The workshop: Wednesday evening, 7:30pm, (doors open at 7:00pm) June 14, at The Charleston Heights Art Center, 800 South Brush, in Las Vegas.
NOW, I GET IT is a story, that to the best of my knowledge, is very seldom told (if at all)...how three Marine, Vietnam vets, along with their wives, reunite some 50-some odd years later.
You, the audience, get to listen in as the vets, for the first time since the war, quite unintentionally start talking about the war...something they have NEVER talked about with anyone, especially their wives.
Which leads one wife to talking about the war at home...something she has NEVER talked about, especially with her husband.
The end result?
A hysterically funny, poignant, and thought provoking tale of how the human spirit teaches all of us to, as the Marines say, "improvise, adapt, and over come."
Now, let me introduce you to...
ELLEN RICHARDS
Ellen plays PEGGY KETTLEMAN... the wife of former Platoon Commander, 2nd Lt. Don Kettleman.
FROM THE FIRST WORDS... she read from the script, we knew we had found our Peggy Kettleman.
And why not?
Coming from a multi-generational, military family, AND... being married to a Navy, Vietnam vet, Ellen had lived the words she was reading... and it becomes more evident as rehearsals progress.
Pivoting from a career in healthcare, not only is Ellen a good actor, she's a voice over artist as well... narrating consumer healthcare explainers, radio and television commercials, and documentaries.
And yes, there's more... she serves on the Board of the Las Vegas Philharmonic, and is a patron of The Nevada Ballet Theatre.
ANNE McNINCH
Anne is MARG OLIVAS... the wife of former Artillery Officer, 2nd Lt. Bobby Olivas...and if not for Marg's inciteful question to, her husband, Don Kettleman, and Brent Macklin...there wouldn't be a story.
Anne has worked with many of the top dance professionals in Las Vegas, teaches at a couple of studios in Las Vegas, and is the former Dance Director for the Andrew Agassi Preparatory Academy.
We started working together, when she choreographed a show I had written, and then produced and directed, in Las Vegas, in 2018...UNTIL one day, the lead female didn't show up for rehearsal.
Anne stepped up and stepped in; and tuned out to be better than who I had originally cast!
And yet, if you ask her? She'll tell you she is not an actor.
She's a devoted wife, mom and grandmother, AND... a financial consultant, dealing with retirement planning.
SHANNON TAYLOR
She is TERRI MACKLIN...wife of former Combat Interpreter/Translator, Sgt. Brent Macklin.
Shannon joined the cast two weeks ago; and though I don't know her that well, she appears to have just the right amount of sass and earthiness that rounds out the ensemble.
When she was with The Rogers Memorial Theatre, in Centerville, Utah. Shannon played roles varying from Martha, in SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS, to Florence, in PHANTOM: AN AMERICAN MUSICAL.
Since moving to Las Vegas, she has sung in THE BOULDER CITY CHOIR; and for eight years, sang in the Saints Unified Voices Choir, directed by Grammy Award winner, Gladys Knight.
She holds a Bachelors degree in Business Management, and owns and runs her own business - Refocus Bookkeeping Solutions.
However... she considers her greatest accomplishment in life to be: raising four beautiful kids, and they having her talent and passion for music.
In closing... more than anything, I have to say that these three ladies, on or off stage... are definitely a class act!
Thanks for reading my blog!
Loren
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