Jun 8, 2022
THE AMBER WEITZER PODCAST SILHOUETTES OF SUCCESS
DEEANN BLAIR TRIBUTE | EPISODE 63
It was certainly in God’s plan that our paths intersected. I often say that the space you created, the dream that you brought to life, the world you founded at Artisan Center Theater in some ways saved me.
It was a blessing bestowed upon me to have known you and a responsibility to carry forward and pass on some of your sparkle that you shared with me.
It was an absolute privilege to be cast in a tiny role in your Silhouette of Success journey here on Earth.
Our friendship was relatively new compared to so many others...but the time we shared made a permanent imprint on my heart.
Silhouettes...today’s VIP Feature Guest is with us in full brilliant glory and ever sparkling light of spirit.
This is a tribute podcast episode to DeeAnn Blair, Founder, Executive Producer, Wife, Mother, Grandmother, friend and mentor to thousands. Yes, thousands...so many shinning stars of all ages and walks of life she helped uplift in only the way she could.
She had a hint of mystic about her. She was resolute in her vision once it revealed itself.
The Theater-in-the-Round was so new to me, the sheer giddiness of being in the atmosphere at Artisan Center Theater squashed out any of my uncertainty in not having done this role before. Granted, I am a Props Master in my world but not in the theater setting! Some of my fondest childhood and high school memories were in and around drama class. Who knew that all of these years later I would find a renewed happy place!
It’s interesting how life works, what we become aware of when the timing is right. In addition to the physical space of the theater, there is also a “circle up” time before a production to reflect, affirmations, fellowship, final thoughts and directions and many times prayer. Moreover, I’ve been fortunate to benefit from an entire full circle of connections and friendships that are intertwined now, all brought together for the love of the show, the triumphs of the moments, the opportunity to express oneself, enjoy the creativity, embrace the immersion of art and sometimes the exploration of our untapped talents and joys.
In my life I have discovered as a 2nd generation real estate Broker-real estate is a topic that people feel comfortable discussing and engaging in with ease, just to pass time or solid curiosity...similar to sports and the weather! While this is good for business, it doesn’t always feed the soul but when people find out about my role as a Property Master for contacted productions then mentioning Artisan Center Theater, a local theater in the round located in Hurst Texas...people go gaga too! It has been so fun to find out how many know of the theater, who have season tickets, saw my name in a program and knew me from my BIO, who have family members and friends that participate in the shows or sometimes...are one of the talents themselves! What terrific dialoge, it is instant light infused into any conversation!
Since my discovery or truth be told-I followed a calling from God that quite literally led me to their doorstep, the journey has allowed me to participate in more than the Props Master role under DeeAnn’s Executive Directorship. It’s gone from the back stage to the conference room to the Green Room to the Board Room to Back Stage. Once again, full circle!
She shared with me on occasions parts of her Silhouette of Success journey from her theatrical roles and opportunities and those that helped show her the way. She talked about her journey of creating, opening and building theater communities and the lessons learned in that segment of her life, but ultimately created the magical place we all treasure to this day, 20 years young. She shared with me about motherhood-nine children, yes Silhouettes...I said nine beautiful children!
DeeAnn was willing but not quite ready to slow down to record our podcast. Her work was never ending, hands-on and all-in dedication to the utmost quality of best production possible. She and I instead visited a couple of times in focused conversation specifically sharing her thoughts of this journey in lieu of recording...and for those conversations, I am forever grateful. Forever.
I’d like to go back to the beginning to set the scene on how DeeAnn and my paths intersected, so, I invite you to come with me on this reflection...
December 29, 2019
8:30AM: The last straw, something had to give based on my current work stresses, intensity of the load and sheer exhaustion.
1:00PM CST: Looking around the house at all of my Christmas décor, full of Christmas décor! You see, Santa Claus visits our home every Christmas Eve, a tradition we grew up with as children and that year was a bit over the top so I had red velvet ropes on silver stations a nice oversized chair, mini Toyland and all the works to make it magical for the family, friends and guests. As I sat on the sofa, I remembered a comment from one of my beautiful, gems of a sister-in-law, Colleen-she said something to the effect of “you are so good at this” and I thought hmm...let’s see what I can pull from her complimentary comment and my happy talents.
So, I went online and did a job search...what’s a Prop Master, the education requirements, job description and open postings. Interesting with a wide variety and then, something catches my attention...my husband walks in the room and I said, “I’ll be right back. I found a local theater to go drive by and at least put my eyes on it.”...and off I went. So, I get there, it’s located in a strip mall off the beaten path of the DFW Metroplex proper but I was savvy to the area. Interesting. Darn, it’s Sunday and they are closed. Ah, but there are two pick up trucks parked out-front. I see a unmarked, windowless smooth steel door slightly ajar with a small block of wood and power tools humming from inside. Darn it. I’ll come back tomorrow. I do a U turn and head towards back out to the stoplight at the front of this ginormous empty parking lot and think to myself-what would I tell my daughter, what would my Mom tell me...then the answer came without hesitation-Go back, Go through the open door. So, I did! Hmmm, it looks safe, feels safe but perhaps it’s a bad idea-I say in my rather loud yet respectful voice...Hello, Hello? The room has big thick velvet and velour black curtains plus the power tools humming-I hollered once more...a man looked up-and smiled “hello”. That nice man, Co-Founder Rick gave me a tour and business card telling me who to call on Monday. How did he know I needed that tour, that kindness and in the midst of what was clearly a significant project they were in the working on. I left with a song in my heart and fresh air beneath my wings. I made the call to the contact Monday and was hired and in contract for the role by Tuesday.
