Thesis with Turkey

I wanted to be eloquent, I should've proofread, but then I got tired.

It's seems obligatory for people to spend today thanking people.  I hadn't planned to write this on Thanksgiving, but it just so happened that this was the first free moment I have had in the past few months, so obligatory or not, cliche or not, I don't care.  It is always important to thank people for things and as one of my default positions is one of a sentimental person (not one of my worst traits), I guess it is fitting to use the 150th anniversary of the national day of thanks as a podium.  

Nicholas Motola as "Grant"

In the spring of 2010, after I stepped off the stage, diploma in hand, on a football field with the bright sun hanging over Mount Rainier as a backdrop, there wasn't one ounce, one inkling of the possibility that I would be where I am today.  I remember sitting in my dorm room, packing up all my belongings, and thinking, "What the hell do I do now?"  Of the many options that I pondered none of them came close to sitting in the main office of Theatre VCU, ten days away from defending my thesis and getting my Master's of Fine Arts.  Going back to school was the farthest thing from my mind, but a broken campaign, a shooting, a relationship, about two dozen shows, and a speech job later I found myself staring at the VCU graduate program website wondering what the hell I could do with an MFA in Theatre Pedagogy (I mean, who really wants to be a teacher).  Thinking about how good my next dinner will/would be might be the only similarity in thought processes.  But nevertheless here we are.  Ten days away from an MFA.  Perhaps, once again, ten days from thinking, "What the hell do I do now?" However, my Masters graduation (which I won't be walking, no matter how much certain people want me to) has very little to do with a diploma, very little to do with a few letters that will dramatically increase my chances for work in the future.  Well, I know that my literal graduation from this program is almost entirely about those things, but symbolically my Masters represents the end of a very long journey.  

Rocky Granum as "Hank"

When I came to VCU, I had planned to re-write Medea, set it in 70's Detroit, and have it produced.  I thought the concept would be hard, but if I started work on it, I could get it done in two years.  Then a clash of concussions happened and it was February of year one and I hadn't done squat.  That's when the thought of doing something about my great great grandfather came into my head and that's when everything, and I do mean everything changed.  A lifetime later, because these past two years have felt like a lifetime, and my thesis, "A Pact Sealed in Blood: The Creation of Blood Letters: An American Odyssey," is just one defense away from completion.  For me, my production had many problems, it still does have many problems, but despite its issues it is by far the greatest accomplishment I have ever completed.  It is the crowning achievement from a lifetime of moments leading to this one.  

My thesis is difficult because unlike the typical paper that you pour your heart into the writing of, this 103 page document is a living, breathing creation.  For me, it is less than a paper and more of a manifesto and I have poured my soul into its creation.  And as I said before, it is not perfect, but then again neither am I.  It is the best example of who I am.  

Denver Crawford as "Bud"

My thesis is difficult because within its pages lives an epiphany, one that I did not know was

possible.  It also houses a wound, well a multiple of wounds, that I did not know existed.  As Mr. Meeker, my 9th grade history teacher would say, "this is your watershed moment," and I believe that it is, but even though I have received immense pleasure from these pages, they come with a tremendous pain, because through writing a story I revealed part of myself that I didn't understand nor did I know existed.  And despite the parts of this thesis that have tested me, it is the greatest gift I could have ever received.  To truly know who you are is the greatest gift of all and on Thanksgiving 2014, I wanted to thank everyone who helped me receive this gift.

Katie Stoddard as "Jasmine"

To my casts:  The VCU production team consisting of Nicholas Motola, Rocky Granum, Denver Crawford, Katie Stoddard, Carmen Wiley, Joshua Buck, Micah Hughson, Emma Humpton, David Lopez with crew members Saskia Price, Max Rosenberg, Dylan Bartoe, John C Alley, Colin McLaughlin and Janelle Cottman.  The Chicago area production team consisting of a lot of people I don't know, but spear headed and created by my Stepmother Nancy.  The Iowa production team consisting of Zak Moran, Brandon Douglas, Cory Brannaman, Mariah Schuelter (I know I spelled that wrong), Nicole Klosterman, Theresa Gruber-Miller, John Gruber-Miller, Meghan Yamanishi, & Skyler Matthais.  Thank you for stepping into the souls of over 60 characters.  You honored their memories and their lives with your honest portrayals.  A special thank you to Nicholas, Rocky, Denver, Zak, Brandon, and Cory.  Each of you gave me a powerful gift, one of understanding, as I watched the history of my family, and the history of my own life through your eyes.  I am grateful and thankful for your dedicated work.  

