Interview with Jeff Reeves about Footlite's Landscaping
The following is an interview of Jeff Reeves by Carol Kirk about Footlite's landscaping.
Kirk: When did you start gardening and how did you learn, from a parent?
Reeves: My first grade teacher, Mrs. McLean at Riley Elementary School in Perry Township, had us plant pumpkin seeds in egg cartons, and I thought the experience was magical. I was hooked. After that, I was often digging dirt in my parent's back yard, digging up plants from the fence rows and using them to make small "gardens." As an adult, I learned much about gardening from my late friend, Hollis Shuh, who was a groundskeeper at the Indianapolis Museum of Art where I was a volunteer in the late 1980's. I read a lot, too. I have been intently gardening in my own yards for 20 years, now.
Kirk: What attracts you to digging in the earth?
Reeves: I feel a spiritual connection with the earth and nature. This helps keep me sane in a capitalist culture of man-made objects. Nurturing plants give me a quick and visible reward for my efforts. An added bonus: the plants don't talk back.
Kirk: What are some of the plants you have used in the Footlite landscaping and why?
Reeves: I wanted to create the maximum of color and texture with a minimum amount of expense and labor, so I chose drought-tolerant annuals that I have used in my own gardens for many years. Another factor was the history of the neighborhood. Herron-Morton Place was in its heyday in the early 1900's and the affluent gardens of that era often had cannas, castor beans, caladiums, dusty miller, sunflowers, and begonias. I attended a seminar last year on historical gardening during the Old Northside Garden Tour and saw photographs of the neighborhood. The many castor bean plants are 12th generation descendants from plants that were growing at the Mayan ruins of Coba on the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico. I have been growing them for 12 years and collecting the seeds each fall to plant again the next spring. So, they represent 12 years of my labor. Dale Cheatham did much of the "meat and potatoes" work in the gardens and I had the privilege of adding the "fancy desserts."
Kirk: Are there perennials?
Reeves: There are about 50 young Shasta daisy plants that I direct-seeded in early April. Next May, they will put on quite a show.
Kirk: You have been fortunate with sufficient rainfall, and I think you said it was good soil.
Reeves: The rainfall has been a blessing for the gardens. Plants need at least one inch of rainfall every seven days, and we have been getting that. When I set out plants, I always soak the root-ball in diluted liquid fertilizer to give them a "jump start." Yes, the soil is a pretty good loam in the beds.
Kirk: If neighbors and Footlite patrons come to see the landscaping (and it really is worth seeing), what would you like to have them particularly notice?
Reeves: I am pretty proud of the planters along Alabama. I think they are almost as spectacular as the planters along East Market Street downtown, which are pretty amazing. My congratulations go out to the person who designed those East Market plantings. In viewing the Footlite gardens, I hope there will be an appreciation of the textures of the garden, as well as the colors, and an appreciation of the historical significance. The gardens resemble those that existed in the neighborhood in the early 20th century. Also, realize that you will never see that many castor beans in one place again as long as you live and respect the 12-year effort I have put into growing them.
Kirk: Is there anything else that you want to say?
Reeves: On this roller coaster odyssey that we call "life," I have discovered that I learn the most from people who are the most different from me. I have been blessed to have socialized with people from many walks of life. So, strike up a conversation with a homeless person or a lawyer. On a practical note, you can never have too much mulch or too many rocks in your garden.
Footlite Musicals Announces our 2008-2009 Season
"Once On This Island"
July 10, 11, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19 & 20, 2008
Music by Stephen Flaherty
Book and Lyrics by Lynn Ahrens
Based on "My Love, My Love" by Rosa Guy
Footlite's Young Adults production featuring performers ranging in age from 18 to 25. This highly original and theatrical Caribbean adaptation of the popular fairy tale "The Little Mermaid" sings and dances the story of Ti Moune, a peasant girl who rescues, nurses and falls in love with Daniel, a young man from a wealthy family. When Daniel is returned to his people, the gods who rule the island guide Ti Moune on a quest to test the strength of her love against the powerful forces of prejudice, hatred and death. With a catchy, contemporary, and Caribbean-flavored score, this entertaining musical was nominated for eight Tony Awards in 1991, including Best Musical. Kathleen Clarke Horrigan will direct this Indianapolis community theatre premiere.
