A “Full Gallop” to Texas
So, I spent the last 6 days in Ft. Worth, Texas working with Amphibian. The first day I was down there Kathleen had me busy working the crowd at our Benefit party for the Devonian’s. We had the party at Beverly and John Snyder’s amazing house which was designed by our very own Chairman of the Board, Gregory Ibanez. David Fielding, Judy Norman, Peter Kowalski The house was beautiful. That is all I can say about it. You really had to be there to see it’s splendor. I thought it was a museum when we went into it. The art work was nothing short of phenomenal. Pieces from Andy Warhol, and many other famous artists were everywhere. I wasn’t sure if some of it was furniture or art!!! It was extremely elegant, tasteful, and classy. It was a real sight to see where the company is clearly going…up. I met many fine folks including Whit Smith and his lovely wife, who came to see Cyrano, Bob and Kay Bolls, who were the sweetest, and the new president of the Art’s Council.Kathleen, Anne-Lynn, Bob and Kay Bolls I gave a speech at the end of the party, was very nervous, but I was reassured that it was a good one. That Speech Communication class I took at TCU suddenly paid off! Melissa Mitchell and GuestWhile I was there I stayed at Chateau Fielding. Jonathan’s amazing parents David and Linda, who are also on our board. JV Mercanti flew down and stayed for a couple of days and the Fielding’s made us breakfast like every day. Did I mention we love the Fielding’s?!JV was in town to direct Full Gallop and to have local auditions for “A Dark Play” by Carlos Murillo. They went well, and we cast a local young actor named Josh Heard. He will be great. You know, something about going to Texas makes you eat so much more, but I think it has mostly to do with the portions you get there. They, (meaning the restaurants) just give you so much food! JV was insistent on Papasito’s, which is a TexMex Restaurant, that gives you way too much food for one person to eat. We waited for a table for about 1 and 1/2 hours. While waiting we witnessed many waddling ducks coming out of the restaurant, very disconcerting for several New Yorkers who are very health conscious. But nonetheless we went in and enjoyed the onslaught of Tex Mex, and I consequently spent the next morning on the toilet!!! I also drank every night that I was there, if not at a restaurant, at some party or other. JV had never experienced the Eskimo Hut, which is a drive thru frozen drink, beer, liquor barn. He couldn’t believe that we could drive thru and get our drinks and drive off and continue drinking…something about the sealed container laws in Texas that is clearly much looser there than anywhere else. But I slept so well and enjoyed the spring like weather, went to a TCU basketball game that we won, went to a TCU Tennis match that we won and everynight went to bed early and woke up early. It was a complete change of pace but it was much needed. The other events happening included several meals with company members and participating artists, like Anne Lynn Kettles who was doing the reading of Full Gallop, Judy Norman, Melissa Mitchell, Desiree Fultz, and my friend from New York, Melissa Le. The reading was a huge success. We had a great turnout for both performances and Anne Lynn was brilliant as is the norm and Judy was a sweet french maid… The audiences loved this play about Diana Vreeland, former, editor in chief at Vogue. I also gave speeches at both of these events. I think I would have done better at these with a few drinks in me, but I just ran with it and it was all in good fun. The people in Fort Worth are excited about us. I really got the feeling that they knew they were being a part of something fresh and exciting, yet smart and sophisticated. It’s really something to witness that kind of excitement for something that you created and are being a part of.Carman,Linda Fielding, Sara Jung
