By Jefferson Jay
As humans, we have the ability to inspire, influence and lift each other up in ways that can’t be anticipated or imagined. When I worked at St. Madeleine Sophie’s center, a day center for adults with developmental disabilities, I felt these sensations every time I entered the establishment. Although I loved my work and the people I spent my days with, I had no concept of the creative tsunami just ahead.
The Birth of the Holiday Spirit
It started when I was offered the opportunity to write and direct a holiday musical. The Holiday celebration was one of the big events at St. Mad’s El Cajon facility and all were excited for Santa visits, Christmas cookies, and the annual holiday performance.
I was excited, nervous, and all a twitter for my directorial debut. As I was also playing the music on the side of the stage I had to trust in our cast and crew to make sure everyone was where they needed to be, when they needed to be there. Everyone was amazing and it went off without a hitch.
The live cast of The Hunt for the Holiday Spirit in action.
Emotional Outpourings
There was laughter, applause, profound appreciation and even some tears of joy in the audience. Things had far surpassed my goals, which were simply to have fun and do our best. Their best: they did. When it was all over, cleaned up, and everyone went home, I wasn’t ready to be done. Not yet.
So what does an inspired creator do in these circumstances? My answer was to create more, hang on to the characters and the moment, a week or so longer. Using the script from our first performance (now our pilot episode) as a template, I fired off seven more scripts, episodes 2-8, to create what is now our first season.
It Isn’t Hard to Feel Me Glowing
This exercise enabled me to get to know each of the characters a bit more. Each main character was the focus of one of the first season episodes. I got to develop their personalities more and it really felt like getting to know a bunch of new friends.
Each episode had about five original songs all its own and that too was a delightful creative exercise. I loved writing these shows almost as much as I loved directing them. I wrote about one episode a day for a week and was ecstatic the whole time.
Where We Went & Where We’re Going
The following fall, when my employers asked me to direct again, episode two was ready and I couldn’t wait to get back after it. Seven years later, I feel similarly, as we await the opportunity to present this inclusivity avalanche for the world to enjoy, just like our audience of family and friends did back in 2014.
It is my humble honor and pleasure to do this work. I am beyond grateful as we await the opportunity to celebrate once again, when our actors receive that applause and adoration they so richly deserve.
Recent Comments