Tragedy and Triumph

Wednesday, November 25, 2015

My Thoughts and Opinion About the Colorado Springs Conservatory's Partnership With Harrison School District 2 and Mountain Vista Homeschool Academy

Colorado Springs Harrison School District 2 and The Colorado Springs Conservatory have a "partnership" which means that Colorado Springs public school kids go to the Colorado Springs Conservatory once a week during the school year and the school district pays for each student to attend the Conservatory's program.

Correspondence With Harrison School District 2's Superintendent's Office

My daughter, Rebekah, and my two other children, Joel and Annabelle, and some of their other friends from Mountain Vista Homeschool Academy were introduced to the Colorado Springs Conservatory and Linda Weise because of that partnership.

Summary of My Family's Experience With the Colorado Springs Conservatory

After my family's recent unpleasant experience with the Colorado Springs Conservatory and Linda Weise, I'm concerned that former Colorado Springs Harrison School District 2 students and future and current ones, have been or will be subject to unfair or traumatic circumstances due to interaction with the Colorado Springs Conservatory and Linda Weise.

My daughter, Rebekah, and our family have certainly been devasted and our experience with the Colorado Springs Conservatory is causing us to consider moving away from Colorado Springs altogther since we no longer feel welcome in the city we've called "home" for almost 25 years.

When my kids were in the school Colorado Springs Conservatory Mountain Vista Homeschool Academy partnership day program, all three of them told me about one of the teachers "not understanding" one of the home school academy student's learning disabilities.

In 2011, all three of my chldren told me that they observed a child being belittled several times in front of other students and teachers when they attended the Colorado Springs Conservatory's Harrision School District 2 partnership program.

That kind of treatment cannot be part of public education in my opinion.

During the home school academy's Colorado Springs Conservatory Parent Observation Day and Open House, I myself observed one of the music teachers being very strict with the Mountain Vista Homeschool Academy students, but I thought it was because that music teacher just didn't understand homeschool kids.

Afterwards, I told my children in response, when I observed that teacher's behavior, that the Conservatory program was "so good" and such high quality to try to just "deal" with that strict teacher.

I do know that in the past that some of the Mountain Vista Homeschool Academy parents removed their children from the Colorado Springs Conservatory partnership program after their children told them they were scared or traumatized or made to feel bad. I know some of these families well.

In addition, my children told me that they felt that the Colorado Springs Conservatory's "school program" was no where as high quality as the "real" Colorado Springs Cconservatory program.

After they were in the Conservatory's Fiddler on the Roof ensemble during the summer of 2012, they decided not to attend the Colorado Springs Conservatory's school program partnership for that reason. They felt they'd learned all they could from the school partnership and saw no reason to continue.

I had hoped Mountain Vista Homeschool Academy would perhaps pay for my children to instead be part of the "real" Colorado Springs Conservatory afterschool weekly program since after experiencing Fiddler on the Roof, they felt they had reached a new "level," but the director of Mountain Vista Homeschool Academy told me that she didn't think Linda Weise and the Colorado Springs Conservatory's board would agree to that option.

After the Mountain Vista Homeschool Academy director asked Linda Weise the above question at my request, we were told that was NOT an option that Linda Weise would even discuss due to the fact that the money paid to the Colorado Springs Conservatory by the school district was less than what the regular Conservatory students paid.

What bothers me is that the homeschool and other Colorado Springs Harrison School District 2 families were told by Linda Weise and the Colorado Springs Conservatory that the programs were identical, so I was disappointed when we found out that we were getting something that was "not as good," but accepted that a public school program may include "cutbacks."

In addition, I learned early that the school district Conservatory students were also not treated as "real" Colorado Springs Conservatory students.

We were told that we were not eligible to audition for the Colorado Springs Conservatory musicals or plays or programs. That was disappointing, but we accepted it and that is the reason we asked my father to help pay for Rebekah to be in the Colorado Springs Conservatory's Senior Company during the 2014-15 school year. We wanted Rebekah to have an opportunity that was closed to us because Rebekah was "just a Colorado Springs Harrison District 2 public school student."

