There is a tradition I created for myself to commemorate the opening night of my shows. I'm grateful that anyone would produce my work and I never want to take it for granted. Therefore, i feel a celebratory toast is order since I am unable to attend the shows in question.
This began ten years ago when my step-daughter Tracey visited the Great American Melodrama and Vaudeville Theater in Oceano, California with my granddaughter Kardena to catch a performance of my play SONG OF THE CANYON KID or POEM ON THE RANGE. While there, she purchased one of these here souvenir mugs emblazoned the theater's logo for me. The fact that she went at all touched me to the core, but now I have something tangible to mark that occasion.
From that point on, I have filled this mug with a frothy beverage of choice, a carefully selected special brew, on the opening night of my play wherever it may be, hoist it high in the air in salute to the theater group that has generously agreed to share my stuff with the world one performance at a time.
I proudly, humbly and enthusiastically look forward to each and every opening. Then I shall give the call to arms as I have every show for the past decade:
BREAK OUT THE BOOT!