My Trip To Bangor, Maine — Priceless
I was contracted to bring my solo show, “I Question America-Legacy of Mrs. Fannie Lou Hamer to Thomas College
I Question America is a slice of American History that all should park take to further understand a culture not privy too.
Solo Shows of Trailblazing She-Roes
My solo play had traveled the United States for over thirty years and my most prized performance was at a Theatre in South Africa with an audience filled with orphans from Soweto. “ I Question America” had traveled countless schools, colleges, universities, churches and private organizations.
Took a little bit of a hiatus for about a year and a half due to life issues, personal and otherwise. Went through a dark period with my father demise, mother’s dementia, oldest and younger sisters had health issue, oldest brother health issue, it all just seemed to be happening at the same time along with my own health issues but thank God trouble don’t last always.
In August, 2019, when I received the call to perform my one woman show at Thomas College, I was greeted with mix reactions. Back in the day, I traveled so much that I was a bit worn out traveling from sate to state, but yet grateful that I was getting paid doing what I loved to do, act. Also, to get paid for writing, directing and acting in your own show was a testament to my God given talent so as you can see I had many reasons to be grateful.
In the past, Thomas College was among the many schools that had invited me back to their school for many times over a period of time, four years to be exact. This made Thomas College like a second home to “I Question America” so when I got the email a few months ago to perform for the new freshman class, “no” was not an option.
With an already busy schedule, I began rehearsal for “I Question America” and as the deadline drew closer I upped my rehearsal process. Three weeks prior to my performance date at Thomas College, I had planned another trip to Moss Point, Mississippi to visit with my mother. Knowing this visit with mother would demand most if not all my time, so While traveling to Mississippi, I’d rehearse my play upon any opportunity that presented itself, starting with the airport as I waited for my plane to depart, on the plane as we were enroute to my destination and even after landing as I drove two hours to mother’s house, I rehearsed my lines. While visiting with mother, every night I rehearsed my lines and even doing our travels to Florida and Alabama by car as I drove, I rehearsed my lines.
After returning home from my trip with mother, it was time to up my game of rehearsal for I had less than a week to have technical rehearsals every day and everyday I did in between the many things I had on my schedule. Arrived from Mississippi on Tuesday and was due to fly out to Maine on Saturday.
As my departure day, Saturday, to Thomas College arrived I was a bit nervous. I wondered if I was truly prepared enough since it had been awhile since I actually Had performed the show but nevertheless the show must go on. Again like before, I rehearsed my lines as I waited for my plane to depart for Maine and while flying to my destination, Bangor, Maine.
Took the red eye, left on Saturday and arrived in Bangor on Sunday morning. Reality total hit when I arrived in Bangor, Maine and was picked up “Limo Services Me”. Wasn’t sure exactly who was to pick me up at the airport. Thought perhaps it would be a student, the organizer or some rental limo service. The latter proved true.
As I deplaned and walked to the baggage area, I expected to see someone with a plaque with my name on it and no one could be found. I proceeded to find a comfortable seat and wait until someone showed up. Just in that moment, I had a voicemail stating that my ride was here and was forced to drive away by airport security.
We connected. He drove up and as usual when being escorted to a venue, I always sat in the back seat. Like Ms. Daisy from the movie, I enjoyed being chauffeured to and from. The ride from the airport was about and hour and a half, I think. As we drove along, feeling rested from a pleasant flight to Maine, I was wide awake and ready to make this happen. The limo driver was very talkative and nice. Usually, I liked to ride along quietly as I would partook of the solitude and the scenery. Well, not a quiet moment and time moved quickly while we arrived very quickly. He was very polite. He called ahead to the hotel to ensure all was ready for my arrival, from the room being ready to breakfast being available. I thought, “How nice, guess I must give him a good tip”. He was so gracious that he walked me inside the hotel and introduced me to a key personnel who worked at the hotel and Thomas College. Appreciated his effort for it is key to know the right people in the right position if there was a need later. Got checked in and up to my hotel room I went.
Had two days before show time, so I dropped my luggage off in the hotel and straight out the door walking to checkout the local shopping area across the street from the hotel. I stayed in the Best Western Rewards hotel. All was adequate, no complaints. This was Sunday and showtime and technical rehearsal was Tuesday evening. Feeling rested, I walked from store to store looking for souvenirs for my husband. Nothing to be found, so I ended up shopping in the local supermarket where I bought a few items along with a gallon of water for my refrigerator in the hotel. Having my own foods at my fingertips would afford me to work and eat without ceasing. Going to the restaurant would impede my efforts.
The next day and a half, I rehearsed my play and worked out at the gym as I watched television shows, namely “Kelly & Ryan” and the “Tamron Hall Show”. Having been so busy prior to my arrival in Maine, I needed as much solitude as I good muster up. Even spent a bit of time watching television which is a rarity for me. Actually enjoyed the down time.