I am now wondering if the partnership the Colorado Springs Conservatory and Linda Weise has with Colorado Springs Harrison School District 2 should perhaps come to an end? That partnership certainly desvastated my family and my daughter and I've heard that other children and families who have been part of this school district partnership have also been affected.

Tuesday, November 24, 2015

Remembering About Fifty Years of Thanksgivings

I was born in May of 1956, so in my lifetime, I've celebrated many, many Thanksgivings. I have decided to look back at some of the most memorable ones! Enjoy this chronological journey through "Past Thanksgivings: with me!

-------------------------------

1960s and 1970s - When I was a child, most of my Thanksgivings were spent at my mom's brother's house; Thanksgiving and Aunt Miriam, Uncle Norman, and cousins Loren and Cheri, went hand in hand. Aunt Miriam's favorite holiday was Thanksgiving. They invited so many people every year, including my dad's parents and my Uncle Bobby. Many of Miriam's cousins came to those gatherings too.

This was a combined Kadison-Schneider Thanksgiving in the 1960s
Cousing Cheri, Uncle Bobby, Cousin Loren, Grandma Fannie, Grandpa Max, Aunt Miriam, my brother Billy, my sister Lynnellen, my mom, my dad, me, and Grandma Esther

Anyway, when I was about 14 years old, Aunt Miriam heard about a new way of cooking the turkey. Everyone who attended suffered from food poisoning a day or so later!

1974 - My parents came from California to Colorado to spend Thanksgiving with me during my first year of training and skating at The Broadmoor. A huge blizzard hit the state on Thanksgiving Day. My brother Billy, who was training at CIA, a figure skating training center in Denver under Olympic figure skating coach Carlo Fassi, was supposed to come from Denver with Ron Shaver to celebrate dinner with us, but had to cancel due to weather. My parents and I decided we would still celebrate. We opened the oven to remove the turkey, and realized my mom had not turned on the oven. My dad started looking at Thanksgiving restaurant ads. We ended finally cooking that turkey, but eating very late.

1977 - I was a senior at Colorado College then. I remember eating at the Bemis dining hall with my friends Frank Langben and Elaine Emmer. Later, Elaine and I were invited to someone's house for dinner, but we didn't want to pass up the complimentary dining hall afternoon meal!

(In 2009, I reconnected with Elaine, but I have lost touch with her again. I am also overjoyed to be in touch with my friend Frank! In 2012, after not seeing Frank since his wedding day in 1986, I finally saw Frank again face to face when I went to San Jose to the US National Figure Skating Championships! In the summer of 2015, Frank was able to also reunite with my husband, Dan.)

1980 or 1981 - I won a grocery store certificate for $25 from Albertsons in Long Beach. Dan and I decided to use that money to make Thanksgiving in our "commune like home" and to invite people to spend the day with us who did not have a place to go or families. I will never forget how great an experience that was.

1984 - We spent many wonderful Thanksgivings with my Grandma Fannie and my sister Lynnellen and my Uncle Bobby when we lived in Long Beach. My dad had a heart attack and recovered in 1984, so our entire family was on a health kick. I cooked everything from scratch, used no fat, took out the eggs yolks from the pies, and made health food stuffing. It was a delicious meal.

Thanksgiving Day 1986 (Lynnellen pregant with Drew, me, Grandma Fannie, and my Uncle Bobby)

1986 - My sister Lynnellen was pregnant with her first child, Drew. We invited one of my dad's favorite medical students to spend Thanksgiving with us at my Grandma Fannie's house.

1989 - We lived in San Francisco then. I think the fun Thanksgiving at Lori Baron's flat in San Francisco took place that year. I took an amusing video from that Thanksgiving. Someday, I'll get that video up on YouTube. I especially remember when David Mishkin interviewed Terry Korotkin with a banana!

