3.19.2009
BEFORE THERE WAS TABISH
Before there was a Dave Tabish at Indiana Area Senior High School, there was a drama director named Jim George! Ya'll remember him- father of Amy and Kevin and history teacher at IHS for a long time. Anyway, last Sunday I had the pleasure of spending the day with him. He lives in Ellicott City. We went to Tis Pity She's a Whore at Centerstage in downtown Baltimore. At 82, he was remembering Baltimore from when he lived there in the 1940's. The play wasn't so hot, but it was a real pleasure to spend time with him.
I remember hearing the stories of pre-Tabish- stories of Jim Nix (who I knew because he was a great supporter of theater in Indiana- at the high school, with the Indiana Players and at IUP) and Jim George and a fellow who was there named Lasagna- I never met him, I think he came right before Tab.
Anyone know any old pre- mid-seventies IHS drama stories?
By the way, one of Jim George's students was a guy named Fred Duer (his brother Brook was a friend- a real interesting, smart, multi-talented guy who graduated in 1978). Fred has has a great career as a designer for the theater and for television. These days he's at Indiana University (the big one in Indiana). You can find him on facebook.
I remember hearing the stories of pre-Tabish- stories of Jim Nix (who I knew because he was a great supporter of theater in Indiana- at the high school, with the Indiana Players and at IUP) and Jim George and a fellow who was there named Lasagna- I never met him, I think he came right before Tab.
Anyone know any old pre- mid-seventies IHS drama stories?
By the way, one of Jim George's students was a guy named Fred Duer (his brother Brook was a friend- a real interesting, smart, multi-talented guy who graduated in 1978). Fred has has a great career as a designer for the theater and for television. These days he's at Indiana University (the big one in Indiana). You can find him on facebook.
# posted by Mister Fun @ 11:08 PM 
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Another ubiquitous figure in Indiana theater was Bob Ensley- who ran IUP's summer theatre (If memory serves they produced 6 shows a summer in old fashioned summer stock style). I think he was a neighbor of the Hansmanns. I don't know that I ever met him- maybe once- maybe not. But, he ran a one man show at IUP for decades, I think. Dave did shows with him when he was at IUP (early seventies?). He was also Jim George's mentor. I think he retired during the late seventies. Is that timing right? Maybe Don Eisen was his replacement? I'm not sure. Ginger might know something about Bob Ensley.
I bet Ron Jenkins would be a font of knowledge on this topic.
I think the guy before Tabish had a friend?SO? who did some spectacular set designs for him (deserving of a HS Tony Award even).
I think the guy before Tabish had a friend?SO? who did some spectacular set designs for him (deserving of a HS Tony Award even).
# posted by 
: 1:12 PM
: 1:12 PM
Bob Ensley directed me in my first play when I was 5 years old. I was Alice in The Miracle Worker at IUP. He lived in Shadowood and tragically his family's house burned down. It was a huge fire and all us neighbors stood across the street and watched. This is a vivid childhood memory.
Bob was a good friend of my fathers. I have some of his old theatre books in storage. I was also in Amahl and the Night Visitors when I was six or seven. Yep, my theatre addiction started right there in Fisher Auditorium under Bob Ensley.
I also remember being really hurt and pissed that Tabish didn't cast me in our IHS production of TMW.Heck, I was good enough when I was five and that show was so important to me. I am finally over it now after years of therapy so all is forgiven Dr. T.
Bob was a good friend of my fathers. I have some of his old theatre books in storage. I was also in Amahl and the Night Visitors when I was six or seven. Yep, my theatre addiction started right there in Fisher Auditorium under Bob Ensley.
I also remember being really hurt and pissed that Tabish didn't cast me in our IHS production of TMW.Heck, I was good enough when I was five and that show was so important to me. I am finally over it now after years of therapy so all is forgiven Dr. T.
Yes, I lived beside the Ensley's in the thriving metro-Indiana suburb of Shadowood Village. I recall when their house burned down, both times, and when their yard caught fire while they were burning leaves.
The first event was quite the conflagration as most of the large house was fully engulfed in flames. Bob's wife, the ubiquitous Mrs. Ensley (first name never conveyed to me after all of these years), accused me of setting that first fire. Which was really odd as I distinctly recall I was watching TV when I smelled smoke and asked my mother (Norma) if she was burning dinner in the kitchen.
Let's just say the snow fence separating the properties was just one thing that defined our neighborly relationship.
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The first event was quite the conflagration as most of the large house was fully engulfed in flames. Bob's wife, the ubiquitous Mrs. Ensley (first name never conveyed to me after all of these years), accused me of setting that first fire. Which was really odd as I distinctly recall I was watching TV when I smelled smoke and asked my mother (Norma) if she was burning dinner in the kitchen.
Let's just say the snow fence separating the properties was just one thing that defined our neighborly relationship.
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