PASSING

I’ve selected Horton Foote’s BLIND DATE for the play next week at Carlbrook.

I directed BLIND DATE several years ago at the “historic” Haynes Auditorium in Batesburg-Leesville...home of Ridge Arts Council. Now, its all a tech college satellite campus. And the auditorium (as far as I can tell) is no more.

Haynes had been the centerpiece of the long-lost Leesville College and had served as stage-house for other schools over the years. When I was directing there (late 1990s) it was dilapidated but lovely all the same.

I directed several plays in Batesburg-Leesville over the course of two community theatre seasons: THE FOREIGNER, THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER, THE BRUTE, BLIND DATE, CLIFFHANGER.

I remember there was a child in the cast of PAGEANT who was diagnosed with a brain tumor during rehearsals. He died a few months after the run. His name was Michael.