1991 - Dan and I had just arrived in Colorado. Billy's inlaws, the Sutherlands, invited us to their house in Denver. We spent several holidays at the Sutherlands during Billy's early days of marriage.

1998 - We went to Breckenridge, Colorado with my friend Larisa Gendernalik and her son, Alex. We rented a condo together. We ate dinner at a fancy buffet in Breckenridge. I wondered why I didn't feel like eating. The next morning, I took a pregnancy test and found out I was pregnant. Dan and I went cross country skiing and ice skating that day. Annabelle was born 8 months or so later! Joel and Rebekah's first skiing took place at Kinderhut in Breckenridge.

2005 - Dan had just come home from the hospital after being in a horrible accident that almost took him away from us. Just before Thanksgiving Day, he had been rushed back to the hospital. We thought he'd have to spend it there, but he got to come home. My parents came and we had a wonderful time together as a family. Dan's brother Mike was also there.

The next day, we took Dan to the YMCA so he could take a shower since his wheelchair wouldn't fit in our bathroom. Afterwards, we went to my friend Larisa Gendernalik's house for another Thanksgiving dinner since her family decided to celebrate together on Friday instead of Thursday. That was one of the last times we saw Larisa's daughter, Valerie. (Valerie was murdered during Memorial Day Weekend 2008.)

2007 - Since we had to leave for Junior Nationals only two days after Thanksgiving, we spent a quiet Thanksgiving together as a family. The kids even skated at Colorado College on Thanksgiving morning. The kids really enjoyed that Thanksgiving since they could be themselves. Each kid especially enjoyed the whipped cream!

2008 - My brother and his wife Amy invited us to our family's vacation home in Larkspur for a huge family Thanksgiving celebration. It was so very special. Everything was beautiful!

2009 - Before Thanksgiving 2009, Haley Rose Gans, on November 20, 2015, a 14 year old figure skater was tragically killed in a skiing accident in Breckenridge, Colorado. My children skated with Haley every day at the Ice Hall at The Broadmoor World Arena, so Haley's death affected us so, so much. Figure skaters and coaches and skating families and others that loved Haley came together for Haley's funeral on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving Day. On Thanksgiving Day, I remember crying as we ate, but also giving my children and husband extra hugs.

Haley Rose Gans Was Killed in a Skiing Accident Just Before Thanksgiving 2009

2010 - We spent our Thanksgiving at the Schneider family vacation home in Colorado. We invited Hellene, Jeff, Sam, and Leo Orenstein-Anderson. They joined us for a wonderful overnight and "Rugrats type Thankgiving" experience.

I was thankful that my family had such a wonderful Thanksgiving Day. I was thankful that we had one another and that we had so many family and friends that have been there for us through thick and thin. I remember Sam's grandpa, Leo, said how thankful he was to have Sam in his life!

2011 - Thanksgiving 2011 was especially fun since we were invited to my friend Bernice's house in eastern Colorado. The Davis family lived out in the country and before dinner, I was able to go outside to see the chickens Bernice raised. Bernice said she never has been able to cook turkey, so she made ravioli instead! Annabelle especially enjoyed eating Bernice's homemade sopapillas! After dinner, my three kids played Kinect games with Bernice's six kids!

My Friend Bernice's Daughter Chava Made Pear Turkeys for Thanksgiving 2011

(On our drive home, my friend Lynn Wein McCoy, texted me and told me that Holly Meyer died of ALS /Lou Gehrig's disease on Thanksgiving eve. As we drove home, I remembered Holly.)

2013 - After the 2013 Pacific Coast Figure Skating Championships which took place in Oakland, California, Annabelle, Joel, my dad, and I, flew to southern California and Dan and Rebekah connected with us there in Long Beach. (They flew in from Denver the Sunday before). Dan had to fly back to Colorado on Thanksgiving Day since he did not have the Friday after Thanksgiving off from work, so on the Wednesday night before Thanksgiving I made a dinner for Dan's mom, sister Sandy, brother Mike, my dad, Dan, Rebekah, Joel, and Annabelle at our family's Long Beach Naples condo. It also was a special Thanksgiving since that Wednesday night was the first night of Hannukah. We lit the menorah that night too.

