And So It Begins...

by Guest Blogger, Jonas Cohen

A New York City taxi made its way through 14 inches of snow to the LaGuardia airport at 8:30 am on Sunday. Sitting in the backseat I wondered would the flight to Kansas City be cancelled as hundreds of others had been? Would the airport be a sea of stranded would-be passengers trying to make it home for the holidays? Would there be a delay on the tarmac filled with drinks that were more ice than drink, little bags of pretzels that leave you sucking on the ice cubes and debating whether or not to actually push the call-button for a refill, and a sore backside?

Hello, American Heartland Theatregoers. My name is Jonas Cohen. I'm an actor playing the role of Cosme McMoon in Peter Quilter's play "Glorious! - The True Story of Florence Foster Jenkins the worst singer in the world..." The title says it all. Glorious! is the true story of a woman - Florence Foster Jenkins - whose desire to sing opera far exceeded her ability to sing it. At no time though, does the play belittle or make fun of Florence's less than dulcet tones. Instead it celebrates her will to succeed and a belief in herself that was infectious and delightful. That belief carried her fans, her supporters, and even some of her nay-sayers along with its unflinching optimism. As we start rehearsals this week I know the company is hoping you'll be carried along as well.

Thus begins the online blog for this show. I hope it'll provide an inside look at the rehearsal process as a company of actors, director, designers, technicians administrative staff, volunteers, all toil to bring this comedy to the stage. At one time the phrase, 'it takes a village' was used to death. But without a doubt that is exactly what is required to realize this or any piece of theatre. What's also required is the support of audiences and donors especially 'in this economy...'. Now there's a phrase that's even more worn out. It makes my eyes cross just to type it. But please know that we are so very grateful to you all. Right now, for many of us, not just artists, we can't help but be concerned about what life has in store for us. It can be overwhelming. Yet a dear friend and director told me recently that despite those concerns the theater should continue to serve one of its very important functions. In the musical Cabaret, he said, we are exhorted to forget our cares and that "in here [the theater] life is beautiful" - maybe for a little while we can do just that.

Whenever I leave my home in New York for an acting project - there is invariably a certain amount of terror. What will my collaborators be like? Will I be any good in this part? How WILL I learn all those lines? Lots of little voices in our heads fretting, asking questions, and saying, 'uh oh!' I guess artists learn to love 'uh oh.' We trust against the odds, that somewhere between reading the script for the first time and stepping into the rehearsal room inspiration will strike. It always does. Isn't that true for all of us?

As it turned out the gods of the airlines were in a beneficent mood that day. The flight left on time. People were not stranded and shoelessly moved through security with nary a delay. And most importantly the airline not only provided us with drinks but also warm cookies that didn't require a credit or debit card for purchase! Landing in Kansas City, MO I was greeted with blue skies, no sign of snow, the ebullient American Heartland Theatre house manager Mary Alice, and the huge comfy king-size beds at the Westin Hotel. Ah life upon the wicked stage...


Check back frequently for more from Guest Blogger, Jonas Cohen, and others as we take Glorious! from the rehearsal hall to the stage.