I always want to know everything about everything and I really want to get to know this wonderful place better.  If you all would be so kind as to share your experience and background.

I have come late to the fold as it were.  I was a proffesional banjo player and singer for about 30 years. I have also been a fiber artist for over 30 years

  I was in plays in high school and ended up with a theatre degree after many years in and out of college started in 1972 and graduated in 1988.  I was primarily an actress although I had a hand in all other aspects of production.  Last play I acted in was Quilters in 1987. It was the best show of my life and my only Standing O (quit while you are ahead I always say)

My Hubby also has a degree in theatre. but more on the techno-weinie side.  His main focus(so to speak) has always been lights.  He worked a little in professional theatre, but it wasn't until our daughter got involved in a play in kindergarten that we were sucked back into something that we realized we  missed and love

We worked with a community theater company in middle Wisconsin, then we moved and I helped restart a drama program at the middle school where I now work in a computer lab. Hubby has done all the set and lighting design for that and for a few summer theater shows as well.  As soon as anyone finds out he has experience they come a calling.

I have taught two summer school classes to elementary students, one an introduction to theatre and the other an introduction to puppetry, which is another thing that I find interesting.

I have pretty much stopped acting and become an acting coach, costume and properties designer and a bit of an organizer as well

 That was four years ago and now I am firmly entrenched in the system and have been asked to costume for the High School where daughter is now performing.  We have kept in touch with some of the friends we went to college with who also have gone back into theatre and some who actually are making a living in it.  I feel privilaged to have so many resources at my disposal including this one.

Now What about the rest of you?

I apaerntly apeared, on cue, after the final curtain call. Of a production my Mum was in, at the the Theatre Royal Newcastle on Tyne inGeordieland. Knew nowt else but theatre touring, untill we settled down & got my first payed gig (packet of crisps & a bottle of Pop/performance - graduateing to Two ?n Sixpence per week) in ?54, as a backstage callboy, for the ?Follies?. I became a Gangster, with the Ralph Reader Gang Shows. Took part in a Royal Comand Performance in ?57, at the Prince of Wales Theatre,& again at the London Paladium in ?59, as one of the urchins in Oliver. Fronted up on my own, to Perth West Australia in ?60. Worked at His Majesty?s Theatre Perth, did a national Tour with Oliver, ?Fiddler? & ?Mame?. Untill  eventualy finishing back in Perth the 70?s. Helped start up our own Company ?Titan Theatre?, along with ?Spectrum? Lighting & design Company. a Liscened Electrician working in theatre at various jobs, through out the Country, also did a stint as a Theatre Lecturer, at the College of Arts. Gave it away after a ?QuadCabbage? plumbing job on the heart. Won a few gongs, as a Director & Mise en scene Designer.  Had a hand in starting the Advisory Council for Theatre Arts (ACTA) - Founded the Stagecraft Guild - Had a go at 3 books [- Behind the Pro - Before the Pro - Beyond the Pro .(Proscenium)] But I had a few stokes, which put the brakes on trying to get them published. Trying now to finish another one -the ?Chook Shed? or it maybe just titled the Naked Chook?- have not quite decided yet! [Which is all about community theatre & all it?s foybles?] At present I?m also trying to fire up a Community Theatre?s Association, for us oldies - Very impressed with the your ?American Senior Theatre League?.- Unfortunetly I will have to overcome the g?d ol? Ozy attitude, of ?She?ll be right mate!?, wich prevails in most of the local Theatre?s. I may have to resort to hunting down, a few over baked ex-pro ?has bean? mates, to help light the fuse.
I?m married with 4 great tinlids & 7 even greater Grandies! (Our youngest lid, is still with us as a Minder/chaufer!)
So that?s about the lot in my chhook run -thus far!

Whoops! I arrived here, while searching out info info on a piece, about the Green Sward Room!
Chookas

I have been teaching English in a Hong Kong secondary school for 6 years. I have never had any training in drama. (And at most played a minor role in a school play). Last year I was ??appointed?? the technical producer of the school play after one of the main drama people left the school. I took care of the costumes, sound hiring, sound, props, scenery, subtitles, program, poster, promotion video, stage managing, makeup, organizing students etc etc. I spent a lot of hours reading all the drama/theatre/stage craft books I could get my hands on in the local libraries and the central library. One of the major problems was that I didn??t know what to do until quite late so I didn??t have all the time to get students to do things all that much. I was totally stressed out and I took weeks to recover. However, I asked to be involved again this year as I wanted to try out guiding students as I now have a much clearer idea about what has to be done and how it can be done. When I went to pay the local performing arts academy a visit with some students, I found that the materials students had on display were very similar to what I had been doing those 4 months and I think it was practically like taking a drama course on my own.

I stumbled on this site when I was looking for information on stage trees and I really think it is a great help to be able to get some advice from people with experience as well as share my own.