My husband, Dan, With His Sister Sandy and Mom - Thanksgivikuh Eve 2013

The next day, we celebrated Thanksgiving again at my sister, Lynnellen's house. All three of Lynnellen's children were there and also her four grandchildren! It was a "wild house" with a long table set up in the living room of what once was my Grandma Fannie's house.

2014 - On Thanksgiving eve, my distant cousin, Josh Willow, and his wife and daughter came to the Schneider family vacation home in Colorado. I remember making spaghetti and trying to not let Josh know that I was coming down with a cold. Josh brought many photos of our extended family and we especially enjoyed seeing photos of his grandfather Max and father Jack.

My Cousin Josh Willow and His Family Visited Us on Thanksgiving Eve 2014

On Thanksgiving Day 2014, my friend Bernice and the six Davis kids came to enjoy Thanksgiving Day with us. I wasn't feeling well, and didn't notice until it was too late, that my husband only cooked the turkey for 30 minutes! Anyway...after waiting about another hour and half for the turkey to cook, we sat down in the Schneider family vacation home's dining room and ate a lot of side dishes and dessert and had a wonderful time without any turkey...

Dan talked to Joel (who was away on the Disney On Ice Frozen Tour) While We Were Eating Our Thanksgiving 2014 Meal!

2015 - Thanksgiving 2015 hasn't happened yet, but from November 8 to November 14, 2015, my dad and I went to Seattle to see my son Joel when the Disney On Ice Frozen tour was there, and we coordinated it with seeing my cousin Cheri and her family. Cheri decided, in honor of our visit to make a Thanksgiving dinner! It was so fun to Joel to be inside a home and for all of us to be together as a family and remember the past Thanksgivings my dad and I had spent with Cheri and her brother and my mom and my mom's brother Norman with my Aunt Miriam. It was especially nice for Joel to get to know his little cousin Lexi!

Joel and Cousin Lexi - November 10, 2015 - Early Thanksgiving Dinner at My Cousin Cheri's House in Seattle!

As I write this, I'm excited with my family's plans to spend Thanksgiving Day 2015 with my dear friend Hellene Anderson and her father Leo, and with Gary, Karen, and Sabrina Cohen, and my husband, my dad, and my sweet daughter Annabelle. We will miss my two other children. Joel won't be celebrating Thanksgiving I think since the Disney On Ice Frozen show is in Vancouver, Canada on Thanksgiving Day 2015 and Rebekah has moved to southern California, but I know she'll have a nice Thanksgiving Day with my husband, Dan's family.

Happy Thanksgiving 2015 Everyone! Happy Thanksgiving Hurray, Hurray, Hurray!

Monday, November 23, 2015

My Comments on Linda Weise Receiving an Award for Compassion and Kindness

Below is a link to an announcement that Linda Weise was awarded a Community Recognition Award. It was announced that she was especially recognized for acts of compassion and kindness.

On a personal note, since my daughter and our entire family received a letter on November 4, 2015 from Linda Weise and the Colorado Springs Conservatory that devasted us, I'm having a hard time understanding how Linda Weise could be awarded such an honor.

Since I published the blog posts above, I've heard from former students, faculty, families, staff, and performers who have been involved in Linda Weise's programs at both the Colorado Springs Conservatory and The Mezzanine.

They've shared their stories with me (and others) that are very personal and very painful. How these individuals and families have been treated definitely does not represent compassion or kindness.

Sunday, November 22, 2015

Remembering Born Blue's Preview at The Mezzanine - Wednesday, October 28, 2015

On Wednesday evening, October 28, 2015, my husband, Dan, and I, and my daughter, Annabelle, went to the invited preview and dress rehearsal for Born Blue, the musical my daughter Rebekah had been working so hard on.

