classical acting, and perform as a leading actor in plays of Shakespeare and other great playwrights. When he returned to Hollywood in the early 70's, he came back as an accomplished leading man with great presence and finesse. Consequently, he was the number one choice for any drama that came along in period costumes! We met Richard at our company meeting this week; he will be rehearsing with the dance captains and our stage manager this week and next before his Chicago opening. He has a great bearing about him, still possesses chiseled good looks, and is easygoing and friendly. I look forward to seeing what his King Arthur will be like and the new dimensions we will find in the show and our individual performances by working alongside him. So cool!!

South Bend has proven to be what I fondly call a "rest stop." There is little to do here and I am housed in a very comfortable efficiency hotel which is like a little apartment. The weather has been cold and snowy and I have found much to do indoors, catching up on paperwork, reading, and beginning a new fitness program which is part of my new year's resolutions. Sometimes it is nice not to have so much sightseeing to do.
South Bend, as you may know, is home to the University of Notre Dame, one of the grand old college campuses. Our venue this week is the gorgeous Morris Performing Arts Center. Built in the 1920s as The Palace Theatre, it was part of the thriving vaudeville circuit of the time, featuring live performances and motion pictures. Exquisitely restored, the theatre is a confection in blue, rose and cream with ornate gilding. It's a very grand place, and home to the South Bend Symphony Orchestra.

You will forgive me, I am sure, for not having made it to the Notre Dame campus during my visit here, and if you have been following my blog for a while, you will understand that I didn't make time to see the College Football Hall of Fame. I did, however, get in to the South Bend Museum of Art (of course). The permanent collection is primarily dedicated to Indiana artists, and many of these are marvelous landscape painters. One of the things I love about exploring regional art museums is the opportunity to fall in love with an artist one has never heard of.
At SBM Art, I discovered the luminous work of George Ames Aldrich, an Indiana painter who created beautiful Impressionist landscapes, three of which are a part of the collection here. The temporary exhibit on view this week featured works from the collection at the Guild Hall Museum in East Hampton, New York. Established in 1931, the focus of the Guild Hall collection is on works that use eastern Long Island as subject matter, or were created by artists who were part of the East Hampton community. Consequently, this show was eclectic, ranging from exquisite 19th century landscapes by Thomas Moran and Frederick Childe Hassam to 20th century modern pieces by De Kooning, Jackson Pollack, Roy Lichtenstein and Andy Warhol. The museum was highly enjoyable and featured a gallery of student and faculty works from the art school there. The museum worker I chatted with told me it was her last day at work, due to cutbacks. The institution itself is in precarious financial straits. Everywhere I travel these days the signs of the struggling economy are conspicuous. Here in South Bend, the local health food store has virtually empty shelves; healthy eating and organic produce have become luxuries here and they can't afford to order merchandise. In Cincinnati last week, panhandlers on the street bore cardboard signs with things like "Laid off--Anything will help" emblazoned on them. I pray our economy takes an upturn soon.

On a happier note, I visited one of the popular attractions here, the South Bend Chocolate Company. Started in 1991 by a chocolate lover, and under license to produce chocolate novelties for the University of Notre Dame, the organization has grown to 10 company owned stores in Indiana and 10 franchised stores throughout Indiana and Michigan. There is a chocolate factory here in town and the store itself includes a cafe with wonderful food as well as, of course, sweets of all kinds, and a children's play area complete with chocolate treehouse and animatronic M&Ms. Since I am on my new year's resolution diet, I limited my indulgence to a cup of Mexican Hot Chocolate, dark creamy chocolate with a hint of peppery spiciness. Perfect thing to warm up on a cold and snowy day. The snow here has been a pleasure actually, reminding me of my childhood when we used to put on our snowsuits and trudge out with our toboggans and sleds for a day of winter fun. Spending time in my little hotel room watching the flakes come down has been really lovely.

Tracy is my South Bend dresser.
She lives in Florida now but came up here for an extended visit with family and took on some work with us at the Morris Center. Tracy started her theatrical endeavors as a performer, and has worked extensively as a radio disc jockey and voiceover artist. She has a bright and happy smile and upbeat demeanor, as well as very glamorous hair and makeup every single day. Such a pleasure to work with. Our next stop is Peoria, Illinois, where we principal actors will get our first rehearsals with Richard Chamberlain and meet our new Lady of the Lake, Merle Dandridge. I want to send love to the Broadway company of "Spamalot" as the production closes this weekend. After four years, 1579 performances, three Tony Awards and a ton of confetti, the Shubert will go dark on "Spamalot." We will carry on the legacy, continuing to bring the bright side to America! Congratulations, Broadway Spamily, on a great run. Stay warm everyone! Until next time...