tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1003558331120575193.post2852236548103440824..comments2023-08-24T07:28:15.209-04:00Comments on ARCHIVE: The Barksdale Buzz: My Lunch with Arthur MillerJessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01690159972412894518noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1003558331120575193.post-34797113891092379492010-08-02T02:50:59.048-04:002010-08-02T02:50:59.048-04:00As daughter of the owner, I grew up at Canfield Co...As daughter of the owner, I grew up at Canfield Corner Pharmacy. I sat at the soda fountain every afternoon to do my homework. Arthur Miller came in daily to pick up the New York Times and always asked about the day's assignment or what had happened at school! He loved hearing about everyday things and my views on them seemed important...a great experience through elementary school to high school and even college vacations.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1003558331120575193.post-83342732158928426402010-03-07T00:31:15.104-05:002010-03-07T00:31:15.104-05:00Bruce t is great to read your experience at Southb...Bruce t is great to read your experience at Southbury Playhouse and Tom Littleton. I was one of the geriatric cadre of actors in the 1980s until the barn was condemned and torn down for progress and Tom moved to the High school for a couple of years. One of my fondest memories was being around all of you young people. It reminded me of beating around New York City in the early 1950s on cattle calls. Tom was a very good friend of mine aside from the Theatre and of all we older actors. I saw a lot of fine young talent and hope you all did well.<br />Speaking od Arthur Miller I had the pleasure of playing Solomon in his play the Price in 1990 at Wesleyan University in Middletown, Ct. I am 85 now but still looking for my next role. Russellrussellnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1003558331120575193.post-65321211293291608362009-09-03T19:50:04.761-04:002009-09-03T19:50:04.761-04:00I was just searching to see if there was any info ...I was just searching to see if there was any info on the Southbury Playhouse. I worked there in 1983 for the whole season, I performed and painted sets and ran lights and I don't remember what else. Overall an experience I will never forget- the theatre part of it was absolutely amazing. I was 19 at the time, and I took "acting classes" as well, and this blog is enlightening to me, because those classes have stuck with me for a long time--26years? Those of you who took the classes apparently know what I mean, so I guess I was not alone in this... Anyhow, I went on from Southbury to do theatre for many years, and now I work in TV. I am very curious to hear from others who worked at the theater and what their experiences were like, and if anyone worked there the summer of '83.Joehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17614422799714614837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1003558331120575193.post-57098270380781365872009-08-23T19:57:36.448-04:002009-08-23T19:57:36.448-04:00My family was just moving into the area in the ear...My family was just moving into the area in the early 1970's and the summer stock theater was one of the features that put Southbury on the top of our list. Although we now have hundreds of cable TV channels (instead of the two broadcast channels that existed back then), the community spirit of a shared bit of culture at the theater is hard to replicate in a private home. Thanks for bring your art to us in the 1970's and your memories now.B Fieldingnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1003558331120575193.post-3828081433803498032008-12-17T00:29:00.000-05:002008-12-17T00:29:00.000-05:00Dear Wayne,It's great to hear from another Southbu...Dear Wayne,<BR/><BR/>It's great to hear from another Southbury alum. It's been over a year since I wrote that post, so I had fun reading it again tonight myself. I Google Wayne Mitchell theatre and came across at least three individuals, one of which may well be you. Anyway, feel free to email me, I'd love to hear your Southbury stories. Since writing this post, I heard from one other Southbury actor who apparently had a rough time in '83. He also said that Tom had died in the 90s. All of this is coincidental, because my wife and I were watching an old made-for-TV movie last night, Kennedy, when who should pop up on screen by my Southbury roommate and great friend, the late Michael Connolly. I had to replay his scene about ten times. It was so GREAT to see him again.<BR/><BR/>Anyway, thanks for writing. I wish you all the best. I have to pass on my email address to you in code because of those little robots who scour the Internet for addresses so that they can spam you to death. Take the first letter of my first name, followed by a dot, then type my last name, followed by the @ sign, then type BarksdaleRichmond, followed by a dot, followed by org.<BR/><BR/>Hope to hear from you. And thanks again for writing.Bruce Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09210691426665066387noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1003558331120575193.post-63279733855570798682008-12-16T15:56:00.000-05:002008-12-16T15:56:00.000-05:00Oh, and BTW I think that Tom died in 1995 although...Oh, and BTW I think that Tom died in 1995 although I don't know ant details.