The Schneider-Farris Family was so excited to see Rebekah in a lead role in Born Blue! - Wednesday, October 28, 2015

A week later, on Wednesday, November 4, 2015, our family received a letter from Linda Weise and The Colorado Springs Conservatory that stated we were no longer welcome at anything related to the organization which included The Colorado Springs Conservatory and Mezzanine events and programs.

Summary of My Family's Experience With the Colorado Springs Conservatory

Rebekah's heart was broken, and left Colorado Springs the next day to begin a new life in southern California.

The show did go on as planned the following day, 11-6-15, (and continued through most of November, 2015), but three other members of the cast were also removed from the cast a day later. I've heard they were so very disappointed since they all had worked so very hard and also expected to be paid.

The photos in this blog post will help my family remember the happiness and excitement and anticipation we (and the cast members who were removed) felt the night of that Born Blue Musical preview performance.

Four out of six people in this Born Blue group cast photo were removed from the cast before the 11-6-15 weekend performances. I've heard they were so, so sad and disappointed since they'd put their "hearts and souls" into Born Blue. (Rumors have circulated that it has something to do with The Mezzanine not wanting to pay them after they were promsed to be paid?)

Wednesday, November 18, 2015

My Thoughts and Wishes for Colorado Springs

I lived in Colorado Springs in the 1970s and then I returned in 1991 and never left.

I've made an observation that our city is run like a small town (but we are a fairly large city now) and there are very powerful people here that run the city and it is hard to make changes when something is wrong or needs to be changed.

About 20 years ago, I went before the Colorado Springs City Council and asked that a beautiful chalet type ice rink stay open in the downtown area. I was on the news and wrote articles.

There were other skating related things that happened after that in Colorado Springs. I went on to "fight city hall" and fought for the rights of skaters and skating coaches in my city. I was on the TV news and a group of us were on a 3 hour radio talk show.

Nothing changed at the time, but I think about 10 years later, my efforts paid off. We have a wonderful skating community in Colorado Springs now that is open to everyone.

It is now my hope that something eventually will change in the performing arts community in our beautiful city too.

My Thoughts on 11-17-15 Gazette Article Regarding the Colorado Springs Conservatory

Two weeks ago I would have shared this article of praise (link below) about the Coloraodo Springs Conservatory and Linda Weise with all my friends and family, but then, just two weeks ago today, on Wednesday 11-4-15, our family received a letter from The Conservatory and Linda Weise that stated we were banned from all Conservatory and Mezzanine events and programs.

We can't even go to a show, and we were given no explanation.

Since then, I've heard from other former Conservatory parents and students, and their children were hurt in the same way. Teachers and employees have shared stories too.

My Comments on Linda Weise Receiving an Award for Compassion and Kindness

I am so, so sad, since The Colorado Springs Conservatory was my daughter's entire world. The next day she left Colorado Springs for good and her heart was breaking. I worry she will never sing, dance, act, or play music again.

Read this Colorado Spring Gazette Article Published Tuesday, 11-17-15:

Conservatory boasts world-class instructors for young musicians

Read about my family's experience:

Sunday, November 15, 2015

Ski-Jouring With Our Dog Duchess! 11-15-15

It's not easy, but it's sure fun to Ski-Jour with our little dog Duchess!

Monday, November 09, 2015

Photos of My Uncle Norman (my mother's only brother)

This is a photo of my Uncle Norman Kadison when he was a baby. He was my mom's Edith Kadison Schneider's older and only brother and the father of my cousins Cheri and Loren. I am not sure exactly when he was born but I'm guessing 1912 or 1913. Cheri can tell me for sure...

Also, below is Uncle Norman in World War Two. He served as a musician that entertained the troops.

Saturday, November 07, 2015

The Six Farris Kids in 1960

My husband Dan with his siblings in 1960: Top row: Dan, Jack, Mike Bottom row: Sandy, Penny, Pat ...Mike and Pat are identical twins...Dan is the 5th of 6 kids...Doesn't this photo look like it came right out of "Father Knows Best" or the "The Brady Bunch" ?!

Fun Photos!

