On the stage and behind the scenes

 Jeremiah 6:16a: “This is what the LORD says: ‘Stand at the crossroads and look. Ask where the good way is and walk in it and you will find rest for your souls.’”

REBECCA –
It’s an odd thing, I think.
If you have no knowledge of where you are headed then you have no idea about the significance of what you’re doing right now! It’s like when I whined to my parents about school, “Why do I have to learn this? I’m never going to use it!”

BIRDIE –
Rebecca and I were about to graduate to a different level of training, but we didn’t understand the significance of what we were learning. I am calling it training, but it was actually just LIFE.
Along with directing 3-4 published musicals a year plus our other job demands, we continued to write, produce, direct and perform originals.

1987 – wrote and toured MEET ME HERE
1988 – wrote and toured THE WRITER
1989 – wrote and toured HOPE OF GLORY
1990 – wrote and toured THE MILFORD FILES
1991 – wrote and toured THE WHITE STONE
1992 – wrote and toured WOUNDED WARRIOR (original version)
1993 – wrote and toured TWENTY YEARS AGO (original version)
1993 – wrote and performed TWO THIEVES & A SAVIOR (original version)
1994 – wrote and performed THE DELIVERER
1994 – re-wrote and toured NOT JUST ANOTHER LOVE STORY (2nd version adding World War II medley)
1995 – wrote and toured THE PUZZLE
1996 – wrote and toured BILLY LOVES BOBBY SUE (original version)

REBECCA –
We toured with our youth team, CrossRoads. Our theme verse was Jeremiah 6:16a: “This is what the LORD says: ‘Stand at the crossroads and look...ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.’”

REBECCA –
Have you ever tried to step onto a running treadmill? I did ...........once!
That’s the best way to describe how Birdie and I looked when we changed addresses in January 1997 and set the first performance and public opening of the amphitheatre for May 22, 1997!

BIRDIE –
ONLY FIVE MONTHS!

REBECCA –
What were we thinking?!

BIRDIE –
After the lease was signed to occupy King’s Arena, the property manager told us that a national entertainment group had previously shown interest in the amphitheater area but backed out when they estimated it would take $2,000,000.00 to restore it and produce a show.

REBECCA –
That was encouraging news!
We received a desperately-needed donation - $400,000.00, and started writing checks.
Lighting - $100,000.00.
Electricians - $30,000.00.
Marketing - $35,000.00.
Lumber, building supplies, liability insurance, property insurance, and the list went on.

BIRDIE –
I was accustomed to talking about money in terms of hundreds. Now we talked in tens-of-thousands.