I'll have Blue Christmas
...without...Lyle
Good thing you can only read this and not hear me singing Lyle
cause it might be a career ender! Here I go!
I'll have Blue... ou... ou... ou... Christmas... without
you..
Red Sox are through Boo... hoo... hoo.. dooby do
Decorations on the Red Door with a green Christmas
tree
Will be all that I need to put some cheer back in
me!
Why am I singing about a Blue Christmas in October you ask?
I'm singing first of all because it annoys Judy, but secondly because in my
opinion, I have one of the greatest actors/singers/ teachers in this whole New
England area and beyond sitting in front of me doing his own Elvis
impersonation. Lyle, you sing, I'll just play the guitar and shake my
replaced hip! Thank you, thank you very much, says
Lyle.
Folks, meet Lyle Pearsons of the Red Door Theatre. He has been
involved in the theatre for as long as I have been a Red Sox Fan... and right now
that seems like such a very long time. Lyle and Judy and I are just settling in
to a great lunch here at the Skyline restaurant today thanks to one of the owners
Stacy, who has stopped over to say hello. Stacy, I know you go to the Red Sox
games. The playoffs Stacy, what happened? Stacy is going to try to get Terry
Francona on the phone for me. Judy offers her condolences with a "Who's your daddy
George"? I don't think she feels my pain.
Well as I have spent my whole life at the Airport, Lyle
Pearsons has spent his in the theatre. He received his BFA in Theatre Arts at
Boston University. After graduation, he has been involved
in many rewarding experiences from creating theatres, to traveling Europe, to
touring with such companies as Jesus Christ Superstar and the Fantastiks. He
toured the US and Canada with the Rockefeller Traveling Playhouse and spent 8
years in New York as an equity actor where he found himself doing everything
from Off Broadway to Comedy clubs and many different venues.
Lyle tells me that just when he was so close to getting a big
part in a soap opera, he landed the job as Ronald McDonald for R.I. McDonald's
restaurants. Then just when he was so close to getting a role in a major movie, he landed the part of Joy the Clown for Nathan's Hot dogs. So he stopped and
asked himself....is someone trying to tell me something? And the answer that he
found was that children are an amazing audience and he truly enjoyed working
with them. So he left New York and came to this area and got his teaching
certificate at Westfield State College. He then taught 1st and 2nd grades in
the Suffield School Systems for 10 years.
During that time Lyle was involved with and became President
of the Suffield Players. He co-authored a murder mystery with George Chartier
called "Decidedly Deadly" and "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" which he also directed
and played the title "roles" in. The play won 11 CT State awards. Lyle, the
only award I ever won was the trophy at the Airport Golf league... and its got
the back end of a horse on it... what do you think that means?
In 1989, Lyle teamed up with fellow actor, Margie Secora, and
they created Kit and Kaboodle Productions, which is celebrating its 20th year
in existence this year! That's twenty years in show biz and constantly working
and producing and teaching and performing! Lyle, there are people in Hollywood
that can't make it one year! Some can't even do one week, but here you are which
speaks to the quality of your programs and the lives you have touched for so
many years. "George", says Lyle, "Would you believe that I now have students that are the sons and daughters of my original students"!
Lyle tells me that when people ask what he does for a living, he tells them he is a theatre director. Then they say, "oh, but what's your
REAL job?". You know Lyle I get a lot of that too. George, what IS your real
job?
For 15 years, Lyle and Margie took Kit and Kaboodle through New
England performing music, magic and mime concerts at different schools and
libraries. They wrote and directed hundreds of productions, started summer
theatre camps for teens and tots called STAGE, and created the Hilltop Players
and alas...The Red Door Theatre, the place they now call home. They have taught
everything from constructing the set to being on stage. But I think the most
important thing they have done is given others, no matter what age, the key that
unlocks their own castle. They have taught that we all have gifts ,and when we
share them with others through laughter and love and song, the world is a little
bit better for it. They have given a piece of magic that will last a lifetime.
In 2007, Margie left the Red Door to pursue her other
love - baking. Just like my other love - eating. Margie we must meet! Margie's
place is called Red Riding Hoods Basket and is in Southwick, MA. Upon Margie's
leaving, Lyle welcomed a 10 year veteran of the Red Door, Marilene Allen, a
talented actor and director who will ensure that the show must go on.
Now the next event at The Red Door is called "Christmas Time"
and performances are Dec 4-6th. And folks, the Red Door is easy to find.
It is just a short drive from here. It's right at the end
of Rte-57 West. Just get off... and look up! It's like when you see Julie
Andrews and all the kids singing "The hills are alive"... well they are! And they
are right at the top of a hill that looks over CT and MA and houses both the
Valley Community Church and the Red Door Theatre. The address is 152 South
Westfield St, Feeding Hills, MA if you want to find it on the Gargle! George
it's Google! I know Judy, that's what I said. The Red Door's phone
number is 413-789-2026. Check out their website at www.reddoortheatre.com.
Judy tells me she had the pleasure of meeting
Lyle and working with him back at Riverside Park when they sought him out to
play the lead role in a story about the parks founder, Ed Carroll Sr. She said
Lyle is just a natural and did a wonderful job in a production there called "One
Mans Dream". Lyle also told me about an enormous charity
event that he performed in at the Mass Mutual Center for the homeless. Buses
picked up thousands of people and they were provided with immediate services
donated by companies that dealt in food, health care, advice, etc. It sounds
like a wonderful event for people to give their time and resources
to.
Lyle credits his wife Nance and children, Jaime
and Tyler for all the support necessary to make so many dreams become real. He
says they are a wonderful blessing and joy in his life. Tyler is off to Broadway
in a new musical that is up for review and Jaime is a teacher and quite
involved in children's education. Lyle, the apple does not fall far from
the tree does it?
Well my friend, you have had an incredibly giving
life to date, and I'm so honored to meet and get to know you today. I'm so very impressed. I can only imagine over 20
years the thousands of children and adults that were given the gift of
theatre through the kind and caring efforts of you and all your counterparts.
It has been my absolute pleasure to spend this time with you today and if my
wishes come true, we will be seeing quite a bit of each other in the future and
hopefully sharing more of what we have spoken of. I have been totally
entertained today feeling like I just went to a show. My parents used to say,
George, you should be on the stage, it leaves in 5 minutes... and with that as Lyle
and I depart, I think I heard somebody say...
"Elvis and George have left the
building!"
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