This is a photo of the inside of my locker in the coaches room at Sertich Ice Center. I've had that locker since 1994! Take a look at the memories inside. I taught skating while I was pregnant and until the day before each of my children were born. I may miss looking inside this locker at these happy memories if my family really does move away from Colorado Springs.

Also....

I look so tall! I realized today how much I like teaching hockey skating skills...I think I may like teaching hockey better than figure skating....and...the boys listen to me and like my teaching style and when they are little kids, they are even shorter than me! I've taught hockey skills and power skating since 1998 and I began teaching figure skating in 1983.

Friday, November 06, 2015

Summary of My Family's Experience With the Colorado Springs Conservatory

Before I begin this blog post, I must first mention that Linda Weise and the Colorado Springs Conservatory gave so much to my daughter Rebekah and Linda went over and above for Rebekah.

But....

On Wednesday, November 4, 2015, our family received a letter from the Conservatory that devastated us. The letter stated that Rebekah and our entire family were no longer welcome or allowed at the Conservatory, the Mezzanine, or at anything related to the organization including attending performances.

I may still be suffering from shock as I write this post. The Colorado Springs Conservatory had become Rebekah's "entire world." Everything that was important to her in the life she had in Colorado Springs is gone.

I am just so, so sad.

I do think it is best for me to now write down about our experience with the Colorado Springs Conservatory so I no longer have to think about what is now so very painful.

Here's our story:

In 2003-04 my three children went to a drama-music-dance school called Attitudes. It was located in the same shopping center as the Conservatory.

One day I stepped into the Conservatory's offices and picked up a brochure. The prices were too high for me to even consider since Attitudes was inexpensive, but also it was thought that Attitudes' program was no where as high quality as the Conservatory's program. I wished so much I could get my children in The Colorado Springs Conservatory's program, but due to the cost of the program, I accepted the fact that it was not an option for us.

Time passed.

In 2010 it was announced that the Colorado Springs Conservatory had set up a partnership with Mountain Vista Homeschool Academy. That meant that all three of my children could attend the Conservatory and that Mountain Vista paid for each student to attend!

I was so excited and cried tears of excitement and joy knowing that something wonderful would come from this opportunity.

We were not disappointed. My children were exposed to wonderful learning because of The Conservatory's outstanding program and instruction.

On Father's Day 2011, I heard that my favorite musical Gypsy was going to be in Colorado Springs and the musical included the Conservatory's staff and students. Our family went to the production that day and it was AMAZING! I felt that it was just as good as a professional Broadway show.

When the show ended, my dad asked Linda Weise and some of the Conservatory staff how his grandchildren could be in similar events, but sadly, we were told those opportunities were only for the Conservatory students who paid regular tuition, not the Mountain Vista Homeschool Academy kids.

But...

When the summer of 2012 came along, The Conservatory needed extra cast members in the ensemble for the production Fiddler on the Roof, and sent out an invitation to all Mountain Vista Homeschool Academy students to join the cast!

Wow, I was excited and Joel and Rebekah began an amazing adventure that included hours and hours of rehearsals. Annabelle was in only the wedding scene, but also was in a most outstanding musical!

It was so, so wonderful to see my kids in that production. Linda mentioned how especially talented Rebekah was after that experience.

Time passed again.

In 2014, Joel and Rebekah began to prepare for auditions for the Disney On Ice professional ice show and the audition included acting. I contacted Linda Weise asking if she'd be able to give my kids some acting private lessons to prepare and Linda set up lessons with Stephen, a talented Conservatory graduate. Stephen was amazing and brought the kids, especially Rebekah, to a new performing level.

During the time with Stephen, we learned that another classical musical, Oklahoma, was planned for the summer. I contacted Linda and she worked it out for Joel to be in the ensemble and Rebekah to be in a supplemental music group that would promote the show. Both kids again had a tremendous experience and their acting and singing skills grew.

Stephen put on a week long Conservatory improvisational workshop and both Rebekah and Joel participated. Joel was very busy preparing for a skating test that week, but Rebekah "ate up" all that she learned from Stephen and when the final performance of that week came, where the parents were invited, I was so, so proud to see Rebekah perform! She stood out!

