This past weekend I had an interesting experience and I want to spread the news!  I spent Saturday afternoon at an actor’s workshop.

I’ve always loved the theater.   There is truly something magical about it. Whether it’s Broadway, local community theater or a small intimate playhouse, when the lights go down and the curtain goes up¬it’s magic...

Did I ever want to be an actress?  Beyond a childhood fantasy of wanting to be a “movie star,” probably not.   

On the other hand, my sister, Terry, always had a serious interest in acting.  In high school and college, she was very involved in drama.  But like many of us, reality and responsibility seemed the mature path to follow when choosing a career, and she got a degree in political science and became a paralegal.  

But as for many of us, as the years begin passing, the biological clock seems more important to us than the alarm clock…and filling our bucket starts taking priority over filling our closet and living room.

Terry hired an acting coach¬ and lo and behold, she quickly landed a part in a local live production.  She has also assisted in directing a play and has done some commercial television spots.

Not looking for big bucks or awards, she is just doing what she loves doing, and she is having fun.  Now, many of her evenings and week-ends are spent at “acting workshops.”

A workshop came along this past weekend taught by local Dallas resident, Michael Raines.

Dr. Raines attended Trinity Repertory Conservatory in Rhode Island and worked as a teacher in drama at Eastfield College in Mesquite.  He has worked at professional, academic and community theaters across the Northeast and South.  He is a 15- year member of the Turtle Creek Chorale and a member of the Central Christian Church Choir.  He was selected as one of the top five professors at Eastfield College.  And he was nice enough to let me tag along with my sister and see just what goes on at these “workshops.”

“Bring a towel and a mirror and wear comfortable clothing” read the instruction sheet. The session began with some “loosening up” exercises, just as if you were embarking on a run or an aerobic workout.

Using principles drawn from a two-year graduate program of exercise technique, and those similar to the Alexander Technique, Raines uses the warm-up session to help students learn how to release unnecessary tension through mind-body awareness, observation and relaxation. The method focuses on balance, ease of movement and coordination, applied to such daily activities as sitting, lying down, walking or lifting.

Basically, they are simple exercises that many of us have done at our doctor’s recommendation when suffering from back pain. But the purpose of the exercises in acting class is to put you in touch with your body.  Raines himself is not a certified Alexander technique instructor, but he is a strong believer in the exercise and made sure participants were given the name of a local certified specialist.

“Our body is an instrument,” said Rains. “Body, mind and voice are all we have on stage.” 

The warmup session was followed by a video featuring discussion of technique and method by Konstantin Stanislavski and Mikhail Chekhov .

Born in Moscow in 1863, Konstantin Stanislavski was the father of method acting and had a more profound effect on acting than anyone else in the twentieth century.

Mikhail "Michael" Chekhov was a Russian American actor, director, and author.  He developed Stanislavski’s technique so that actors like Lloyd Bridges, Gregory Peck, Marilyn Monroe, Paul Newman and other famous actors could use the method to create characters.

After the video, we were ready for the real acting to begin.  The participants were each given a copy of a short script, basically of conversation with no particular meaning.

These brave, actor people seemed to have no reservations about being paired up with someone they didn’t know and instructed to create and enact an impromptu skit using the dialogue in the script.

The afternoon continued with other fun “play acting” workouts, much like those enjoyed as a child. ”If people remained in their free-state of childhood, unchanged by the rules of society, there might not be a need for acting workshops,” said Raines..

The workshop enforced the idea that acting is fun.

We already know the theater is fun. Perhaps I just wasn’t paying attention before, but it seems like more and more often I hear someone say, “can’t make it that night, I have tickets to the theater.”

There are more opportunities to be a member of the audience or a member of the cast in the DFW area today than ever before, sort of like the culinary influence that overtook America.  If you like it, do it! Learn all you can and have fun.

If you want information about forthcoming area workshops, contact michaelraines@dcccd.edu.  

Central Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of Dallas has been celebrating its 150^th Anniversary all year as the longest continuously operating Protestant Church in the city. 

Over the past weekend, the celebration culminated in a weekend for the history books—an organ recital with a renowned, organ soloist, a catered sit-down dinner featuring live bands,   a glorious Sunday morning worship service with magnificent performances of liturgical music, and an old-fashioned pot luck Sunday dinner.

An important group of members to the success and longevity of any church are the women of the church. The pastors of Central Christian Church are a husband and wife team, Drs. Steve and Debbie Chisolm.  Venerating the important roles that women have played in Biblical history, in Central Christian’s history and in the church today, the Chisolms wanted the celebration on Oct. 19 and 20 to begin by honoring the Disciple Women. 

In the New Testament of the Bible, in Acts 9:36, it is written: In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (in Greek her name is Dorcas). Her life overflowed with good works and compassionate acts on behalf of those in need.

