Mann Show OCTOBER

10/1-3 His Girl Friday Film Criticism

10/2 B.J. Koonce Guest Artist in Drama II

10/8-11 Hoop Dreams Film Criticism

10/9 Production Team Meeting (after school in Coach White’s office)

10/15 MANN SHOW 2008 Leadership Team Meeting

10/15-16 A Night at the Opera Film Criticism

10/17 MANN SHOW 2008 Membership Meeting with Will Ragland, Guest Artist

10/21 The Fantastics CentreStage, 3 PM

10/23 Le Jetee Film Criticism

10/25-26 Bambi Film Criticism

10/27 The Legend of Sleepy Hollow Upstate Shakespeare Festival, 7 PM

10/29-30 The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari Film Criticism

Do you guys love THE OFFICE?

I do.

Big time fan. I mean...I know you guys never worked in "Cubicle Hell." I did. I feel like I know those people. Especially Michael Scott.

Sometimes I think I'm him. Other times, I think he's various bosses I've had before...friends and co-workers from my pre-teaching days.

Which brings me to my current job here at Mann. I must admit, I totally love it. The first job that I've ever liked as much. It's my dream job, really...mostly. And yet...it's also the lowest salary I've ever had...well, since my first or second job out of college.

So. May this be the wisdom I pass along to you, my young sages...don't do anything just for the money. Do everything because it is right. Not necessarily because it feels right, but because it is true.

That's what Michael Scott never realized. It's why he's at Dunder-Mifflin and not a drive-time radio DJ.

SEPTEMBER Events

9/4-5 Modern Times Film Criticism

9/7 Lee McDerment Guest Artist in Drama IV Honors

9/10-12 Run Lola Run Film Criticism

9/19 MANN SHOW 2008 Membership Meeting, Leadership Team Elections

9/17-21 Lawrence of Arabia Film Criticism

9/20 Harry Anderson’s Drowned and Quartered The Playhouse, Furman University (see photo, right)

9/21 Brian Ground Guest Artist in Drama IV Honors

9/24-26 Wings of Desire Film Criticism

9/25 Once Tryon Theatre, Tryon, NC, 7 PM

9/30 Turn of the Screw The Warehouse Theatre, 3 PM

NEW Mann Show Officers Elected!

Here they are...you elected 'em! Your MANN SHOW 2008 executive leadership team:

NICOLE SCHMIDT President
TORY LeCLAIR President-Elect
JOHN AWADALLA Secretary
MIKE REAL and KNOX WHITE Senior Representatives
MASON KAZER and ADAM SILER Junior Representatives
MICHELLE SLAYTON Sophomore Representative
GRACE MUSSER Freshman Representative

Thank you to all who ran, and the nearly 50 students who voted.

It's going to be a great year.

Two Big Games; One Big Saturday

Saturday I went to both Clemson vs. Furman at Death Valley, and South Carolina vs. SC State in Columbia.

(Yep. I'm kind of a big college football fan.)

One thing that's always captured my attention in college football is the drama...the suspense. Not knowing what will happen next or if your team has what it takes to win.

As you know if you've taken my Drama I class, I see a whole lot of similarities between sports and theatre. (It's one of the reasons I prefer to be called, Coach.) Saturday, in Clemson and Columbia, I saw two really amazing shows.

The Clemson game happened just after midday. The sun was high in the sky and it was hot—breezy, but hot. The Tigers faced a much less powerful opponent in my alma mater, Furman University, and prevailed. The colors were orange and purple, but mostly green: green turf, green trees everywhere. The Clemson campus is beautiful, and the stadium in smack dab in the middle of it, next to the lake (Hartwell). There were thousands of fans there. Thousands. People everywhere. And you could smell barbecue grills everywhere you turned. Amazing tailgate spreads. And everyone seemed to be in a really good mood. Furman fans were being treated nicely by the Clemson fans...the whole thing had the feel of a big, family picnic.

We left at halftime and headed to Columbia. The moment I saw Williams-Brice stadium from I-77, a flood of memories came back. I grew up in Columbia, and have been attending USC football games since I was nine years old. It was dusk there (kick-off was at 7:05 PM), and traffic was slow. But...I soon found my trusty secret and FREE parking space, and we were on our way to the stadium. The area around Carolina's stadium is ugly. All warehouses and cracked pavement. Dusty, sandy, chain-link-fenced, awkward, flat. Still, people had their barbecues cooking just like at Clemson. The Gamecocks were playing the South Carolina State Bulldogs for the first time ever. So there were a lot of State fans tailgating, too. We got to our seats and experienced the amazing Gamecock team entrance to Richard Strauss' "Also sprach Zarathustra" (or "2001"). Chills. I do love the excitement of being at a game with so many people cheering for the same thing: our team to prevail.

Theatre is everywhere if you just take the time to notice it. Where have you noticed it lately?

Something different about drama at Mann.

From time to time, I like to have "real-life" creative people join us for class.

I base this practice on my own memories of pre-adulthood. I used to like to meet different and new people—most often, friends of my parents. I liked to eavesdrop on their conversations. I think part of my enjoyment came from literally learning about the individuals, their life experiences, their ideas. Another part of my enjoyment was experiencing life as an adult. I listened and learned about what grown-ups talk about, how they talk to each other...I learned how to engage a new person in conversation. Make a friend.

Last Friday, Drama IV Honors met my friend Lee McDerment. Lee plays music every Sunday at Newspring, and every once in a while he shows up playing Greenville with a small band. Lee is one of the most interesting people I know. Being around him inspires me. Mostly I am inspired by his sense of peace...the fact that he knows exactly who he is, and why he's here. That is rare in people you meet, my friends. When you stumble upon someone who knows their self, you'd better hang on to them. Spend time with them. They can help you understand your own self.

So...do you guys know any cool, creative adults around town? Anyone I should meet, or someone we should hang out with in class? Let me know. I'll call them up and invite them.

Meeting cool, new people is an official part of the curriculum at J.L. Mann.

And, just like that, summer is done.

Hope you are enjoying your Labor Day. Traditionally, this marks the official end of summer. Seems like just yesterday, we were sailing on a pirate ship in Georgetown (see picture at right, taken with my Lomo Supersampler camera). Has anyone done this? It was really cool.

Now...it's back to the work of making and seeing great theatre.

I am pleased to announce that my fifth period, Drama IV Honor class will be presenting the play, THE DINING ROOM by A.R. Gurney, November 29, 30, and December 1. First period (Drama II) will present the Second Annual Show of Plenty on Thursday, November 17.

And don't miss the first MANN SHOW 2008 meeting, just after school on September 19. Big plans are in the works...plus, we have to elect officers for the coming year.

It's a big year, off to a big start. Are you ready?