Johnny,

Was trying to give the info as I remember it from the "old days" of the Backstage.

Someone (memory fails at the moment) drug me down to Guntersville one Summer day. We stopped off at Dot's house, but nobody was home. My friend (who I still cannot name, because my memory still fails me) walked into the house without knocking. He had to run some errands, and left me there. I admit to a certain amount of discomfort being left inside somebody's house that I had never met. I hoped desperately that my friend would return before the owner of the house, but it didn't work out that way. The first one in the door was Dot who immediately wanted my life story. When I confessed that I had been doing professional technical theater, her eyes really lit up. I was immediately drug out to the garage where she proudly showed me lights they were making with large coffee cans for a play called "Fiddler on the Roof". She then described their plans to light an entire gymnasium floor with these two dozen lights. I admit to being a little skeptical at the time, but think I held it well (will have to ask about that one some day). Anyway, by the time my friend returned I was a part of the Moore family like many other lost people from that time.

I went home thinking about this family that did not know what they were up against. I knew that nobody was going to light up an entire gym floor with even double the number of coffee can lights that they had. I was between employment at the time but could not shake the image of what they were attempting. I finally went to see a friend of mine, Dickey, that at that time was in charge of UAB's lighting. Since he also owed me several favors, I managed to talk Dickey into the Moonlight Requisition" of the departments lights, cords, dimmers, gels, etc.. we loaded a truck and headed for Guntersville.

Even with UAB's entire lighting equipment, and of course two dozen coffee can lights, we barely pulled off Fiddler. I had wanted more, but everyone seemed amazed at what we managed. During that time I had also managed (with

help) to drop a piano on my leg. I eventually managed to wreck\ my car (an

Austin-Heally) with the Moore's daughter on board. Let's just say it was an interesting time.

I ended up staying with the Moore family for about half a year. Worked with several people and enjoyed Guntersville. Eventually I felt the urge to rejoin the real world and moved off.

A couple of years later, Dot wanted me to play El Guyo in "The Fantastics", one of my all time favorite plays. I jumped at the chance despite serious doubts that I could handle the role. I had always wanted to play one of the Fathers in the play, but had never expected to be asked to play the Narrator.

We managed to put the play together and tour it. I have to admit that a lot of the rehearsals were a blur to me, because I was commuting form Birmingham, where I worked all day. I wanted to officially apologize to all of my fellow cast members (and my director) for any mess ups or blows ups from that time. Despite the extreme exhaustion, I can never remember having a better time. I still remember internally cringing when I listened to my singing up against Edwin Weaver's magnificent voice. For whatever reason, I received a lot of compliments from the role, but all I can say was I had a wonderful cast to carry me.

At present, I am a researcher for UAB. I am presently going back for a Master's and maybe a PhD in Biomaterials Engineering.

Preston Beck