When the 2014-15 school year began, Rebekah auditioned for the Conservatory's Senior Musical Theatre company and was accepted! I still remember how excited she was when she called me to tell me she'd been accepted! A new and wonderful adventure was about to begin for her!

What followed was a very, very busy year for Rebekah. She had a leading role in The Pirates of Penzance, did tons of volunteering with the Conservatory, learned to do stage managing, learned to teach little kids, danced, sang, and completed the adventure with a major role in the summer musical Working. She performed in recitals during the year and in jazz nites. Every time I saw Rebekah perform, I'd cry tears of joy.

The Colorado Springs Conservatory and Linda Weise had given her an amazing chance to excel. She'd discovered she was talented and loved to perform and learn and Rebekah's singing voice was just so beautiful!

At the final Senior Recital I thanked Linda Weise for giving my Rebekah so much.

During the summer, Linda Weise offered Rebekah a week long job stage managing a kids play. Rebekah was paid $300 and had a wonderful and busy week. I recall also Rebekah managed another play called Seamarks with her friend Carelyn at the Mezzanine during the 2014-15 school year. Seamarks was an unpaid job which took up hours and hours, but Rebekah gained much through that experience too.

In August of 2015, when Rebekah realized that the college she'd chosen in Gunnison was wrong for her, she contacted Linda Weise and Linda offered Rebekah something incredible: A full scholarship to take classes at the Conservatory for an additional school year, volunteer and paid work experience at the school, and paid major roles in productions at The Mezzanine!

It was like a "Silver Platter" had been given to Rebekah. Rebekah told me that Linda Weise believed in her talent and wanted to help her find the right college where she could go on to study musical theater. It was wonderful to learn that Linda believed so much in my Rebekah.

Quickly Rebekah became so, so very busy. It seemed as if she was always at the Conservatory, but when she was home, I'd hear her singing and playing the piano constantly. She also played the Ukelele! It was beautiful to hear music in the house all the time.

Rehearsals for The Mezzanine's production of Born Blue began. I saw little of Rebekah, but knew she was busy and happy.

Then...our family was invited the official preview of Born Blue on Wednesday, October 28. I've written a previous post on that experience which is below.

Rebekah told me she was going to be paid for her work in Born Blue and it opened on Friday, October 30, 2015. Rebekah was gone the whole weekend and there was a show on Friday and Saturday nights, and Sunday afternoon. I asked Rebekah how the performances went, and she said they just kept getting better and better and she was so happy.

Then....

Wednesday, November 4, 2015 came. It will be the day I always remember because on that day our family received a letter stating that Rebekah and our entire family were banned from ever having anything to do with the Colorado Springs Conservatory or The Mezzanine ever again.

What led up to the above decision is not completely clear, but that decision has changed our lives. All that was Rebekah's world was ripped from her on that day. I am so, so very sad. I just don't understand this decision at all and I've asked Linda for an explanation but have not received one. In addition, it seems that Rebekah has been cut off from all the people that were so close to her that are associated with the Colorado Springs Conservatory. I have been told that there has been no response to her texts or phone calls.

On Thursday, November 5, 2015, Rebekah left Colorado Springs for good and will stay with extended family in California. Her heart was breaking when she packed The sadness I feel is so huge that I plan to move our family away from Colorado Springs as soon as we can.

The Colorado Springs Conservatory changed my family's life with this decision because it made us realize that Colorado Springs can no longer be our home. We are no longer welcome here.

So much sadness and bad things have happened to us in Colorado Springs and doors have closed and new opportunities have not opened. This was and is the "last straw." It is time to leave the city my husband and I came to with such excitement and anticipation in 1991. It is time to leave the place where my three children were born and raised.

