Todd Salen Why Community Theater Matters

A Mentor, A Teacher, A Friend, A Peacemaker. Goodbye Bob Weber.

There was an incredibly bright light last night.  Then a loud crack of lightning.  It was as if the sun peeked out for a moment in the middle of the darkest storm.  And this is how Bob Weber chose to say goodbye to us.  I'm certain God was giving Bob a lesson on how to use the heavenly lighting board and Bob thought.... "just for fun I'm going to push this button."  Bob was always a showman.

If you have been involved in theater in Central Illinois over the past 25 or so years you have met Bob.  I'm certain you have met his incredible bride Jan as well.  Gracious, loving, patient, kind, appreciative, devoted... there are many words that define Bob Weber.  I'm certain Bob has a full closet or two filled with black pants and t-shirts, the official wardrobe of stage hands.  He loved working backstage and helping to create amazing theater. 

Bob loved theater.  He loved working with men and women and boys and girls and dogs and cats.  If you were an actor, he wanted to help you shine bright!  He encouraged everyone.  I'm certain he never had a bad day at the theater.  And he had a way to take dramatic differences and creating art.  

I am someone who was in the middle of a few overly dramatic moments in productions I have been involved with.  There are times when I wanted to burn bridges to solve problems.  And then...there would be Bob to bring me back to earth and help me see my stubbornness was not helping the team get to opening night.

Bob loved opening night.  He loved rehearsal.  He loved tech week.  He loved closing night.  He loved strike.  He especially loved the cast and crew meals after strike.  He loved spending time with actors, and volunteers and parents and staff personnel, and well, Bob loved people.

Bob was so amazingly patient.  I am the poster child for "no skills required" when it comes to volunteering for community theater.  I have spent the past 17 years as a pupil in the school of Bob Weber.  I have learned how to use a table saw, a chop saw, a router from Bob.  I have installed windows and doors.  Hung libraries from ceilings.  I have built rotating stages with Bob.  Flew "The Beast" over a flaming pit.  Helped Mary Poppins land at center stage, with his guidance.  I have built small cities, small houses, and fancy cars under his tutelage. He loved the challenge of figuring out how to build something special.

He was patient especially with all of the volunteers.  Before shows, he would mentor many on the art of hanging and focusing lights.  Most shows required sets to be hung from the rafters and there was Bob teaching us all how to "fly" the set.  Sometimes we had to take out the orchestra pit and sometimes we had to cover the pit up for more stage space.  Lots of pieces of the puzzle all needing to be in the perfect place and Bob showing us the way with his road map.

Bob taught us all what upstage and downstage and stage right and stage left means.  He taught us to respect the space we were "borrowing" for the week.  He taught us to admire and encourage the actors, even if it wasn't their best night.  He reminded us we were there for the audience.  He taught us to love THEATER.  Especially musical theater.  

And today I can only think about the things I wish I would have/could have learned from Bob.  Even though I have been involved with him for over 35 shows, I feel like I had so much more I could have learned.  I always wanted to be a stage manager.  I always wanted to program the light board.  I should have asked Bob because he would have patiently taught me how to do it. 

So I'm eager for the next thunderstorm.  I'm confident Bob will be running the light board and it will be spectacular. 

Thanks Bob Weber.  It has been an honor to be your friend.  

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Spring Football Game Tonight - WEAR A HAT!!!

 

The UI Audubon/Cinnabon Association (UIACA) is planning for a huge introductory event this Monday, April 19, at the spring football game at Memorial Stadium.  They are leading the charge to have the Kingfisher approved as our new mascot.  The UIACA will be releasing 1000 Kingfishers at game time to fly over the stadium.  What a sight this will be!  Especially since the game will be broadcast on the B1G Network. 

One problem.  Apparently, the Kingfisher is a species more susceptible to pooping in flight.  There is great fear several of these magnificent birds will relieve themselves, with their "cargo" potentially landing on our new head football coach and his staff, not to mention the Illini Nation.  This is UNACCEPTABLE!  Were this to happen the UIACA fears their hopes of the Kingfisher being approved by the Board of Trustees will die (along with several birds who may be shot as a result).

The UIACA needs your help!  Please pass the word to anyone you know who might be attending to WEAR A HAT or BRING AN UMBRELLA!!  

Thank you in advance

I...L...L     I....N....I     Go Kingfisher!!

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Urgent Need!!! UI Mascot Kingfisher Diapers

 

The UI Audubon/Cinnabon Association (UIACA) is planning for a huge introductory event this Monday, April 19, at the spring football game at Memorial Stadium.  They are leading the charge to have the Kingfisher approved as our new mascot.  The UIACA will be releasing 1000 Kingfishers at game time to fly over the stadium.  What a sight this will be!  Especially since the game will be broadcast on the B1G Network. 

