An Interlude for Drama (and a favor)

Featuring me as Ruby Reynolds,
Hollywood's rising star!

Hello, readers! I’m sorry for the detour from our regularly scheduled program, but I wanted to write about something that’s going on in my life right now that’s really important to me. 

Over the past several weeks, my brother Christian and I have teamed up to write and produce a murder mystery, which we’re performing this weekend to raise funds for the Providence Fine Arts Center Drama Troupe, a theater group that offers drama classes for homeschooled kids in the St. Louis area. This was the same troupe that I was part of all through high school, starting when I was 12. Their tuition is reasonable enough that even low-income families (like mine) can afford the classes.

Right now, Providence Drama is preparing for a new semester, and hoping to raise enough money to buy the rights to perform a big-name play and upgrade their sound system. The play is not only a great way to raise funds for them, but also to bring together well over a dozen alumni and upperclassmen from the program to bring the mystery to life.

Ruby and Victor

We’ve been rehearsing for several weeks now, and I am having a blast being back on stage! The story is set in the 1930’s, and I play Ruby Reynolds, a rising Hollywood star who has just gotten married to the concert pianist Victor Christopherson. As our heroes embark on a Caribbean cruise with all their family members in tow, tensions heat up between Ruby’s vaudeville family and Victor’s stuffy socialite relatives. And when a murderer strikes, everything gets worse! (Insert dramatic music here.)

So you’ve all probably guessed what the favor is: I’m asking for donations to help support Providence Drama. We have a Go Fund Me page here— even a one-dollar donation is helpful. Seriously. If you live in the St. Louis area, you should totally come see the show! It’s this weekend, August 8th at 6:00 and August 9th at 4:00 in St. Peters. Tickets are all donation-based. You can find all the details on the Go Fund Me page.

To some, drama classes might not seem like a big deal, but to say that this program changed my life is an understatement. When I joined drama class at the age of 12, I was one of the most shy and socially awkward people you’d ever meet. In the next five years, I blossomed into a much stronger, more confident person. Drama taught me to interact with people, to be comfortable with who I was, to understand and empathize with others, to think about new perspectives, to converse confidently, to graciously accept criticism, and to loosen up and work as a team. I still hold that drama was one of the most important classes I ever took in high school. Plus, acting onstage is a ton of fun!

As I said, if you’re interested in donating or attending, please go to the Go Fund Me page. This is really important to me, and we greatly appreciate any donation. Thanks for reading!

Cheers,

Lisa (aka Ruby Reynolds)

The Lil' Miller Twins, famous child stars!