"Once Upon A Mattress"
August 14, 15, 16, 17, 21, 22, 23 & 24, 2008
Music by Mary Rodgers
Lyrics by Marshall Barer
Book by Jay Thompson, Dean Fuller and Marshall Barer
Ed Trout will direct this Young Artists production featuring performers ages 13 through 18. This delightful retelling of the story of "The Princess and the Pea" is best known for its original New York production, which starred a young Carol Burnett in her Broadway debut. The musical was nominated in 1960 for the Tony Award as Best Musical, and Burnett received a nomination for Best Actress in a Musical. Footlite has presented the musical in two main stage mountings (1969 and 1988) and two Young Artists productions (1980 and 1997). "Once Upon A Mattress" is a rollicking spin on the familiar classic of royal courtship and comeuppance as Princess Winnifred of the Swamps tries to win the hand of the bashful Prince Dauntless the Drab. It is great entertainment for young and old.
"Crazy for You"
September 19, 20, 26, 27 & 28 & October 3, 4 & 5, 2008
Music by George Gershwin
Lyrics by Ira Gershwin
Book by Ken Ludwig
Co-Conception by Ken Ludwig and Mike Ockrent
Inspired by material by Guy Bolton and John McGowan
Footlite's main stage season will open with this revision of the Gershwin's "Girl Crazy." A high-energy comedy of mistaken identities, plot twists, fabulous costumes and dances, and classic Gershwin music, "Crazy for You"is the story of Bobby Child, a well-to-do 1930's playboy, whose dream in life is to dance. And despite the serious efforts of his mother and soon-to-be-ex-fiancee, Bobby achieves his dream! Memorable Gershwin tunes include "I Can't Be Bothered Now," "Bidin' My Time," "I Got Rhythm," "They Can't Take That Away from Me," "Embraceable You" and "Someone to Watch Over Me." Rich Baker will direct Footlite's first production of this 1992 Tony Award winner for Best Musical.
"Bye, Bye, Birdie"
November 21, 22, 28, 29 & 30 & December 5, 6 & 7, 2008
Music by Charles Strouse
Lyrics by Lee Adams
Book by Michael Stewart
This Broadway hit returns to the Footlite stage with performances under the direction of veteran director Bill Hale. Footlite has presented the 1961 Tony Award winner for Best Musical as a main stage production in 1967 and 1996 and as Young Adults and Young Artists productions in 1979, 1989 and 2001. "Birdie" tells the story of a rock and roll singer who is about to be inducted into the army. A great evening for the entire family, the musical includes such numbers as "Put on a Happy Face," "One Boy," "A Lot of Livin' to Do" and "Kids."
"Closer Than Ever"
January 16, 17, 18, 23, 24 & 25, 2009
Music by David Shire
Lyrics by Richard Maltby, Jr.
Conceived by Steven Scott Smith
The 2009 edition of Footlite's annual cabaret production will be directed by Scott Hainey. Each of the 24 songs in this intimate revue is a story: an intimate, insightful tale about love, security, happiness - and holding onto them in a world that pulls you in a hundred directions at once. Maltby and Shire bring their celebrated craft and contemporary sensibility to songs about aging, mid-life crisis, second marriages, and role reversals with parents, as well as wicked satirical jabs at Muzak, working couples and unrequited love.
"High Society"
March 13, 14, 20, 21, 22, 27, 28 & 29, 2009
Music and Lyrics by Cole Porter
Additional Lyrics by Susan Birkenhead
Book by Arthur Kopit
Based on the play "The Philadelphia Story" by Philip Barry and the MGM motion picture "High Society"
Wealthy Tracy Lord's ex-husband, C.K. Dexter Haven, refuses to let her marry the bland George Kittredge as planned. Meanwhile, two tabloid reporters, Mike and Liz, arrive to cover the wedding. Hilarious conflict ensues when Tracy ends up falling in love with Mike and George falls in love with Liz. On the eve of the wedding the ceremony is called off and a double wedding eventually results. "High Society" will make its Indianapolis premiere with this Footlite production directed by Kevin D. Smith. The original Broadway production was the recipient of two Tony Award nominations and four Drama Desk Award nominations in 1998.
"Miss Saigon"
May 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 15, 16 & 17, 2009
Music by Claude-Michel Schonberg
Lyrics by Alain Boublil and Richard Maltby, Jr.
The season will conclude with the Indianapolis community theatre premiere of this long running musical which was nominated for ten Tony Awards in 1991, including Best Musical. This modern retelling of Puccini's "Madame Butterfly" is a moving testament to the human spirit and a scathing indictment of the tragedies of war. In the turmoil of the Vietnam War, an American soldier and a Vietnamese girl fall in love, only to be separated during the fall of Saigon. Their struggles to find each other over the ensuing years ends in tragedy for her and a fighting chance for the child he never knew he had. R. Brian Noffke will direct this production.
For more information about the season, contact Footlite at (317) 926-6630 or at www.footlite.org.