As a teacher, I have gone through several classes on teaching students about literature. My favorite genre is fantasy. One thing I learned is that the main ingredient for a fantasy tale is magic. As children we can believe in the possibility of magic. We look for it in every nook and corner. As we grow older, we lose that sense of wonder. We may gain a little of it at Christmas, but for the rest of the year, we are tugged down into the humdrum of life. This week I have had the privilege of watching some real life magic.

Our family has had a fascination with theater since my husband and I were in high school. We spent our honeymoon at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Each year or so we would return to see a play or two. Eventually we introduced the kids to Shakespeare. By the time our youngest was old enough to join the family for a play, he had been counting down the days to seeing it. He has been bitten by the bug and has been involved in local theater for the last two years and has participated in three plays. He has been rehearsing for his fourth one coming up this weeke

As a teacher, I have gone through several classes on teaching students about literature. My favorite genre is fantasy. One thing I learned is that the main ingredient for a fantasy tale is magic. As children we can believe in the possibility of magic. We look for it in every nook and corner. As we grow older, we lose that sense of wonder. We may gain a little of it at Christmas, but for the rest of the year, we are tugged down into the humdrum of life. This week I have had the privilege of watching some real life magic.

Our family has had a fascination with theater since my husband and I were in high school. We spent our honeymoon at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Each year or so we would return to see a play or two. Eventually we introduced the kids to Shakespeare. By the time our youngest was old enough to join the family for a play, he had been counting down the days to seeing it. He has been bitten by the bug and has been involved in local theater for the last two years and has participated in three plays. He has been rehearsing for his fourth one coming up this weekend.

As I sat this week in the sometimes darkened sometimes fully lit theater, I began to make some connections. As the curtain is closed and the lights dim, suddenly, adults are transported to a point where they can believe in magic again. The lights come up, and the curtain opens. At that moment we are taken on a journey through time and space to a place the playwright has created and planned. Magic happens.

This magic though is created with much hard work. That work begins many weeks or years earlier when the writer sits down and pens the words to the play. Later, tryouts are held. Once the group of people have been chosen, the real work begins. Each member of the cast must learn his or her parts. That isn’t the full work, though. There’s blocking and character development. The stage crew has the job of creating believable scenery and props. Once all of that is together, then it’s time for lights and tech. They add an extra dimension to what’s happening on stage. When opening night comes, and the curtain opens, all the hard work is rewarded, and  magic takes place. The real magic is that dead words on a page come to life as the actors portray them.

As the holidays come, you may have an opportunity to see some magic. As you do, revel in it and enjoy. Then thank those who made it happen. They spent hours on end to give you an hour or two of magic and entertainment.nd.

As I sat this week in the sometimes darkened sometimes fully lit theater, I began to make some connections. As the curtain is closed and the lights dim, suddenly, adults are transported to a point where they can believe in magic again. The lights come up, and the curtain opens. At that moment we are taken on a journey through time and space to a place the playwright has created and planned. Magic happens.

This magic though is created with much hard work. That work begins many weeks or years earlier when the writer sits down and pens the words to the play. Later, tryouts are held. Once the group of people have been chosen, the real work begins. Each member of the cast must learn his or her parts. That isn’t the full work, though. There’s blocking and character development. The stage crew has the job of creating believable scenery and props. Once all of that is together, then it’s time for lights and tech. They add an extra dimension to what’s happening on stage. When opening night comes, and the curtain opens, all the hard work is rewarded, and  magic takes place. The real magic is that dead words on a page come to life as the actors portray them.

As the holidays come, you may have an opportunity to see some magic. As you do, revel in it and enjoy. Then thank those who made it happen. They spent hours on end to give you an hour or two of magic and entertainment.