What better way to say “thank you” to ladies who give their time and spirit than by honoring them with an elegant and festive brunch?

As if by miracle (and a lot of hard work from volunteers) the church fellowship hall was transformed into an enchanting tearoom. Tables were set with a hodgepodge of china, crystal, teapots and fresh flowers.

Church member Mary Chris Gibbons referred to the eclectic décor as “shabby chic.”  More chic than shabby, the colorful and floral patterns brought back memories of Dallas’ lovely Lady Primrose, in its hay-day of glory.

And what was the morning fare?  There were eggs, sausages, and pastries galore.  Fresh fruit platters, homemade kolaches, chicken filled croissants, migas—name it, and it was there.  There was even a “make your own waffle station” set-up with pumpkin spice batter for a holiday taste. Or, you could just ask for a decadent Black Forest waffle topped with whipped cream and cherries. A coffee bar, assorted juices and teas along with Mexican Hot Chocolate washed it all down.

During the fun and cheer, Pastor Debbie asked the attendees to take a moment to remember and honor church women by naming women past and present who had played a vital role in their life.

Brunch is always a special way to begin a celebration and this was indeed a weekend to celebrate 150 years of a church serving the community. And the best is yet to come!

With a mission to reach out to neighbors both far and near, Central welcomes everyone, and makes everyone feel welcome. Even the family dog!  Behind the church is Central Dog Park, voted best dog park in Dallas in 2012 by Dallas Observer. 

Also on the six acre church grounds is the Acres Community Garden, named for the late Maurice Acres and his wife, Ebby Halliday, 102, another woman who has made a significant difference in the Dallas community and in the  lives of women.  The garden is the largest provider of fresh produce to the North Dallas Shared Ministries, feeding the city’s poor.

Located at 4711 Westside Drive, between Mockingbird Lane and Lemmon Avenue, (at the edge of Highland Park), Central welcomes all.

Debbie Bryant is a lawyer turned pet photographer. Her company, Thank Dog Photography, is a prayer, “asked and answered,” and her current project, “Pink Ribbon Puppies” is a fund-raiser for another cause close to her heart, breast cancer awareness.

Bryant grew up in Dallas and attended Richardson High School. Not an under achiever, Bryant graduated from Duke University, received her MBA from Yale and her law degree from the University of Texas. Staying on course with her studies, she joined a huge international law firm, but after five years, Bryant said, “I realized that big law firm life was not for me.”

Between her studies, Bryant had spent time in Geneva, Switzerland working with the World Health Organization. What better place than scenic Switzerland and its surrounding countries to initiate an interest in photography? Bryant bought her first Single Reflex Lens camera and shot roll after roll of film, “not really knowing what I was doing but enjoying it, nonetheless,” she said.

After quitting her job with the law firm, she had the time to re-kindle her love of photography-- and she did. Bryant, totally self-taught, said she read numerous books and spent hours on the Internet, learning everything she could about the art of photography. “I shot flowers, buildings, everything I saw, but increasingly found my camera pointed at pets,” she said, adding, “mine and everyone else’s.”

Bryant grew up with animals and has always had a strong connection with them. Just like hours spent with the camera, hours spent working with rescue animals taught her much about reading and understanding their body language. She uses this ability in photographing them--helping her capture their unique personality.

Most of her work is used for rescue organizations and for marketing purposes. However, last February a local dog fancier contacted her about a fund  raising project for Breast Cancer Research. Having lost her mom to breast cancer in 2002, the project touched Bryant’s heart. And together the ladies whelped Pink Ribbon Puppies—a fund-raising calendar for 2014.

All proceeds from the calendar will go to Breast Cancer Research. Pink Ribbon Puppies Inc. has filed for 501c3 status so that purchase of the calendar will be tax-exempt.

There will be two 2014 calendars, one of Labrador pups and one of a variety of breeds.

The “models” come from reputable breeders with health-tested litters or from local rescues. In short, “puppy mills” are not promoted or tolerated.

The breeds Bryant has photographed read like an all-breed dog show catalog with toy, terrier, herding, working, hound, sporting and non-sporting breeds having participated in the fun. “We have amassed a ridiculous amount of pink props and continue to do so as new calendar scenes come to mind,” said Bryant.

Challenging , but a labor of love is how Bryant describes the experience.

“The style of photography is different from my usual - it's posed and more "art-directed" than my more photojournalistic style. Plus... it's six to nine-week-old puppies so they don't exactly have "stay" down pat-- but luckily, my Pink Ribbon Puppies partner is an excellent wrangler! It's a lot of work, but we're hoping to raise a lot of money for breast cancer.”  

For information about the purchase of the calendars or to schedule a photo shoot with Bryant, contact her a debbie@thankdogphotography.com or debbie@pinkribbonpuppies.com.