While enjoying my hotel experience, I had no clue who was picking me up at the hotel to take me too Thomas College. I have learned to allow the unknown to be okay and all would work itself out and it did. Monday afternoon while napping, I got a call from Hannah Gladstone from Thomas College. She advised was concerned about my arrival after she didn’t hear from me but assumed that I had to have arrived otherwise the limo company would have contacted her. I didn’t tell her that I was wondering also. All worked out well.
Monday morning, I spent about an hour or so in the gym and had a good workout. I was the only person in the gym and appreciated that as I had the television on a station that interested me. When others were present, one must be considerate but this time it was all about me. I watched “Kelly and Ryan” and then the “Tamoron Hall Show”. After my workout, sweating like a pig, onto the restaurant for breakfast minutes breakfast would end. Very nice and quiet restaurant, but I chose to order my meal to go so I could work and eat simultaneously.
As I waited for my food, I read the newspaper and learned about a local community theatre, Pittsfield Community Theatre, was going non profit and would be producing a variety of productions from films to live productions and everything in between. At that moment, a lightbulb went off, that this theatre would be an ideal location to return with “I Question America-Legacy of Mrs. Fannie Lou Hamer”. I contacted the theatre but only open in the evening. Decided to contact them in the near future.
Also, while talking to the Limo driver, he chatted about his accounts with the many colleges in the Waterville area which peeked my interest to contact each of them to attend Monday’s night performance of “I Question America”. Contacted Colby, Bowdoin and University of Maine and invited to Thomas College’s Production of “I Question America” but all had scheduling conflict and each advised seen information for future productions, and I did immediately.
Also while watching the Tamron Hall Show while in the gym, God put the idea in my spirit to contact her show and recommend that she bring my brother, Charles Goldsmith on her show. When things are meant to be the information just come to you effortless. I wondered how to get her contact info and minutes later on the screen during her show she advised her website for her contact info and to get tickets to her show. Immediately upon returning to my room with my breakfast, I perused her website and found the submission requirements for a guest appearance. Completed and sent it. Provided a synopsis of my brother’s life from poverty to richness, then to failure and back to richness and the rest is history and a lesson for many entrepreneurs.
While Monday morning had proved to be a very productive day, it was all mental and bit draining. When acting on ideas, making calls and writing request for appearing on a show, all is very cerebral and tiring. By now, I need some respite before show time. A one woman show is very demanding on an artist. One must be at the top of their game, if the show is a success it’s on the artist, if it tanks, it’s on the artist! For my readiness, I took a very long and restful sleep, not nap, sleep.
By now, it’s almost showtime and I was ready. Note, it was now raining outside and I was a bit concerned regarding the turnout at the college. At 5:45PM, was picked up by Thomas College security staff and arrived at about 6:00 PM for technical rehearsal.
As I entered the theatre was greet by Taylor, a student at Thomas College. Was very impressed that all the props, furniture, lavelier, PowerPoint equipment and computer was in placed to go. All this prior preparation gave me a really comforting feeling. Taylor worked diligently to get the PowerPoint and the music cues coordinated simultaneously but couldn’t get them in sync for the show. Time was passing and a few students were entering, regretfully, I decided to go to Plan B, no PowerPoint. Having performed at tons of schools, have learned to always have a backup plan. Due to time constraints, we didn’t have the full technical rehearsal that I preferred but a verbal walk through. Verbal walk throughs are disconcerting because you can’t be sure what may or may not happen during the performance. This made me a bit nervous but nevertheless the show had to go on.
I stepped off stage to get into character as the students arrived. I heard a lot of chatter and had no clue how many students were in the audience. Now it’s showtime. As I walked on the stage, there were at least five hundred, 500, faces staring back at me. Every actor loves a full-house. While I was yet concerned about the technical portion of my show, I tried to give the best performance of all times. They were very attentive and you could hear a pen drop. The audience was comprised mostly of freshmen, some staff and a few very young people. I think the youngest was nine years old, Hannah Gladstone’s daughter who had a fascination with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Legacy.
The show as a success and was followed with a Q&A. Many questions were asked and I expounded on the journey of the show and also asked the audience questions about the performance. Time was getting late and we concluded and there came this resounding applause from the audience. At this moment, I breathe!!
As most of the students departed, a few gathered on stage with me to share their sentiments. The sentiments ranged from appreciation, being informed, identification, gratitude and most profoundly, “where are the leaders of today?”. After all the exchanges, I gathered all my staging items and departed Thomas College in route to the hotel.
As I left, I only had two regrets, one, the PowerPoint presentation was not used and having not taken a picture of this wonderful audience of students, staff and younger students, 500 plus!
In conclusion, success is when preparation meets opportunity. Thomas College is yet high on my list of schools for their adoration for Mrs. Fannie Lou Hamer’s story and ensuring that all incoming freshmen are privy to her story. This act will further bridging the gap between all people. Once we understand each other, the fear of the unknown dissipates! “Knowledge is expensive but ignorance is deadly.”
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