The following Monday January 6th I was in a conference room with DeeAnn Founder and Executive Producer along with the production team for Seussical the Musical sitting at a conference room table for my very 1st ever Production Meeting, in my very 1st ever contract position as a Props Master!
So, if you hear me talk and think it’s only surface level bumper stickers when I hammer or gently work in some of these phases throughout our podcasts like:
Show up!
Walk through the door of opportunity!
Follow your heart!
Listen to what people who know you best tell you about your talents!
Take a chance!
What did you love when you were younger, do it now!
Now you know why-it’s real, it’s legit and I have been there, done it and not done it...
Sitting in these meetings with DeeAnn was always what I call a blue-ribbon binder day for me. Meaning, I filled my binder full of as many notes, best practices, sketches, theater terminology to look up later, people and resources that she mentioned, what they used in past shows to later go on the hunt for and places, dates, historical knowledge and anything in the moment...I knew it was all golden. The entire experience of this role was once-in-my-lifetime. Seriously. In fact, this was the show that opened on Valentine’s Day 2019 and as it got underway, the double cast plus crew went through a serious circle of “strep/cold/flu” but the show must go on, so everyone covered and worked extra hard...I was going through cans of Lysol to disinfect props daily...until it couldn’t-yup, COVID. We were the last production, closing a little sooner than planned due to the pandemic. Again, a sincere honor and milestone opportunity. I didn’t get to spend much time with her during that production, but after it was done, she once said to me as we were all sitting in Rick’s (her husband) office “I wish I would have spent more time with you sooner”. Her eyes stayed connected with mine, the sincerity of her words lingered in what felt like a very magical moment and it really was a treasured compliment from someone I had been admiring from near and afar while running around doing my job. As life began to loosen up pandemic wise, I was able to volunteer and go scrub down the theater to be prepared when we would be allowed to reopen! It was actually pretty fun. Hard work, long days but fun getting some more one on one time with those that were up there and learning by osmosis!
Another precious, first hand and intentional visit I want to share with you is when DeeAnn and I made an appointment to visit. A dear friend, mentor, voice and show talent, signer, MC and podcast guru and editor extraordinaire hooked us up with some time in the Green Room at his studios at TCN.
Thursday January 21, 2021
DeeAnn shared he journey with me about how she got into theater, the different venues, the states they lived in along the way, her personal experiences with starting theaters and why she structured Artisan Center Theater the way she did in its creation. She talked about the importance of maintain the “family friendly” core value and why that meant so much to her. We talked about business, success-what does that mean, one day, gratitude...but what I remember most is the special one on one time allowing her to share what she wanted.
The next production I contract for was The Sound of Music...this one was a golden opportunity to be sure and DeeAnn was so excited about it! I was able to see her more and when she was in her element...step back. She knows what she wants. She knows how she wants it. ...that is all!
One day, looking back now it’s feels a bit haunting, but she had been out of the office for a bit, again-I am coming and going off peak, hours-so my observations would not be too helpful but around July I was in the lobby working on “the bed” for The Sound of Music and she came in. She shared that she’d been under the weather with strange stomach pains, discomfort. The production was an amazing success and every person that hand any part in and around it was top notch in my book, all the way!
During the next many months, I was full speed with work and our other ventures, she text an offered me the Props Master role in for Scrooge but I knew I wouldn’t be able to commit in the manner than it deserved. By December 2021 that it was shared by the family that DeeAnn was in a fight for her life.
We exchanged texts mostly I sent her the sunshine sticker to brighten a moment or... I totally adopted her sparkle stars sticker-she was the first to be consistent using that in our communication, so now every time I use...it allows me the chance to think of her, be grateful for her, pass on the sparkles of light and remember her. I use it a lot!
March 30, 2022 10:30AM
I received a text from Rick in part taking my breath away as I read the last sentence
“You are one she really wanted to say hello to.”
March 30, 2002 1PM
Honored, humbled, nervous to be asked over for visit at her, bedside for a visit. We talked about the upcoming show The Hiding Place (to be replaced that afternoon with Steel Magnolias), as I was Props Master for; told everyone, social media blasts with excited comments, I bought any Corrie Ten Boom books possible and studied my script for it was a blue-ribbon binder day that’s for sure. It was a soft conversation with two of her daughters and I enjoying the moments. I asked her how and what she wanted me to keep in mind for the show. She talked about the story and that Corrie Ten Boom; DeeAnn said “she was a hero of mine”, she told me to history of Mike Evans, a local Colleyville man and his acquisition of The Beje, she talked about how lice were actually a blessing for it put off the beatings and allowed the ladies to study their scriptures and in small comparison she saw the silver lining for herself in similarity to her recent fall because of what she learned from that instance, she spoke of the underlying message of “forgiveness”, she mentioned a few of our friends and her utmost admiration and love for them...it was another once-in-my-lifetime gift that fills my heart to capacity. Being asked to visit, being allowed and trusted by her family-that’s a God gift.
