The eyes of an audience mean more to me than their words. At last night's talkback after Man of La Mancha, there were audience members who were meaningfully lost in the experience of the play, eyes a bit misty. The "magic" of the play was working on them; you could see it. Simple delight was …
Each Man’s Life Is But A Breath
So says David the King in Psalm 39. This psalm gives us an image of a man wrestling with God, his relationship with Him burning in his chest. He resolves not to speak, but then must. He asks to know how long he will live, knowing that a "man's life is but a breath." From …
Impossible Dreams?
So last week Taproot Theatre opened Man of La Mancha. I get the privilege of singing "The Quest" or as it's more popularly known, "The Impossible Dream." While thrilled to have the opportunity to take on the role of Don Quixote, there is also something daunting about singing such a classic song. Fortunately, the song …
Words at 51
My throat's a little scratchy. I refuse to give the sensation a name (like "cold"), seeing as any malady seems completely inappropriate on a birthday. But on this May 4, Nashville is under water, people mourning everything from the loss of homes to the hit to tourism, but more importantly, mourning several older residents of …
Growing Up Into Dreams
Last night, I made a proclamation. "Tomorrow, I grow up." It's a Facebook Status kind of thing to say. Is it true? Will I grow up today? On the one hand, each day is a growing up into responsibility and freedom. Demands grow, stakes go up, opportunities present themselves with alarming swiftness and fickle timing. …
JEFF BERRYMAN 