Weaver Community Theater Starts a New Season

Summer is over. The buses are rolling on their test runs and the practice squads are out in force, ready for Friday Night Lights! It's also the start of the Community Theater Season, and Weaver Community Theater, OOPs I mean Academy Drama department has just casted for the "The Women of Lockerbie".

Mr. and Mrs. Clique and Claque are at it again. The casts include OMG! what a big surprise..... an heir of Greensboro Community Theater Royalty at the lead, and the two drama pets up there as well. As I gaze at the list of ensemble names, I sigh. So much talent with no place to shine. Someone please wake me up....its ground hog day, deja vu, yadda yadda. I was asked last year by the my Pound Pals, just how many drama students are there at Weaver. If you count the names on the playbills the last two years it looks like 6. I barked.... that sounds about right.

Now I hear there is a new sheriff in town. No more Kash. And they say my bark is worse than my bite. This new sheriff comes in with a lot of positive vibes. Is there positive change in the wind? Or the smell of Clique and Claque "kashing" in while our new sheriff get's his feet wet. Let's just hope change comes soon. Sheriff, we need you!

Is Show Choir a No Show at Weaver?

Show Choir is a great way to bring together three outstanding performing arts, Drama, Voice and Dance. This past year Weaver Academy announced the first Show Choir club. Here we are a school year later and Show Choir is a No Show.

Strong support from the administration with a motivated faculty advisor clearly helped create the momentum to get this off the pad. If you have started anything in life, you'll know just how important it is to have momentum behind you. Ever try to run down a flight of stair on all fours. Sounds easy, but even for a small pup like me it's no small feat. But once you get going, there no stopping you till your reach the last step.

Show Choir had that kind of momentum last Fall. A lot of students showed interest and tryouts were held to find the right mix of talent and attitude. My inside track tells me there were close to a dozen students ready to go. So what went wrong? One word. Leadership. It takes a leader to start something new. It takes a great leader to show the courage and commitment to stay with it till the end. Like my run down the stairs. Granted Show Choir was started by a student, who shall not be named, with perhaps little to no experience in creating any group or club. But my same inside tract tells me this student was clearly capable of handling this challenge. So again I ask you what went wrong?

Maybe the not so warm reception by the Drama department stopped it. No, I don't think so. Mr. Taylor is not that small minded. Or maybe it was that dozen or so students that signed on enthusiastically, and then suddenly couldn't even make it to a rehearsal. No, I don't think that was it either. This one really bugs me. Like that flea behind the ears that I can't bite, bark bark!

So is there a formula for creating a successful Show Choir? Perhaps. I just can't keep thinking about what could have been. This year has come and gone and another is set to start. There are so many strong students at Weaver returning and new ones entering. Weaver needs a Show Choir and a student with a passion for excellence to lead it. Please Mr. or Mrs. Student, get your act in gear and entertain us. Like all those Christmas shops that never go out of season, now is the time to plan for the Holidays!

Memories

Well it's graduation week and I thought it would be appropriate to post a copy of my favorite memories. Sweet!



If you're wondering, no relations to Olivia. I just like her style.

Congratulations Class of 2010!

Working Together Doesn't have to be Profitable!

Like that catchy title, how about a weaverwatchdog howllllll! This is good news as all booster clubs have joined together to support a common non-profit status. Translation.... now the biscuits should be flowing and the biscuit owners will get a tax break from the MAN!

This is no small order as many organization look to capture the benefit of a 501(c)(3) status. That's what were getting out of this. I bet you didn't know I knew that. Hey this dog can hunt and read.

The real kudos go out to the Weaver PTSA for letting all us cats and dogs ride on their coattails. They have been working this all school year and thanks especially to PTSA President Tony Little, a real dog lover.

I know this is a short post. I promise to be more juicy and edgy next time. Right now I'm looking at my own non-profit. Did you know about the 501 (c) (21). The one for black lung disease. I mean with all those years of chasing cars and sniffing exhaust, maybe I can get some free help.... cough cough, bark.

Mr. Kash, Please Gives us a Clean Scoop!

There I said it. I named names. Mr. Kashubara (Kash) is our principal at Weaver Academy. Mr. Kash does mostly good, but on occasion when he's confronted with a tough one, he lays the poop on pretty thick. Mr. Kash, here's the scoop, people don't like poop. And lately my nose is telling me you're laying out a lot of it.

When challenged to do the right thing, Mr. Kash... just do it. You can be a successful principal and more by doing the right thing. No one is asking for any special considerations, just pull out your moral compass and follow the needle. Now if this bark sounds like a bite, than ouch. If you are unclear as to what I'm grrring about, you can be the first to comment. Ask me to come forward and I will shed my mask for you. It will be our secret. You might be surprised, or then maybe not. I'm waiting.

Let's Be Safe Because No One Wants a Scholarship in Their Name for a Tragedy!

There's no way to protect our kids 100% of the time. But we can do more to help them become smarter to prevent an accident from occurring in the first place. As I am constantly reminded by my cat friends, my size is no Great Dane. Yet my bark has the same range and so can yours.

Bark Bark! there are no small accidents. Period. The consequences may be minor, but don't react to making positive change only after the "serious" act occurs. A young drama student from Yale died last fall because moving boards seemed to be a minor chore. Tragedy struck and the University appears to have acted more to preserve itself and prevent a legal fight. The good news is we have smart schools out there making positive change happen before a tragedy does occur.

Altos High School earlier this year prevented a near accident from occurring by closing a new state of the art theater because of an open orchestra pit. I know our pit at the Weaver Theater is small, but what about the sets. Last year's production of Grease relied on large set pieces moving quickly through scenes. I know a thing or two about cars, having chased a few in my younger years. No accidents occurred, but this puppy saw a few missteps. Whew! Scarier than jumping off the couch when the master comes home.

Let's just say our teachers and administration need to take the initiative to insure all our student remain safe. It starts with some basic common sense like supervision. Then maybe some rules. What do I know. I'm a dog that says we don't need a serious accident to occur, nor OSHA to descend upon us to get smart. Because no student ever wants to have a scholarship set up in their name if they can't be there to write the check.

Hey Weaver Seniors, Thin is In!

The Weaver Watchdog has been sniffing around the halls and sees the tears. Tis the season for rejection. For all you Weaver Seniors out there, do not despair. My doggie senses tell me a few of you are not happy puppies. Dreams dashed by the mere width of an envelope. Sorry if my four paws and artisan swagger don’t make you smile. Bark, Bark, Bark! how's my British accent Sam.

All you Audrey Hepburn fans must know Carey Mulligan, an amazing new British talent cut from the very mold of grace and elegance. If you did not see “An Education” get it on DVD when it comes out. The Academy did not bestow upon her the award she so deserved, because…well first she’s not an American and second, she’s not an American. That will change (the being noticed part) and she will become a treasure for all of us to enjoy for years to come.

Carey Mulligan knows the path to success better than the three top drama schools that rejected her for admission. So you Weaver Seniors that did not get the fat envelopes, remember thin is in and talent don’t lie!