Again, precious moments. DeeAnn had fallen a days earlier. In that fall, her hands had been left in excruciating pain, nerve pain unable to open or even use her fingers (lingering effects from a fall) but this day and beginning the day before the pain had subsided enough to allow her the use of her hands. It was another major another blessing as I showed up with my Sound of Music Playbill and this very podcast cover art shell that I’d been holding in her folder for when she was ready to record....but I had an intuition to bring it with me for her autograph. If it had been a day earlier, this gift wouldn’t have been a possibility.
Later in the evening, it was confirmed that the production of The Hiding Place had been replaced with Steel Magnolias. It was Spring, the thunderstorms seem to have shy away actors from auditions-twice, was it the tone of the times, was the mood of the play too somber, Ukraine had just fallen under attack, the economy...one can deep think it all one wants but it wasn’t meant to be, at this time. You see Steel Magnolias was the very 1st production DeeAnn, Rick and Artisan Center Theater family opened with 20 years ago....and clearly, they felt it was time to do it again-for DeeAnn. A once-in-my-lifetime opportunity to give back to her and their entire family both immediate, extended and theatrical alike. I told you about full circles earlier.
April 4, 2022
I sent DeeAnn a photo of the script as I was sitting in auditions for Steel Magnolias-I wanted her to be a part of it, to be there.
April 10, 2022
The last text I sent, she saw it and my heart was feeling the moment.
April 12, 2022 5:40 AM
DeeAnn Sorensen Blair
They say that its about the journey, not the destination. I am a believer. It has taken me to my 50th year on this Earth to fully embrace all that that statement means, so yes. I believe. The journey that DeeAnn afforded me to take goes so deep that I am still sorting it all out. Here it is June 7, 2022 and it’s only today that I am able to compose this script to then record and share with all of you. As we are in the last week of the Steel Magnolias run...the production concludes on Saturday, June 11, 2022. It is a bitter and sweet date that I wasn’t looking forward to arriving, but in this moment I now will celebrate the conclusion and its success 100 times over. In every moment along this exceptional opportunity to both represent DeeAnn and ACT in my every interaction, efforts, work ethic, actions, temperament, mindset, level of professionalism, love for the show, devotion to support of the cast/crew and her family...I have held this role as a responsibility in the highest regard possible as it was a that was a gift to be cherished, honored. Because of my role on this journey, DeeAnn also gifted me with the opportunities within the opportunity; such as a spontaneous overnight road trip adventure with my Mom, dear friends and past clients the Coldwell’s who invited us all to their home for dinner along with meeting up with the Director Eve and her amazing family in this dreamy vision of the place where it all started...Natchitoches, Louisiana. Now as Truvy Jones (a.k.a.Dolly Parton) would say “I believes there’s a story there!”-yes, many stories, stories taking place within the story. One of my Mom’s sisters my Aunt Brenda has just passed away, so the road trip was perfectly timed, serendipity-we strolled upon a little boutique named “Brenda’s” and spent some time there, we stayed in The Steel Magnolia House Bed & Breakfast where the film was made, yes we sat in the room watching the movie right there looking around pointing out every detail and the ladies of the Steel Magnolia House showed so much love, care and juicy small-town details from the days during the filming of the beloved movie! This trip was yes, a one-in-my-lifetime blessing, the memories to be forever cherished. It’s something that I had to push myself to do-take the leap and show up, go for it...this is the time! Our Steel Magnolias cast and crew have made their unique impressions in my head, heart and soul. Many times, there are flowy, colorful even brainy, smart articulate words one can use in describing the emotions felt during the journey, conversely, sometimes there are moments meant to be held in the heart softly, quietly treasured. So I’ll let these be just mine! The ladies of this production are spectacular individual talents, together they are a mighty force...and all of the remarkable humans all that helped breathe life and beauty supporting the success of the production! It’s been a treat to watch them dazzle night after night, week after week! Opening Night, I was given many unexpected gifts to include a journey back to a favorite college Texas Wesleyan University where we had many family memories (thank you Joe Allen Brown!), beautiful artwork and a pink penny size polished stone heart token. Opening Night: Seret stops me at the entrance door as says “Here”, as I am zipping past to go check on something. I look down and it’s a precious little pink heart. handing me something. She has no idea how hard I prayed on that little heart back stage before the play began. I prayed to God, I spoke to DeeAnn...I prayed to God some more- I found myself caressing that little heart for the entire first Act. DeeAnn was with us!
Saturday night Strike will be a celebration. A celebration of the radiant blue eyed, big dreamed, star reaching beauty of DeeAnn Sorenson Blair-her legacy in my heart, the eternal impression in my soul and her endless gifts of abundance in opportunities to allow me to see the sparkling stars that shine within me. I will do my utmost to pass on the light to help illuminate another’s Silhouette of Success as she aided in illuminating mine.
XO