Welcome to Litsy!

This was EXCELLENT!!! If anyone is looking for a book to read in September for #TitlesAndTunes I highly recommend this NF story about a #SmallTown in Pennsylvania who‘s known for its outstanding HS theatre department despite its school‘s lack of financial resources and backing. Apparently the TV series Rise was based off of the musical director, Lou Volpe. The author was a student of Volpe in the 70‘s & he goes back to cover Volpe‘s final year👇🏽

As a freshman in high school, shy and awkward I enrolled in Drama 1 and participated in the spring musical “ The Music Man”. I was involved in theater through high school and college, learned hard work and met people I‘m still friends with 15 years later. I wish I could articulate the impact of a theater education. This book does it better than I ever could. Arts education matters people

I guess I was expecting a bit more....drama? The writing was very straightforward and objective. Super inspiring story, just not told with any flair/excitement/DRAMA.

Because I‘m OBSESSED with RISE!

So first of all, I wanted to read this because the show Rise was “based” off of it. The only things the show has in common with this book is that they are both high school musical directors named Lou. Lou‘s story is probably not that unlike that of many high school teachers, though he does seem to have a special ability to bring out students potential. I found the “depressed steel town” narrative to be overblown and unnecessary to the story.

Guys, they spelled Les Mis wrong twice on one page. Typos in books drive me bonkers as it is, but messing up Les Mis is sacrilege!!!

1. My daughter made this whole little booklet for Mother‘s Day but this was my favorite page .
2. It‘s about a Drama teacher/program. It‘s not my favorite so far.
3. Thrillers or General Fiction
4. Beautiful. 75 and sunny
5. Have to work Saturday afternoon, going out with hubby Saturday night. Not sure for Sunday. Hubby is taking oldest to Comicon, so I‘ll be solo with the little. #humpdaypost @MinDea

So I started watching the new tv show “Rise” and realized that not only was it based on a book, but also about a town that I live very close to and am familiar with. The book is very different than the show, but still very interesting especially with it‘s in depth view of theatre and directing, etc.

A must read for anyone who loves theater and/or supports theater in schools. It reminded me of Mickey Rampkin's Theater Geek, but with a more compelling backstory of a town and community in flux. The kids at Truman High are culturally and experientially light years away from the kids at Stagedoor Manor, but their story is more compelling because of it. Reminds me of the kids I danced and did band and theater with in my hometown.