Paul Bruce is an Honorary Member of the Guild. He is also a teacher at Salina Intermediate School in Dearborn. Salina serves an area of Dearborn with a large Arab population, many of whom are from Yemen. When Paul is involved in a Guild production, either directing or acting, he usually makes arrangements to bring a group of 200 or more consisting of students, parents, and staff members to the show’s final dress rehearsal.
Paul is directing Arsenic and Old Lace and he brought a group to see the final dress of the show on the evening of Wednesday, January 11, 2017. Two school buses, furnished by the Dearborn Public School, brought the group to the Guild.
Paul had several sessions with the kids at school to give them an overview of the show and to tell them what to expect during their visit. He also explained what they would be able to buy in the Club Room during the intermissions.
Speaking of the intermissions, Frann Stempek, our Ways and Means Governor, tells me that the kids spent a total of $457.
The Salina audiences seemed to really enjoy the show. Their reactions were what you would expect from a group of teenagers. I think their favorite characters were the aunts, Abby and Martha, Teddy, Dr. Einstein, and Mortimer. Paul has the kids write “reviews” of the show and he will share these with the cast as we go through the run.
Paul gave two small groups of kids backstage tours during the intermissions. They were wide-eyed coming through the Green Room.
The evening ends with an opportunity to greet the cast in the lobby before loading the buses and heading home.
It’s a great evening that makes audience and the cast and crew feel pretty good.
The photo below shows one of the Salina students with Teddy (Rob Eagal) and Abby (Sue Delosier).