Sunday, November 01, 2015

Born Blue Musical Review (by a parent of one of the members of the cast)

(Added note to blog post below: We were notified on Wednesday, November 4, 2015, that Rebekah has been removed from the cast. I wrote this blog post review below during the weekend of October 30-31, 2015)

------------------------------------------

My daughter Rebekah is "talented." She can sing and dance and act and play the piano and play the guitar and Ukelele. I'm "one proud mom."

What I didn't know when I began to encourage my child to develop her musical and acting talents, that sometimes she would be exposed to issues and people and language and situations that I believe are "too adult" for a minor.

My Daughter Rebekah in Born Blue - Photo Used WITHOUT Permission

I've been told that I've "lived in Colorado Springs too long" by a liberal thinking friend, and that may be the case, but when it comes down to it, I think liberal thoughts, I'm supportive of liberal and non-traditional values, but when it comes to my own children, I'm "old fashioned." I want my children to be cast in old fashioned musicals like Oklahoma, Fiddler on the Roof, The Music Man, and Mary Poppins, not in the "modern" theatre that seems to be what is approved of today.

Rebekah invited us to the premiere of Born Blue on Wednesday, October 28, 2015 which took place at The Mezzanine, a "nightclub" which is now part of the Colorado Springs Conservatory's numerous programs. (The Conservatory has given my daughter many opportunities and believes in Rebekah's talent, and I'm very grateful for that.)

At least this time Rebekah "warned me in advance" that what I was going to see might bother me. During the summer of 2015, she played the part of a prostitute in The Conservatory's summer musical, Working. I was not told in advance that Rebekah was cast in that role, and it upset me greatly and made me very uncomfortable to see her dressed as a prostitute and acting out that role.

Back to "Born Blue" and my thoughts:

Remember the fairy tale "The Emporer's New Clothes?" If you recall, no one wanted to admit that they could not see that the Emporer was naked, wearing nothing, since they'd seem "dumb." They were told that the Emporer was dressed in the most beautiful cloth and that those who saw the clothes were people who were smart.

Well....that is what happens with "Born Blue." It's so intellectual, that only those who aren't "with it" would admit that they can't understand "what in the heck is going on."

Below is a summary of the musical's plot:

The musical takes place at "The Atomic Bar & Chill" which is a purgatorial dive bar in another plane of existence which is also a place of transition and retrospection.

Those present are becoming raceless and sexless, which is indicated by grey and blue skin tones, but the more Blue a soul is, the more highly evolved it is. When a soul in the "Bar & Chill" evolves to the enlightened state of being entirely Blue, they're ready to move on.

There is one beverage served at "The Atomic Bar & Chill" called Blue Brew.

This is a special night at the Bar & Chill since the Earthly apocalypse has occurred and an overwhelming mass of souls is coming there. The narrator Infinity leads those present through a musical exploration of three life stories that occur in three different time periods:

The Salem Witch Trials, 1692
American Slavery, 1864
Pine Ridge Lakota Sioux Reservation, 1969

My daughter Rebekah is one of the main characters in this musical and has a huge role (she is almost in every scene), but her main role is in the 1969 reservation scene. She plays Catori, a young activist and folk singer who gets involved in a relationship with another woman, named Ophelia. During a "love-in/rally" Catori also conceived a child.

Catori's and Ophelia's relationship is kept secret from Catori's father, Dell, who gave up on life after seeing his wife murdered in a federal raid when Catori was a child. Catori and Ophelia want Dell to accept them and Catori chooses love and her relationship with Ophelia over what her father might think or approve of. Catori leaves and continues the relationship with Ophelia and births a baby boy which she names Blioux.

By the end of the evening's events, the cast significantly becomes more Blue than when they arrived.

The Born Blue musical includes the audience and is an interactive experience, and it is intended for the audience to leave with questions and the audience may wonder about what took place.

I left the premiere puzzled. What did I just see? I heard the most incredible music (which I didn't understand one word of), and I saw a musical that I didn't understand. I heard my daughter use "language" I don't approve of, and I saw her do some things that were "too much" for me as a parent. Yet, I was very proud of my daughter and was amazed at her performance.