One problem.  Apparently, the Kingfisher is a species more susceptible to pooping in flight.  There is great fear several of these magnificent birds will relieve themselves, with their "cargo" potentially landing on our new head football coach and his staff.  UNACCEPTABLE!  Were this to happen the UIACA fears their hopes of the Kingfisher being approved by the Board of Trustees will die (along with several birds who may be shot as a result).

The UIACA needs your help!  Their members know there are hundreds of people who heroically made masks during the pandemic.  UIACA members are asking you to volunteer to make diapers for the Kingfishers.  The club has enlisted the help of brilliant engineers on campus and created a diaper that will hold back these special deliveries.  

Can you help?  We need 1000 diapers by Monday.  Email diapers@kingfisherpride.com today and we will send you a pattern for the diaper.  Our club members will come pick them up.  

I...L...L     I....N....I     Go Kingfisher!!

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Legends Home of the Legendary Fish Sandwich, 522 E. Green, Champaign

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4 Days Can Change Your Life! Remembering Harry Chapin

I just finished reading Ira Kantor's book, "Hello Honey It's Me", the Harry Chapin story.  The book is a series of interviews with Harry's friends and family.  It is a fascinating reminder of the depth of commitment Harry had to his craft and to the world around him.  I spent 4 days total with Harry in my life.  Just 4 days.  He had a profound influence on the thousands of other days I have lived.  For my friends who may not know Harry Chapin, Google him.  

I first met Harry on April 4, 1976, after a benefit concert in Champaign IL.  I was 18, a freshman at the University of Illinois, and a huge fan.  He was playing at Huff Gym, across the street from my dorm.  Zeta Beta Tau Fraternity was hosting a Dance a Thon for Muscular Dystrophy and Harry was the featured act.  The fraternity was auctioning off seats on a Lear jet to fly with Harry to Oklahoma City for his concert that evening.  I won a seat and thus began my experience with Chapin.

He was tired on the plane but answered all of our questions.  He dreamed of winning the Nobel Peace Prize.  He talked about how he loved Champaign Urbana.  The day after he released his album, "Heads and Tales" he played the auditorium in CU.  He got his first standing ovation during a concert at that show.  He said it was one of his favorite shows ever.  I told him the library had a reel to reel copy of the concert.  He wanted a copy.  My mission had begun.  

As we talked more he mentioned his previous few trips to Champaign had been to play benefits for other charities, he would like to come and play for his charity, World Hunger Year.  This became the focus of my mission.  

Upon returning to Champaign I secured a copy of the tape, sent it to Harry and he invited me to join him for his shows in Chicago at the Arie Crown Theater on November 27, 1976.  Between shows on this second day I was with him, I sprung a plan on him to host a benefit concert in Champaign sponsored by my fraternity.  He shared contact information for Bob Hinkle, Sundance Music, who managed his benefits.

Over the next 16 months, Bob helped me plan and organize my first major rock concert.  He selected February 28, 1978, two shows at the Auditorium and the day President Carter would announce that Harry was selected to serve on the presidential commission for world hunger.  I was to pick Harry up at the airport, spend the entire day with him raising money and promoting the cause and then get him to the O'Hare airport by 6 AM to catch a flight.

Day 3 began at UI Willard airport.  We picked Harry up and then went to Kam's Bar for a press conference.  The mayors presented him with keys to the city and there was a press release with the presidential announcement.   From the press conference, I drove Harry to several retail establishments where he sold pizza, signed records, played some music, and answered questions.  At each stop, we raised more money for WHY.  

Harry ate dinner at Pi Beta Phi Sorority, who had won a dinner raffle with Harry.  He played some music and the girls serenaded.  He did not want to leave for his two concerts.  But he did.  He played two shows and then he and the band came by the fraternity for a post-concert party.   We finally jumped in the car and I drove him the 3 hours to Chicago.  

This car ride opened my heart and mind to community service and the obligations I have to make things better.  Harry could do that to you, of course, change your life in a few hours.   Harry caught Northwest flight 222 made famous in another song, and headed to NYC for the day.  He had another show in Bloomington Indiana the next night. 

Day 4 was a year and a half later.  Harry returned to Champaign on his birthday, December 8, 1979 to play two more shows.  These shows were not benefits.  I had raised a few thousand for WHY and Harry invited me to come on stage to present the checks.  We talked a bit backstage.  This was to be the last time I talked to him and his final show in Champaign.  

Four days, four important days that began blazing my community service path.  Harry was unselfish.  I think he truly believed he needed to use his gift to make this "a better place to be."  

When I am involved in projects, whether producing community theater, raising money for cancer, serving on a church mission trip, I am reminded of the seed Harry planted in me when I was just a kid.