Joshua Buck as "Patrick"

To my support staff:  Here in Richmond with the VCU graduates, Jorge Bermudez, Glynn Brannan, Erica Hughes, Susan Schuld, Bonnie McCoy, Brittany Proudfoot Ginder and Kate Salsbury (Your class meant so much), and Andrew Reid (And like a 1000 more).  In Iowa with Amy White, Braden Rood (for creating and maturing my artistic soul), Tawnua Tenley, Sarah Richardson (for making me smarter :), Hew Boardrow, Michael Noble, Stephen Gruber-Miller (especially Stephen Gruber-Miller), Noel Vandenbosch, Jennifer Gee (For helping me belong), and the entire Mount Vernon Lisbon Community Theatre family (I didn't forget about you Paul Freese and Duane Larson).  And around the world with Kainoa Correa, Dan Miller, Daniel C Smith, Bob Pore, Sara Myers, Ann Herrold, Mishka Navarre, Taylor Clouse, Jammie Lowe, and Geoff Proehl.  To all of these people, thank you for putting up with my bullshit, for making me keep going when it gets hard, for constantly challenging me to make me better.  Some of you helped me directly with this thesis, some indirectly, some know a lot about it, some don't even know it happened, but to each and every one of you this was made possible not just by your support, but by your hearts, your love, and your compassion.  A special thank you to Sara Myers.  I doubt you know this but I cannot tell you how blessed I feel that you are in my life.  Your guidance helped keep me together over the past two years.  (One of these days I might actually see you in person again).  

Micah Hughson as "Mariah"

To the faculty here at VCU:  Thank you to Aaron Anderson for teaching me that I'm really just a Sudra who thinks he's a Brahmin, Shaun McCracken, and Noreen Barnes.  Thank you so much for reading the damn thing.  Thank you to David Toney, Dr. T., and Susan Schuld.  Your encouragement and your intellect have made the past two years incredible.  Of course, how does one simply thank Noreen Barnes.  For the majority of us at VCU, she's why we're here, luckily I know she'll never read this so I don't have to get choked up trying to thank her.  

To the deceased:  Thank you to my grandmother, Harriet, and great grandmother, Louise, without your tedious care of our family’s history none of this would be possible.  And to Henry Wells Magee and Frederick Swanson, through the words of your letters I have learned the power of true passion, this is gift that I cannot repay, but hope to pass on to the future generations of our family.

Carmen Wiley as "Penny"

To my family:  Mom, Dad, Paul, Nancy, Uncle Dan, Katie, & Nate.  My family has been my most important audience.  Their love, patience and desire for me have been the single biggest source for guidance in my life.  On this day of Thanksgiving, I am blessed that despite our troubles and turmoils they still remain as fervent supporters of my life as the day when Nate drove me to a baseball game in Stanwood (and made me listen to The Hunchback of Notre Dame) on tape the whole way, when Katie came down to Richmond to spend Turkey Day 2012 at Tarrant's Cafe (by far the best holiday I have ever had), when Dad made me work on a cubed math problem for three hours even though I had another fifteen problems to work through, when Mom taught me to hold with a sign and march with a picture of Carrie Chapman Catt even though I had no idea who she was, when Paul got riled up at the Iowa Caucuses, and when Nancy made me try and pull the sword out of the stone.  Thank you all for being my stone, my rock, as I try and make it through this world.  

To my research team: My heartfelt gratitude goes out to my research team consisting of Jessica Skiles, Jasmine Hammond and Patrick Clark.  These three students committed their hearts, minds and spirits in a dedicated effort to bring this story to life. I wish to thank Jessica for her emotional connection to the material, Jasmine for her determination in procuring my own eventual catharsis and Patrick for his dedicated service and his friendship. Stealing lines from my thesis about each researcher: "I can say unequivocally that while I may be the writer, director, and dramaturg of this play, Patrick Clark is its backbone," & "Working with Jessica was a joy; she found her subject, my grandfather, intriguing and genuine and she dived into the material with immediate success," &  "Jasmine is the oldest twenty-two-year old I have ever met.  Her wisdom for understanding life’s altruisms is unparalleled in anyone I have met at her age."  Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Emma Humpton as "Gabby"

Finally to the characters of Blood Letters specifically Gabby Giffords and Mariah Smith.  Thank you for making me the man that I am today.  Although I will most likely never see you again, your words live on in the pages of this script.  I thank you.

My heart is so full with thanks for everyone who helped make Blood Letters possible.  All of you have made such a dramatic impact on my life that I am eternally grateful for receiving.  May you all know my deepest gratitude and may you all have a Happy Thanksgiving.