<BR/>-WayneWayne Mitchellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00008090546307949347noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1003558331120575193.post-17492911540046271042008-12-16T15:39:00.000-05:002008-12-16T15:39:00.000-05:00Hi Bruce, I worked for Southbury playhouse mys...Hi Bruce,<BR/> I worked for Southbury playhouse myself in the summer of 1986. One of the last few years it was in operation. Your blog brings back some great memories. <BR/><BR/>-Wayne MitchellWayne Mitchellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00008090546307949347noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1003558331120575193.post-76495238955227543172007-09-02T08:47:00.000-04:002007-09-02T08:47:00.000-04:00To the anonymous commenter who inquired about the ...To the anonymous commenter who inquired about the audition practices at Southbury, I can't publish your comment since it raises legal questions about a named individual. But I'll answer about what I know.<BR/><BR/>Your experiences relate to 1983. In 1971, it hadn't gotten to that point, but it was headed down that road. I don't remember where the audition took place in '71, but from what I do remember, it was on the up and up.<BR/><BR/>The activities you allude to took place, in '71, in one-on-one "acting classes" and began a few weeks into the summer. It all took place in the context of what were billed as "emotional recall exercises." Participation in "acting class" was on a "volunteer" basis, and more caution was exercised by the individual in question in '71 than, apparently, in '83.<BR/><BR/>To be honest, most of these memories were no longer in an active part of my brain, and the question in your comment has prompted me to remember some things I'd apparently chosen to set aside.<BR/><BR/>Like you, I had a couple late night conversations with other Southbury actors to compare notes--but the last conversation was decades ago now. At the time we laughed it off, much like the "History Boys" in Alan Bennett's play. I'm not trying to make light of it now, I'm just trying to give you the context of 1971.<BR/><BR/>The overall experience of the summer was terrific. We viewed this individual's behavior in '71 as idiosyncratic rather than criminal. Everything stopped when you dropped out of "acting class," and many dropped out fairly quickly. A lot of us were naive, and stayed in "acting class" one class too long.<BR/><BR/>Nothing extensive went on, to the best of my knowledge, but there was a low level of the behavior you describe.<BR/><BR/>And, no, I don't know what ever became of him, or if he was ever held accountable. Most of us were 20 or 21 at the time. If he's alive today, he has to be around 80.<BR/><BR/>Hope this helps. Feel free to email me through the "Contact" button on our website. I wish you all the best.Bruce Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09210691426665066387noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1003558331120575193.post-8399819939345401792007-08-19T11:58:00.000-04:002007-08-19T11:58:00.000-04:00I've recounted what I know about two of my most su...I've recounted what I know about two of my most successful fellow Southbury actors. This info appears in its own post, published as "Summer Stock Memories - Part II" on August 19. Thanks for asking.Bruce Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09210691426665066387noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1003558331120575193.post-43960256422152547232007-08-18T18:29:00.000-04:002007-08-18T18:29:00.000-04:00What a great story. If all those famous people li...What a great story. If all those famous people live in one community, it must be one hell of a community. I'll have to make a point to visit Southbury, Woodbury, Roxbury, Washington myself sometime. It sounds charming. And how lucky for you, Bruce, to have had the chance to work there in your formative years. What happened to the other actors you met there? Have they been as successful as you?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1003558331120575193.post-69442038707562104202007-08-16T08:56:00.000-04:002007-08-16T08:56:00.000-04:00Thankfully, unlike Norman Mailer in Gilmore Girls,...Thankfully, unlike Norman Mailer in Gilmore Girls, Arthur Miller ordered more than just iced tea. If you're a Gilmore Girls fan, and few who have seen it fail to become fans, then Washington CT is a fun place to visit. It's much smaller feeling than Stars Hollow. But the diner, the church and bell tower, the inn (called the Mayflower in real life), are all there. You can even find an approximation of Gypsy's auto repair. It's a very quaint town.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1003558331120575193.post-32996577268198734642007-08-14T22:52:00.000-04:002007-08-14T22:52:00.000-04:00Hmmm Bruce. Your Arthur Miller story is not unlik...Hmmm Bruce. Your Arthur Miller story is not unlike the Norman Mailer episode of Gilmore Girls...brushes with fame...thanks for sharing.pnlkotulahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11264003364077943042noreply@blogger.com