Seeing Eye dog steals the show

August 14, 2016 • Posted in blindness, Seeing Eye dogs, Uncategorized, writing by
Seven dancing human silhouettes and one dog silhouette pose against a bright violet background.

Our cast rehearsing my play “Night at the Emerald City Disco” before our performance yesterday. Photo by Malic White.

A huge thank you to the neighbors, friends and writers from my memoir classes who made it to Victory Gardens yesterday afternoon for my Chicago stage debut. Your enthusiasm and laughter was very reassuring, and performing on stage ended up being a lot of fun – especially for Whitney the Seeing Eye dog. She stole the show.

I celebrated with friends afterwards and returned home to find a note in my in box from our Neo-Futurist teachers congratulating us for “nailing” it. “The audience left with huge smiles on their faces,” they wrote. “Your dedication this summer paid off in a big, big way.”

The best news of all? Too Much Light’s accessible theater program is going to continue. “This is the first time Trevor and I have taught an accessible Neo-Futurist class AND it’s the first time we’ve taught a Neo-Futurist class that lasted for as many weeks as ours did,” Malic continued. “We want to keep doing this!” The note asked for feedback from all of us before they move forward on future classes, and I’ll get to work on that shortly. Right now, I’m heading out with Whitney to bask in her spotlight.

Lois Baron On August 14, 2016 at 12:16 pm

Congrats, Beth! Glad you “nailed it”! No surprise. Sorry I wasn’t able to make it, but glad everyone had a great time, including sweet Whitney.

bethfinke On August 14, 2016 at 12:28 pm

Well, I can’t say for sure if Whitney had a great time. After the show a friend in the audience told me she caught Whit rolling her eyes in boredom during some of the scenes. I guess she’d lived through too many rehersals.

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piwright04gmailcom On August 14, 2016 at 12:58 pm

Congratulations Beth. Had no doubt you would rock it!

bethfinke On August 14, 2016 at 8:39 pm

Thanks, and trust me: I had my doubts.

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Darlene Schweitzer On August 14, 2016 at 1:25 pm

Congratulations Beth!!! I knew you’d be great In your play and Whitney too! Now, that you are a playwright — can I have your autograph and Whitney’s pawograph? I’m so excited for you guys! Enjoy. ?

bethfinke On August 14, 2016 at 3:06 pm

You are the first to ask for her pawgraph.

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Marilee On August 14, 2016 at 4:31 pm

Congrats!! What a great success for you and your teachers/ mentors. So happy to hear that the program will continue! Is Mike doing paparazzi lookout?

bethfinke On August 14, 2016 at 8:36 pm

For Whitney, yes.

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Carol Abrioux On August 14, 2016 at 4:35 pm

So sorry I couldn’t be there, but I knew Whitney was bound to be a star. Congrats on everyone else’s success at drama.

bethfinke On August 14, 2016 at 8:39 pm

Thanks, Carol, and don’t worry: I’ll let the new fans know you were in the Whitney fan club long before she appeared on stage.

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Sharon Kramer On August 15, 2016 at 9:40 am

A great show. Everyone else was as good as Whitley. I loved the short skits – they all left me with something important to think about. I hope this continues. Good job everyone.

bethfinke On August 15, 2016 at 10:07 am

Thanks in part to so many of you coming out to see us Saturday, I think they will –continue the classes, I mean.

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Fiona On August 16, 2016 at 10:49 am

Congratulations, Beth! Next year, Edinburgh!! I’ve been to lots of shows this year from blues to Ska- it’s been great with lots of dancing. I’m currently in Belfast with Mum and Dad. We are off to Connemara tomorrow. Love to you and Mike! X Fiona

bethfinke On August 17, 2016 at 6:59 am

Fringe Festival next year? Well, why not? Thanks for the comment, Fiona –I owe you a letter.

Carry on | Safe & Sound blog On September 7, 2016 at 10:35 am

[…] the presentation. Actors who used wheelchairs guided Whitney and me to our spot on stage during our debut at Victory Gardens last month, and I helped them with physical tasks on stage that were difficult to do from a chair. […]

Carry on • Beth Finke On March 31, 2018 at 4:12 pm

[…] the presentation. Actors who used wheelchairs guided Whitney and me to our spot on stage during our debut at Victory Gardens last month, and I helped them with physical tasks on stage that were difficult to do from a chair. […]

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